Pickerington High Schools Central and North have struck a chord with the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), snagging a spot in the prestigious 2025–26 CAPA Marquee Awards Program. In a competitive year with a staggering number of applications, these schools join 29 others, demonstrating prowess in performance arts worthy of the Marquee spotlight. The CAPA Marquee Awards, backed by the American Electric Power Foundation, aim to put a high beam on high school musical theatre education and offer students a real taste of the stage, sharpening their talents through professional mentorship.
The program's perks for aspiring theatre artisans include master classes with Broadway touring actors, workshops with theatre professionals, and scrutiny by professional adjudicators—opportunities hard to come by, especially "with funding for the arts and education being cut nationwide," as CAPA Director of Education Amy Handra pointed out, according to a press release from Pickerington Local School District. With selections like Pickerington, CAPA strives to cushion the blow of funding cuts, cementing the value of arts in education.
The roster for the 2025–26 season includes several newcomers marked by an asterisk, such as The Arts and College Preparatory Academy, Central Crossing High School, and Hamilton Township High School, among others. This array of selected schools suggests CAPA's intent to broaden its reach and influence across different educational environments. Each institution will showcase its productions and, in turn, receive the kind of feedback that only seasoned professionals can offer.
As the program progresses, the crescendo will come with the announcement of nominees in various categories on April 16, 2026. The finale, a red-carpet awards ceremony set for May 13, 2026, at the Ohio Theatre, promises to be a spectacle, likened to the splendor of the Tony Awards. In this gala, there will be live performances from the cream of this youthful crop, representing each school in the Marquee constellation. Last year's Marquee Awards saw Pickerington's own Kamryn Dansby capture the award for Best Performer in a Leading Role, ultimately heading to New York City to brush shoulders with Broadway's best at the Jimmy Awards.
