2026 Canada Young Theatre Awards
Birdy Pattern

Celebrating Young
Theatre Talent

In British Columbia’s lively arts scene, young talents are at the forefront of shaping theatre’s future. From professional productions to school shows to after-school musical theatre programs, these passionate actors breathe life into stories on stage. Recognizing their dedication not only celebrates their achievements but also nurtures a thriving community of emerging talent, inspiring new storytellers and enriching British Columbia’s theatrical landscape.

The Canada Young Theatre Awards proudly honours and supports these aspiring actors and their educators, amplifying their voices within Canadian theatre.

Act 1

Opening Performance “You Will Be Found” (Dear Evan Hanson) 2026 CYT Awards Nominees, Ages 15-17

Welcome

  • Land Acknowledgement

  • Opening Remarks

Special Recognition Awards

  • Spirit of Theatre Award

  • Outstanding Youth Leadership Award

  • Best Offstage Contribution

  • Technical Excellence Award

Guest Performance 1 “The Wizard and I” (Wicked) Madeleine Suddaby

Special Recognition Awards

  • Outstanding Achievement Award

  • Outstanding Mentor Award

Individual: Outstanding Musical Theatre Vocal Performance

  • Ages 9-11

Guest Performance 2 “I Can't Lose You” (Disney’s Frozen) Clara & Nora Cowan

Individual: Outstanding Musical Theatre Vocal Performance

  • Ages 12-14

  • Ages 15-17

Vocalist of the Year

Guest Performance 3 “Tomorrow” (Annie) Azaleah Korn

Individual: Outstanding Musical Theatre Dance Performance

Individual: Outstanding Supporting Ensemble Member, Ages 9-11

Individual: Outstanding Supporting Performance

  • Ages 9-11, Program and Professional

Guest Performance 4 “Did I Fool Ya” Tap Solo, Charles Wang

Intermission

Act 2

Guest Performance 5 "What's Inside" (Waitress) Aiva Back, Saija Fair, Alina Krasnoperova, Annabel Lai, Chantal Lam, Jamie Lin, Tessa Ling, Chloe Pun, Livia Reynolds, Abbygail Sandler

Individual: Outstanding Supporting Performance

  • Ages 12-14, Female Roles

  • Ages 12-14, Male Roles

  • Ages 15-17, Female Roles

  • Ages 15-17, Male Roles

Guest Performance 6 “A Boy Like That” (West Side Story) Shae Kovaltsenko & Chiara Go

Individual: Outstanding Supporting Performance

  • Ages 18-24

Individual: Outstanding Lead Performance

  • Ages 9-11

  • Ages 12-14, Professional

  • Ages 12-14, School/Program, Female Roles

  • Ages 12-14, School/Program, Male Roles

Guest Performance 7 “Mamma Mia” (Mamma Mia), Olivia Muir, Elyse Meville, Rosie Haas

Individual: Outstanding Lead Performance

  • Ages 15-17, Program

  • Ages 15-17, School, Female Roles

  • Ages 15-17, School, Male Roles

  • Ages 18-24

Group: Outstanding Musical Theatre Group Dance Performance

  • Small Group Dance, 2-9 Performers

  • Large Group Dance, Junior

  • Large Group Dance, Senior

  • Dance Ensemble-Overall Excellence

Guest Performance 8 "Schuyler Sisters" (Hamilton) Chloe Pun, Livia Reynolds, Abbygail Sandler

Group: Outstanding Creative Team in a School/Program Production

  • Junior

  • Senior

Group: Outstanding School/Program Production

  • Junior

  • Senior

Guest Performance 9 “Season of Love” (Rent)

Closing Farewell

Individual Nominees

    • Hannah Durnin – P.L.A.Y Society 

    • Julianna Alarcon – Theatre In The Country

    • Adriana Buvyer – Arts Club Theatre Company

    • Elle Hanson – Theatre Under the Stars

    • Charleigh Land – Shine Bright Studios

    • Gabriel Law – xoxo film & TV theatre co.

    • Nora Pontin– New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Tanis Cortens – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Nora Grace Harriet Cowan – Arts Club Theatre Company

    • Paige Roussel

    • Azaleah Korn

    • Clara Anne Aislinn Cowan

    • Rebecca Vander Zalm

    • Abigail McCorquodale

    • Rachel Valentina Angco

    • Taylor McKee

    • Simone Nathalia

    • Vanessa Lazare

    • Morgan Da Silva-Rolph, Stage Manager, 13! The Musical – xoxo film & TV theatre co.

    • Nora Pontin, Costume Design/Assistant Stage Manager, Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Christopher Li, Head of Props, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child:High School EditionSaints – St. George’s School

    • Grant Yiu, Set Design/Assistant Stage Manager, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child:High School Edition – St. George’s School

    • Sofia Ferreira, Stage Manager, She Kills Monsters – Mulgrave School

    • Kaylan Yue, Sound Design, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child:High School Edition – St. George’s School

    • Landon Dueck – xoxo film & TV theatre co.

    • Lauren Trotzuk – P.L.A.Y. Society

    • Ashlyn O’Shea – Shine Bright Studios

    • Geoff Bemrose – Lakefield College School

    • Sage Easton-Levy – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Julia Kelleway – Delta Youth Theatre

Individual Nominees

Outstanding Lead Performance

    • Peyton Sayers (Matilda), Matilda Jr. – Pulse Productions

    • Samantha Alarcon (Sarah Brown), Guys and Dolls – Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts

    • Adriana Buvyer (Alice), Alice in Wonderland – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • Elle Hanson (Alice), Alice in Wonderland – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • Francesca Chong (Rudy Grunch), The Grunch – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • Azaleah Korn (Annie), Annie the Musical – Gateway Theatre

    • Henry Sudds (Charlie Bucket), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Theatre Under the Stars

    • Ryder MacInnes (James), James and the Giant Peach – CTORA Theatre

    • Clara Cowan (Alice), Alice in Wonderland – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • Angelina Perizzolo (Chris Hargensen), Carrie: The Musical – Whistler Secondary School Theatre

    • Kalayna Kozak (Princess Fiona), Shrek Jr. – Irwin Park Elementary School

    • Samantha Alarcon (Hansel), Hansel & Gretel The Panto– Fraser Valley Musical Theatre

    • Genevieve Roszmann (Anne Shirley), Anne of Green Gables: The Musical – Theatre Al Dente

    • Violet Parsons (Reno Sweeney), Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Henry Sudds (SpongeBob SquarePants), The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Callum Templeton (SpongeBob Squarepants), SpongeBob Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Connor May (Ugly), Honk Jr. – CTORA Academy

    • Tiffany Montefrio (Anita), West Side Story – SJB Players

    • Megan O’Shea (Warbucks), Annie – P.L.A.Y. Society

    • Lily O’Shea (Annie), Annie – P.L.A.Y. Society

    • Alice Low-Beer (Ursula), The Little Mermaid – Lights Up Musical Theatre Schools

    • Maddy Callin (Éponine), Les Misérables – Triple Threat Performers

    • Josh Severyn (Mayor Shinn), The Music Man Jr. – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Izzy Baril (Eurydice), Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Lola Steinberg (Persephone), Hadestown – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Rebecca Vander Zalm (Donna Sheridan), Mamma Mia – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Elyse Meville (Sophie Sheridan), Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Chiara Go (Maria), West Side Story – Treehouse Theatre, Pinetree Secondary School

    • Mei Lin (Tilly), She Kills Monsters (Young Adventurers Edition) – Mulgrave School

    • Jin Chen (Agnes), She Kills Monsters (Young Adventurers Edition) – Mulgrave School

    • Aedan Warburton (Harry Potter), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child –  St. George’s School

    • Justin Luo (Tony), West Side Story – Treehouse Theatre, Pinetree Secondary School

    • Avan Stewart (Orpheus), Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Ryan Kelly (Nick Bottom), Something Rotten – Terry Fox Secondary Theatre

    • Nathan Dai (Orpheus), Hadestown – Crofton House School

    • Ainslee Dalzell (Jo March), Christmas With the Marches – Hidden Stages

    • Charlotte Beckett (Patrice), 13! The Musical – xoxo film & TV theatre co.

    • Alexis Hope (Deloris Van Cartier), Sister Act – Theatre In The Country

    • Jodie Aguinaldo (Ariel), Little Mermaid – Royal Canadian Theatre Company

    • Brooke Conley (Mary Bailey), It’s a Wonderful Life – The Musical – Theatre In The Country

Individual Nominees

Outstanding Supporting Performance or Outstanding Ensemble Member

    • Hannah Durnin (Ensemble), Little Mermaid (Panto) – Royal Canadian Theatre Company

    • Camdyn Sayers (Ensemble), Matilda Jr. – Pulse Productions

    • Skylar Li (Oompa Loompa Ensemble / Mrs Green / Charlie Understudy), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Theatre Under the Stars

    • Victoria Jiawei Wang (Jay Bird), Honk Jr. – CTORA Academy

    • Keira Slabbert (Bud), Mothers and Sons – Pivot Theatre

    • Julianna Alarcon (Miss Hannigan), Annie – Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts

    • Victoria Jiawei Wang (Kate), Annie Kids – VISM Education Group

    • Nora Grace Harriet Cowan (Tweedle Dum), Alice in Wonderland – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • Leanne Uy (Nicely Nicely Johnson), Guys and Dolls Jr. – Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts

    • Arya Yazgan (Young Sophia), Sophia’s Forest – City Opera Vancouver

    • Elle Hanson (Violet Beauregarde), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Theatre Under the Stars

    • Adriana Buvyer (Young Anna), Disney’s Frozen – Arts Club Theatre Company

    • Leanne Uy (Young Elsa), Frozen – Arts Club Theatre Company

    • Nora Grace Harriet Cowan (Young Elsa), Disney’s Frozen – Arts Club Theatre Company

    • Paige Roussel (Susan Waverley), White Christmas – VOS Musical Theatre

    • Elleshia Garland (Ida), Honk – CTORA Academy

    • Angelina Perizzolo (Chris Hargensen), Carrie The Musical – Whistler Secondary School Theatre

    • Kensington Hilts (Chef Louis), The Little Mermaid – Lights Up Musical Theatre Schools

    • Isabella Zang (The Witch), Into the Woods Jr – CTORA Academy

    • Callum Templeton (Mike Teavee), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Theatre Under the Stars

    • Jacob Wolak (Lawrence), School of Rock – King David High School

    • Charles Wang (Drake), Honk Jr. – CTORA Academy

    • Carlos Gao (Brother Jeremiah), Something Rotten – KayMeek Youth Conservatory

    • Kaylan Roberts (Kendra), 13! The Musical – xoxo film & TV theatre co.

    • Lola Steinberg (Persephone), Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Sarah Querée (Ginny Weasley), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child –  St. George’s School

    • Rosie Haas (Tanya), Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Olivia Muir (Rosie Mulligan), Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Sigal Strauber (Baker’s Wife), Into the Woods Jr – CTORA Academy

    • Maya Pires (Nancy Nostradamus), Something Rotten Jr. – Kay Meek Senior Conservatory

    • Miri Grad (Snail), A Year with Frog and Toad – White Rock Players Club

    • Bella Suk (Fate 2), Hadestown: Teen Edition – Crofton House School

    • Bonnie Li (Evil Tina / Farrah), She Kills Monsters (Young Adventurers Edition) – Mulgrave School

    • Vanessa Liu (Lillith/Lilly), She Kills Monsters (Young Adventurers Edition) – Mulgrave School

    • Shae Kovaltsenko (Anita), West Side Story – Treehouse Theatre at Pinetree Secondary

    • Amalya Levy (Erma Latour), Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Didi Zhuang (Orcus), She Kills Monsters (Young Adventurers Edition) – Mulgrave School

    • Alex Hachey (Chuck), She Kills Monsters (Young Adventurers Edition) – Mulgrave School

    • River Marley (Crutchie), Newsies – Belmont Secondary Musical Theatre

    • Ryan Kelly (Chip Tolentino), Spelling Bee – Terry Fox Theatre

    • Nathan Dai (Scorpius Malfoy), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child –  St. George’s School

    • Josh Severyn (Mr. Krabs), SpongeBob the Musical (Youth Edition) – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Khalil Levy (Moonface Martin), Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Eve Clark (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Angella Cody (Brooke Wyndham), Legally Blonde – Theatre Under The Stars

    • Rose Fulker (Hermes), Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Matthew Valinho (Benjamin Coffin III), Rent – Metro Theatre

Individual Nominees

Outstanding Musical Theatre Dance or Vocal Performance

    • Hannah Durnin, “Everlasting”, Tuck Everlasting – Playful Palette

    • Sunnie Zhao, “Maybe”, Annie – VISM Education Group

    • Nora Grace Harriet Cowan, “Northern Lights”, Disney’s FROZEN – Arts Club Theatre Company

    • Samantha Alarcon, “Good Girl Winnie Foster”, Tuck Everlasting – North Shore Chamber Orchestra

    • Francesca Chong, “More Like Me”, The Grunch – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • Ryder MacInnes, “Middle of a Moment”, James and the Giant Peach – CTORA Theatre

    • Alexis Malelang, “Some Things Are Meant To Be”, Little Women

    • Paige Roussel, “The Girl I Mean to Be”, VOS 80th Anniversary Celebration - VOS Musical Theatre

    • Azaleah Korn, “Home”, The Oz Experience – Wright Way Coaching

    • Callum Templeton, “(Just a) Simple Sponge”, The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Henry Sudds, “(Just a) Simple Sponge”, The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Sabrina Seguin, “Right Hand Man”, The Company – New Westminster Secondary School Theatre Program

    • Angelina Perizzolo, “World According To Chris”, Carrie The Musical – Whistler Secondary School Theatre

    • Genevieve Roszmann, “Gee I'm Glad I'm No One Else But Me”, Anne of Green Gables: The Musical – Theatre Al Dente

    • Victoria Zavedei, “Requiem”, Dear Evan Hansen

    • Alicia Malelang, “Gimmie Gimme”, Thoroughly Modern Millie

    • Chloe Pun, “Women”, The Pirate Queen – Richmond Academy of Dance

    • Avan Stewart, “If it's True”, Hadestown: Teen Edition –Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Rebecca Vander Zalm, "One of Us", Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Maya Duffell “ Part of Your World”, The Little Mermaid – Lights Up Musical Theatre Schools

    • Georgia Grace Turner “Daddy Knows Best”, SpongeBob The Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Abbygail Sandler, “Mad Hatter”, Wonderland – The Richmond Academy of Dance

    • Livia Reynolds, “Breathe”, Best of Kooman & Dimond – The Richmond Academy of Dance

    • Khalil Raphael Winter Levy, "Be Like The Bluebird", Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Paige Roussel, “The Greatest Star” – Dance Unlimited Performing Arts

    • Azaleah Korn, “Born to Entertain”– The Happening Dance Studio

    • Cora Schellenberg, “Watch What Happens” – Tri-City Dance Centre

    • Allison Fong, “Quiet”– The Richmond Academy of Dance

Group Nominees

    • Brad Tones & Patrick Arnott, Seussical Jr. – P.L.A.Y. Society

    • Keri Smith, Annie Jr. – Vancouver Talmud Torah’s Centre Stage

    • Cathy Wilmot, Haley Allen, and Jenaya Barker - Seussical the Musical Jr – Kay Meek Junior Conservatory

    • Eliza De Castro, The Addams Family – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • Katie Muzyka & Jennifer Poulsen, The Lion King Jr. – Nootka Community Elementary School – Fine Arts Program

    • Tony Barton & Tracy Neff, The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Jamie Donnici, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition – St. George’s School

    • Frances Monteleone, Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • C. Hansen, Antigone – Centennial Christian School Drama Program

    • Catriana van Rijn, Hadestown: Teen Edition – Crofton House School

    • Dawn Ewen, Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Chris Adams, Troy McLaughlin, and Shawn Henry - Something Rotten! Jr – Kay Meek Senior Conservatory

    • Meghan Byrne, The Olympians – Magee Secondary School

    • Sarah Bernstein, She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition – Mulgrave School

    • Sage Easton-Levy, Emily Anderson, Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Janine King & Alexis Kozak, Shrek Jr. – Irwin Park Elementary School

    • Brad Tones, Seussical Jr. – P.L.A.Y. Society

    • Adrienne Grange, Sister Act Jr. – St. Joseph’s Elementary School

    • Cathy Wilmot & Kimberly Markarian, Seussical the Musical Jr. – Kay Meek Junior Conservatory

    • Tony Barton & Tracy Neff, The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • Hannah Jeffery, Katie Muzyka & Jennifer Poulsen, The Lion King Jr. – Nootka Community Elementary School – Fine Arts Program

    • Vanessa Lazare, Avery Taylor & Owen CB Scott, Honk Jr. – CTORA Academy

    • Catriana van Rijn; Renee Raymond; Sarah Burgess; Sarah Mauracher; Andrew Tugwell, Hadestown: Teen Edition – Crofton House School

    • Dawn Ewen; Choreo-Dawn Ewen; Arielle Ballance; Matthew Thiessen, Karli Sawka; Darren Hales, Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Jamie Donnici; Scott Zechner; Gillian Ani; Artie Traynor; Gwyneth Steiner; Amy Currie, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition – St. George’s School

    • Frances Monteleone; Luke McAndless-Davis; Tracy Cave; Lindsay Waldner; Steve Clements, Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School- Musical Theatre Program

    • Chris Adams; Shawn Henry; Troy McLaughlin; Kayla Nielsen; Ryan Ghasemikian; Joscelyne Tamburri; Emma Blu Pabuaya; Lane Tamkin; Kimberly Markarian; Reese Findler; Elliot Banner; Dan Wiebe; Petra Jachova; Ainslee Dalzell, Jazz McLaughlin; Catelyn Babich; Alex Tosh; Jackie Hanlin; Cathy Wilmot, Something Rotten! Jr. – Kay Meek Senior Conservatory

    • Sofia Ferreira; Isobel Frauley; Charles Zha; Desmond Gillette; Elissa Liu; Andersen Shih; Audrey McHugh; Erica Huang; Ella Zu; Lena Daliri; Yuwen Wang; Andrew More-Ing; Abby Sun;  Arthur Sun; Bria Loeven; Jason Fu; Nathania Bernabe; Jackie T. Hanlin; Lucy Jeffery; Mandi Whyte; Ashely Donahue; Barr Flynn; Catherine Ballachey; Taryn Beukema; Sarah Bernstein, She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition – Mulgrave School

    • Vanessa Lazare; Troy Banks; Jonathan Gagne; Glenn Macdonald; Mark Carter, Rick Colhoun, Lou Marshall, Into the Woods Jr. – CTORA Academy

    • Sage Easton-Levy; Emily Anderson; Matt Robertson; Akiva Levy; Rowan Hensley, Anything Goes: Youth Edition-Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Chris Adams, Troy McLaughlin, and Shawn Henry - Something Rotten! Jr – Kay Meek Senior Conservatory

Group Nominees

Outstanding Musical Theatre Group Dance or Vocal Performance

    • “Our Lady of the Underground”, Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • “Into the Woods”, Into the Woods Jr. – CTORA Academy

    • “Goin' Gets Tough”, The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • “Play with Your Food”, Honk Jr. – CTORA Academy

    • “Pandemonium” – The Richmond Academy of Dance

    • “Vidiots”, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Theatre Under the Stars

    • “When You’re An Addams”, The Addams Family – Vancouver Performing Stars

    • “I Just Can’t Wait to be King”, The Lion King Jr. – Nootka Community Elementary School

    • “Bikini Bottom Day”, The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – Delta Youth Theatre

    • “Warts and All”, Honk Jr – CTORA Academy

    • “Anything Goes”,  Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company 

    • “Together We Stand” – The Richmond Academy of Dance

    • “ Livin' it Up on Top”, Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • “Lay All Your Love on Me”, Mamma Mia! – New Westminster Secondary School - Musical Theatre Program

    • Alicia Malelang & Alexis Malelang, “What Is This Feeling” – Lyrical Me Vocal Studio

    • Avan Stewart & Izzy Baril, “All I've Ever Known”, Hadestown: Teen Edition – Lord Byng Theatre Company

    • Clara Cowan & Nora Cowan “I Can’t Lose You”– Vancouver Performing Stars 

    • Violet Knowles-Parsons and Mia Dowhy, “You’re the Top”, Anything Goes: Youth Edition – Sooke Youth Theatre Company

    • Elspeth Lennox, Kalysha Tai & Bella Suk, When the Chips Are Down, Hadestown Youth Edition – Crofton House School


Meet the Judges

  • Cathy Wilmot

    Actor, director, and educator with over 25 years in the industry; musical theatre instructor and Theatre Professor at Capilano University.

  • Chris Adams

    Director, actor, and producer; multiple Jessie and Ovation Award winner with a decade of experience mentoring young performers.

  • Karyn Way

    Singing teacher, director, and adjudicator; dedicated to nurturing young voices in the theatre community.

  • Ken Overbey

    ctor, Singer, Choreographer, Vancouver School Board artistic liaison for 18 yrs. Union member: SAG/UBCP/CAEA/AEA

  • Pamela Wise

    Vancouver-based talent agent with over 30 years in the Canadian entertainment industry. She specializes in representing young and emerging performers for on-camera and commercial work.

  • Sanders Whiting

    Professional Actor, Singing instructor, voice and speech coach, and faculty voice coach at Simon Fraser University.

  • Shannon Teat

    Principal agent at da Costa Talent representing artists in theatre, film, TV, and motion capture.

  • Sue Hunt

    Writer, director, performer, and instructor with more than 22 years of experience teaching youth theatre and drama.

  • Vince Kanasoot

    Communications specialist, journalist; former professional dancer and musical theatre performer