The spotlight shines bright with Minnesota’s top high school theater students recognized at Spotlight Showcase presented by PNC
Hennepin Arts announces standout performers and technicians, awarding all-expenses-paid Broadway experiences and honors at the annual celebration
MINNEAPOLIS (June 12, 2025) —Hennepin Arts announced its annual Spotlight Education awards and honors for Minnesota high school theater students possessing excellence in singing, dancing and acting, expertise in stagecraft and an overall demonstration of community leadership, teamwork and artistry. The announcement was made during Spotlight Showcase presented by PNC (June 9-10, 2025) at the historic State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Hennepin Arts’ annual event formally recognizes the extraordinary achievements of the students and educators who make up Minnesota’s vibrant high school theater community.
“We are proud to celebrate the incredible talent, leadership and passion of Minnesota’s high school theater students,” said Todd Duesing, president and CEO of Hennepin Arts. “Spotlight Showcase, the capstone of our Spotlight Education program, not only highlights the artistry we see on stage and behind the scenes—it reflects the power of arts education to shape brighter and braver young leaders.” Looking ahead, Duesing emphasized the importance of continued investment in the arts. “With the support of dedicated educators, families and community partners like PNC, we can keep expanding opportunities, uplifting student voices and building a stronger future—onstage and beyond,” he said.
The four students awarded with the 2025 Triple Threat New York Experience are Aniya Bostick (Apple Valley High School, outgoing junior), Noah Clark (Lakeville South High School, graduating senior), Sam Rosewarne (Minnetonka High School, graduating senior) and Molly Law (Tartan High School in Oakdale, graduating senior).
These students were selected after being evaluated through their performance auditions, a written essay and personal interviews. The Triple Threat New York Experience, fueled by Sun Country Airlines, is an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, where they will attend Broadway shows, meet with industry professionals and participate in workshops to hone their skills.
The two students awarded with the 2025 Technical Theater New York Experience are Lily Smith (Park High School in Cottage Grove, graduating senior) and Broc Vierzba (St. Francis High School, graduating senior). This award recognizes graduating senior students who demonstrate an expertise in electrics, audio, lighting and stage management. Through their organization, innovation and collaboration in the rehearsal process of Spotlight Showcase, they have won the Technical Theater New York Experience, an all-expenses paid trip to New York, where students will observe, meet and train alongside top technical theater professionals, as well as a scholarship made possible by Monkey Wrench Productions that may be used to further their training.
Student musicians with instrumental interest or experience in musical theater are invited to apply for the Spotlight Orchestra scholarship to further their training. This experience includes mentorship and rehearsals alongside industry professionals and performing up to five musical numbers in the pit orchestra for Spotlight Showcase. This year’s recipients are Kamau Pegg (Minneapolis Washburn High School, outgoing junior) and Keith Robertson III (St. Michael-Albertville High School, outgoing junior).
Spotlight students with interest or experience in writing, marketing and social media are invited to apply as a Student Publicist. Working closely with Spotlight Education staff, two Student Publicists created content and promoted Spotlight Showcase and surrounding pre/post show events by being creative self-starters who work well under direction and timelines. This year’s recipients of the Student Publicist scholarship are Sarah Zyskowsi (Rogers High School, graduating senior) and Molly Pitzen (Rosemount High School, graduating senior).
The Ferrell Dance Award which is dedicated to the memory of high school musical theatre friend and veteran Spotlight choreographer, Michael Matthew Ferrell, is presented to two senior Featured Dancers who demonstrated leadership, fearlessness and passion in the rehearsal and performance spaces. This year’s recipients are Ayanna Churcher (Roseville Area High School, graduating senior)and Karianna Barrientos (Stillwater Area High School, graduating senior). Funding for the Ferrell Dance Award is made possible by the support of Bill and Tina Krech.
Hennepin Arts’ Spotlight Education program is an essential part of arts education in many Minnesota schools. Annually, the program helps nearly 8,000 students in more than 100 high schools build confidence, critical thinking, empathy, a sense of community, knowledge and appreciation of theater. The program supplements and enhances arts curricula through production assessments, workshops and arts journalism, increasing equitable access to quality theater education. Spotlight Showcase, our annual recognition event, is Minnesota’s largest celebration of high school theater and provides over 1,000 students the opportunity to perform at the historic State Theatre.
Spotlight Showcase proudly employs professional staff from both the Twin Cities and Broadway to collaborate with students across all areas of theater. Bourgoin Productions serves as producer.
For more information about Spotlight Education, please visit HennepinArts.org.
Spotlight Education is made possible with support from PNC Bank, Sun Country Airlines, United Properties and the Xcel Energy Foundation.
Follow Spotlight Education at: HennepinArts.org Instagram: @spotlight_MN Facebook: /SpotlightMN Twitter: @spotlightMN
Hennepin Arts drives cultural and economic vitality in Minnesota through leadership of the dynamic Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis and educational programming that reaches every area of the state. Its historic theatres — Orpheum, State and Pantages — and the Dudley Riggs Theatre light up Hennepin Avenue with top-tier entertainment, including the best of Broadway and a wide variety of arts programming. Hennepin Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at HennepinArts.org.
Our mission We create positive change through the arts by bringing together people, businesses and organizations to create and enjoy cultural experiences.
Our DEIAB Efforts At Hennepin Arts, we proudly champion a vibrant and ever-evolving culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging (DEIAB). Our guiding principle revolves around the celebration of the uniqueness and invaluable insights that each individual’s journey brings to the table.
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
This activity is made possible by voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.