The road to Broadway took center stage at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on May 31, 2026, during the seventh annual Kravis Center Dream Awards. Featuring show-stopping musical numbers from over 130 student performers across 18 local high schools, the electrifying competition concluded with two top finalists earning an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City. Leilani Kellerman from American Heritage Schools-Palm Beach Campus in Delray Beach received the Outstanding Lead Actress award and Alex Morfogen from The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach received the Outstanding Lead Actor award.
Miss Kellerman and Mr. Morfogen will go on to represent Palm Beach County in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards®, in New York City. They will participate in an all-expense paid, 12-day field studies program in preparation for their performances on Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre stage on June 22, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
“We are incredibly proud of Leilani and Alex and know they will be outstanding representatives of Palm Beach County at the Jimmy Awards,” said Tracy C. Butler, Senior Director of Education at the Kravis Center. “Throughout this year’s process, we were continually inspired by the extraordinary talent, dedication and growth demonstrated by our local high school theater students. We are deeply grateful to the educators and mentors whose commitment makes this program possible. The Dream Awards showcase the transformative power of the arts to nurture young talent, and the Kravis Center is honored to support and celebrate the next generation of emerging arts and arts educators in our community.”
The 2026 Kravis Center Dream Awards nominees and award recipients included:
- Outstanding Lead Actress
o Madison Anderer –The King’s Academy
o Kayla Brown –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Alternate)
o Ireland Hardesty – Atlantic Christian Academy
o Leilani Kellerman –American Heritage School (Award Recipient)
o Elle Ruyack –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Lead Actor
o Adriano Menezes –West Boca Raton Community High School
o Alejandro Morales –Atlantic Christian Academy
o Alex Morfogen –The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Enrique Parisca –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Max Leighton – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Alternate)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress
o Jolianne Barton – Spanish River Community High School
o Kasie Cabral – Spanish River Community High School
o Journey Callazo –Dr. Joaquín García High School
o Katelyn Soto –Atlantic Christian Academy (Award Recipient)
o Annabella Thomas –West Boca Raton Community High School
- Outstanding Supporting Actor
o Logan Brenner – West Boca Raton Community High School
o Graham Gilbert –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Joel Person –The King’s Academy
o Joseph Rodriguez –Atlantic Christian Academy
o Ethan Slavic –West Boca Raton Community High School (Award Recipient)
- Outstanding Ensemble Actress
o Jenna Bennett –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Zoe Cabezas – Atlantic Christian Academy (Award Recipient)
o Braelyn Dilger –West Boca Raton Community High School
o Emma Massimini –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Isabella Napoli –Atlantic Christian Academy
- Outstanding Ensemble Actor
o Dayton Billing – The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Bryce Gibbons – The King’s Academy
o Devin Jackson – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Logan Martin – The King’s Academy
o RJ Moore – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Featured Female Dancer
o Sophia Carbone –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Sofia Giannetti –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Award Recipient)
o Jarrhana Labastille –Oxbridge Academy
o Sky-Lynn Silver – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Sloane Saltalamacchia – The King’s Academy
o Sophia Caputo – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Featured Male Dancer
o Nolan Balais –West Boca Raton Community High School
o Kyle Carter –The King’s Academy
o Dominic Codispoti –The King’s Academy
o Tristan Dominguez –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Kevontay Oliver –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Award Recipient)
- Outstanding Musical
o The Drowsy Chaperone – West Boca Raton Community High School
o The Drowsy Chaperone – Atlantic Christian Academy
o Guys and Dolls – The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Something Rotten! – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Stage Management
o Sophia Luque –American Heritage School (Award Recipient)
o Jadyn Moreno –Atlantic Christian Academy
o Alexa Oddo –Dr. Joaquín García High School
o Emily Riggs –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Chance Spector –The King’s Academy
- Outstanding Scenic Design
o Taylor Fossen –Dr. Joaquín García High School
o Helen Popadic and Amabelle Ulysse –The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Valentina Sharoubim –Cardinal Newman High School
o Madison Zapata –Boca Raton Community High School
- Outstanding Lighting Design
o Kaela Colson and Ryder Rennick –Boca Raton Community High School
o Daniel Feinberg – Spanish River Community High School (Award Recipient)
o Jack O’Donnell –American Heritage School
o Charlotte Olivera – Dr. Joaquín García High School
- Outstanding Costume Design
o Isabella Anthon and Anabelle Brown – The Benjamin School
o Sophia Barolotti, Giovanna Chong, Lila Jovine, Yasmine Siqueira, and Jordan Williams –Boca Raton Community High School
o Chanelle Cha, Charlotte Cha, and Chance Spector – The King’s Academy (Award Recipients)
o Kemily Heiderick – Spanish River Community High School
o Ari Schwartz and Hannah Parker Garcia – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Selah Cousins & Olivia Scearce –The King’s Academy
- Outstanding Sound Design
o Mason Davis and Daniel Feinberg – Spanish River Community High School (Award Recipients)
o Makayla Dinon, Ryan Maxson, and Razan Sweid –Boca Raton Community High School
- Dream Awards Ambassadors
o Kiera Harper and Grayson Master – Suncoast Community High School
o Grace Pessagno and Ava Scotten –Jupiter Community High School
o Catherine Hicks and Ava Shawe –The Benjamin School
o Maliya Jones-Holman and Kaden Orton –Seminole Ridge Community High School
o Lyla Furman and Ana Palmer – Grandview Preparatory Academy
o Jamar Noel and Jayda Noel – John I. Leonard Community High School
o Dalia Malcolm and Joshua Zeuner –Donna Klein Jewish Academy
o Sogeair Pierre-Gilles and Danica Slavin – Cardinal Newman High School
o Victoria Castro Gossett and Mateo Lepore – Palm Beach Central Community High School
o Shashvat Premkumar and Jordan Williams –Boca Raton Community High School
- Outstanding Lead Actress
o Madison Anderer –The King’s Academy
o Kayla Brown –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Alternate)
o Ireland Hardesty – Atlantic Christian Academy
o Leilani Kellerman –American Heritage School (Award Recipient)
o Elle Ruyack –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Lead Actor
o Adriano Menezes –West Boca Raton Community High School
o Alejandro Morales –Atlantic Christian Academy
o Alex Morfogen –The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Enrique Parisca –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Max Leighton – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Alternate)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress
o Jolianne Barton – Spanish River Community High School
o Kasie Cabral – Spanish River Community High School
o Journey Callazo –Dr. Joaquín García High School
o Katelyn Soto –Atlantic Christian Academy (Award Recipient)
o Annabella Thomas –West Boca Raton Community High School
- Outstanding Supporting Actor
o Logan Brenner – West Boca Raton Community High School
o Graham Gilbert –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Joel Person –The King’s Academy
o Joseph Rodriguez –Atlantic Christian Academy
o Ethan Slavic –West Boca Raton Community High School (Award Recipient)
- Outstanding Ensemble Actress
o Jenna Bennett –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Zoe Cabezas – Atlantic Christian Academy (Award Recipient)
o Braelyn Dilger –West Boca Raton Community High School
o Emma Massimini –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Isabella Napoli –Atlantic Christian Academy
- Outstanding Ensemble Actor
o Dayton Billing – The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Brice Gibbons – The King’s Academy
o Devin Jackson – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Logan Martin – The King’s Academy
o RJ Moore – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Featured Female Dancer
o Sophia Carbone –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Sofia Giannetti –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Award Recipient)
o Jarrhana Labastille –Oxbridge Academy
o Sky-Lin Silver – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Sloane Saltalamacchia – The King’s Academy
o Sophia Caputo – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Featured Male Dancer
o Nolan Balais –West Boca Raton Community High School
o Kyle Carter –The King’s Academy
o Dominic Codispoti –The King’s Academy
o Tristan Dominguez –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Kevontay Oliver –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Award Recipient)
- Outstanding Musical
o The Drowsy Chaperone – West Boca Raton Community High School
o The Drowsy Chaperone – Atlantic Christian Academy
o Guys and Dolls – The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Something Rotten! – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Outstanding Stage Management
o Sophia Luque –American Heritage School (Award Recipient)
o Jadyn Moreno –Atlantic Christian Academy
o Alexa Oddo –Dr. Joaquín García High School
o Emily Riggs –Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Chance Spector –The King’s Academy
- Outstanding Scenic Design
o Taylor Fossen –Dr. Joaquín García High School
o Helen Popadic and Amabelle Ulysse –The King’s Academy (Award Recipient)
o Valentina Sharoubim –Cardinal Newman High School
o Madison Zapata –Boca Raton Community High School
- Outstanding Lighting Design
o Kaela Colson and Ryder Rennick –Boca Raton Community High School
o Daniel Feinberg – Spanish River Community High School (Award Recipient)
o Jack O’Donnell –American Heritage School
o Charlotte Olivera – Dr. Joaquín García High School
- Outstanding Costume Design
o Isabella Anthon and Anabelle Brown – The Benjamin School
o Sophia Barolotti, Giovanna Chong, Lila Jovine, Yasmine Siqueira, and Jordan Williams –Boca Raton Community High School
o Chanelle Cha, Charlotte Cha, and Chance Spector – The King’s Academy (Award Recipients)
o Kemily Heiderick – Spanish River Community High School
o Ari Schwartz and Hannah Parker Garcia – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
o Selah Cousins & Olivia Scearce –The King’s Academy
- Outstanding Sound Design
o Mason Davis and Daniel Feinberg – Spanish River Community High School (Award Recipients)
o Makayla Dinon, Ryan Maxson, and Razan Sweid –Boca Raton Community High School
- Dream Awards Ambassadors
o Kiera Harper and Grayson Master – Suncoast Community High School
o Grace Pessagno and Ava Scotten –Jupiter Community High School
o Catherine Hicks and Ava Shawe –The Benjamin School
o Maliya Jones-Holman and Kaden Orton –Seminole Ridge Community High School
o Lyla Furman and Ana Palmer – Grandview Preparatory Academy
o Jamar Noel and Jayda Noel – John I. Leonard Community High School
o Dalia Malcolm and Joshua Zeuner –Donna Klein Jewish Academy
o Sogeair Pierre-Gilles and Danica Slavin – Cardinal Newman High School
o Victoria Castro Gossett and Mateo Lapore – Palm Beach Central Community High School
o Shashvat Premkumar and Jordan Williams –Boca Raton Community High School
Additional recognition included the new Kravis Center Dream Awards Alumni Spotlight Honor which was given to Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Alum and Costume Designer, Elizabeth Kronhaus. Ms. Kronhaus is currently a rising BFA Costume Design sophomore at NYU. The Generosity of Spirit Scholarship was given to RJ Moore of Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. The Blood, Sweat & Tears Award was given to Braelyn Dilger of West Boca Raton Community High School, and The Broadway Artists Intensive Scholarship was given to Sophia Caputo of Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts.
This year’s Kravis Center Dream Awards was once again generously sponsored by Ricki Gail Conway/The Doris & Stanley Tananbaum Foundation.
To learn more about the Kravis Center’s education programs, visit kravis.org/education-community. To help support the Kravis Center’s education mission, call the development department at 561-651-4320 or visit kravis.org and click on Giving and Support.
About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization and one of South Florida’s premier cultural destinations, located in downtown West Palm Beach. Since 1992, the Kravis Center has presented the finest in live entertainment, showcasing internationally acclaimed artists in music, comedy, dance, Broadway, and more. As part of its nonprofit mission, the Kravis Center has welcomed millions of students to its comprehensive arts education programs. Students of all ages can participate in workshops, classes, and special events, as well as access free and reduced-price tickets for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live performances.
###
Images:
Outstanding Lead Actress Leilani Kellerman ©Mary Stucchi Photography
Outstanding Lead Actor Alex Morfogen ©Mary Stucchi Photography
The 2026 Kravis Center Dream Awards ©Mary Stucchi Photography
Media Contacts:
Director of Public Relations Public Relations and Social Media Coordinator
Charlotte Vermaak Adriana Bøckman-Pedersen
561.651.4242 561.651.4345
[email protected] [email protected]
