High school theater students throughout South Florida are anxiously anticipating their night in the spotlight! The Annual Cappies Gala, celebrating the best of high school theater, will be held Tuesday, May 12, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. This “Tony’s-style” gala honors the best in high school theater, with awards given out in nearly 30 different categories, including Best Musical, Best Play, Best Actor, Best Costumes, and many more. The winners are determined by votes from student critics from all participating schools.
Each year, thousands of teenagers, along with their teachers, families, and friends, dress to the nines and gather at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center to celebrate the nominees while enjoying highlights from the nominated plays and musicals. Amanda Henry, a sophomore who was nominated as part of the costume crew for Macbeth, exclaimed, “I literally jumped out of my seat when I found out. The opportunity to attend the Cappies Gala as a nominee is an honor, and it is incredibly exciting. That moment was when it truly felt like the hours of work put into Macbeth paid off.”
Juliana Bohm, another sophomore, is also looking forward to the gala: “I am most looking forward to getting dressed up and celebrating this honor with my best friends. It is especially meaningful because my co-lead, who played the role of Macbeth, is a senior, so this will be my last time experiencing the Cappies Gala with him. I am so beyond grateful we get to be nominated side by side on stage.” Local theater professionals and community leaders are invited to present the prestigious awards.
St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s theater program was nominated for four Cappies in the 2025-2026 season. Each nominee ranked in the top five in their category against other plays presented throughout South Florida. Their production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, presented in October 2025, took audiences on a dark journey through the mangrove swamps to explore themes of greed and power.
Henry explained, “It takes hard work and dedication to put together a Cappies-level performance. You have to dedicate hours, inside and outside of school, to working on the show. The entire process (rehearsals and tech week) is exhausting, but it pays off when you end up with a spectacular show.” She added, “Be willing to work hard and persevere–all’s well that ends well.”
The following students will be recognized at the gala on May 12, 2026:
STA Commended Critic:
Heather Johnson
STA Players Commended Participants:
Anaelle Jean-Jacques & Ellison Howard
Nominee for Hair and Makeup in a Play:
Avery Patterson, Un-Ange Leslie, Jada Nelson, and Tierney Kubilis
Nominee for Costumes in a Play:
Layna Lowe, Amanda Henry, James Ayoung, and Mickenna Desroches
Nominee for Best Lead Actor in a Play:
Cody Straka in his role of Macbeth
Nominee for Best Lead Actress in a Play:
Juliana Bohm in her role as Lady Macbeth
