HAYAs season kicked off this past Sunday, February 23, with a stellar Virtual Nominations Ceremony. In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of the ceremony below featuring the wickedly talented Select Ensemble.
And speaking of wicked things…don’t miss out on this year’s Heller Awards t-shirts! Click here to order your shirt, check out photos from the 2024 ceremony, and sign up for email updates! Plus, keep up with us on social media @hellerawardsatx for all things HAYAs. 🌟
THE 2025 haya NOMINEES ARE…
Best Choreography
Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Footloose | Dripping Springs
Matilda the Musical | Hendrickson
Chicago: Teen Edition | Jack C. Hays
Tuck Everlasting | McCallum
Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
Pippin | Weiss
Best Music Direction
Godspell Jr | Marble Falls
Bright Star | East View
Sweeney Todd: School Edition | Georgetown
Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
9 to 5 The Musical | Leander
Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Titanic | Cedar Park
Mean Girls High School Version | Austin
Best Orchestra
Hadestown Teen Edition | LASA
Tuck Everlasting | Westlake
Matilda the Musical | Hendrickson
Mean Girls High School Version | Austin
Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
The Spongebob Musical | Elgin
Sweeney Todd: School Edition | Georgetown
Titanic | Cedar Park
Best Lighting Design
Matilda the Musical | Hendrickson
Hadestown Teen Edition | LASA
Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Newsies | Hutto
Tuck Everlasting | McCallum
Pippin | Weiss
Bright Star | East View
Titanic | Cedar Park
Best Costume Design
Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
The Drowsy Chaperone | Westwood
Newsies | Hutto
Bright Star | East View
Pippin | Weiss
Once Upon a Mattress | NYOS
Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
Best Scenic Design
Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Footloose | Dripping Springs
Chicago: Teen Edition | Vandegrift
Tuck Everlasting | McCallum
Hadestown Teen Edition | LASA
The Spongebob Musical | Elgin
Godspell Jr | Marble Falls
Newsies | Hutto
Best Technical Execution
Newsies | Hutto
Hadestown Teen Edition | LASA
Tuck Everlasting | McCallum
Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Footloose | Dripping Springs
Matilda the Musical | Hendrickson
The Spongebob Musical | Elgin
Best Ensemble
Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Pippin | Weiss
Godspell Jr | Marble Falls
The Drowsy Chaperone | Westwood
Footloose | Dripping Springs
Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
Best Featured Performer | Individual Category
Writer Collis | Daddy Murphy | Bright Star | East View
De’Aja Jackson | Jolene Oakes | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Crockett
Sophia Nikazm | Trix the Aviatrix | The Drowsy Chaperone | Westwood
Amalie Melendez | Dormouse/Nigel | Alice By Heart | Lago Vista
Calleigh Bowers | Milky White | Into the Woods | Tom Glenn
Khai Pormprasong | Madame de la Grande Bouche | Beauty and the Beast | Bastrop
Alden Bruner | Kevin G. | Mean Girls High School Version | Austin
Shelby Cluck | Betty Blast | Footloose | Dripping Springs
Rihanna Elliott | Drama Teacher | High School Musical | Del Valle
Best Featured Performer | Ensemble Category
Evan Puga | Godspell Jr | Marble Falls
Cason Jacobs | You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Revised) | Pflugerville
Elora Clarke | Tuck Everlasting | McCallum
Shemaiah Hill | Carrie: The Musical | Northeast
Aydan Courtney | Tuck Everlasting | McCallum
Makayla Rickard | Mean Girls High School Version | Austin
Jessie Alkire | Mean Girls High School Version | San Marcos
Brandy Serrano | The Spongebob Musical | Elgin
Elicie Utterback | Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Best Supporting Performer | Female Category
Merritt Moore | Beatrice Bottom | Something Rotten! | Round Rock
McKenzie Hecht | Charlotte | Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Anna Nelson | Thomas Nostradamus | Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Elise Chambers | Rusty | Footloose | Dripping Springs
Graylin Malwitz | Marie | Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Raegan Gonzales | Catherine | Pippin | Weiss
Lyndal Heer | Portia | Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Bella Tamayo | Cinderella | Into the Woods | Tom Glenn
Alexandra Guerrero | Cinderella | Into the Woods | ZACH
Best Supporting Performer | Male Category
Reilly Favacho | Jack | Into the Woods | Tom Glenn
Riley Wayt | Hades | Hadestown Teen Edition | LASA
Ryan Crosby | Nigel Bottom | Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Noah Mayard | Willard Hewitt | Footloose | Dripping Springs
Thomas De La Cruz | Damian | Mean Girls High School Version | San Marcos
Gavin Johst | Mr. Wormwood | Matilda the Musical | Hendrickson
Vince Pham | Adolpho | The Drowsy Chaperone | Westwood
Ace Howell | Damian | Mean Girls High School Version | Austin
Cyrus Hartman | Audrey II | Little Shop of Horrors | John B. Connally
Best Lead Performer | Female Category
Anabel Bordelon | Katherine Howard | Six: Teen Edition | Cedar Creek
London Mays | Leading Player | Pippin | Weiss
Delilah Grad | Winnie Foster | Tuck Everlasting | McCallum
Kinsley Keen | Ella | Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Emily Balderaz | Alice Murphy | Bright Star | Lehman
Avery Linden | Judy Bernly | 9 to 5 The Musical | Leander
Annie Mawson | Roxie Hart | Chicago: Teen Edition | Jack C. Hays
Chanse Solis | Queen Aggravain | Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
Brooklyn Nickel | Sandy Cheeks | The Spongebob Musical | Elgin
Best Lead Performer | Male Category
Wilkes Goodner | Baker | Into the Woods | ZACH
Caleb Clemons | Spongebob Squarepants | The Spongebob Musical | Elgin
Grayson Levee | Barrett | Titanic | Cedar Park
Kevin Rogers | William Shakespeare | Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Nicolas Hebert | Pippin | Pippin | Weiss
Isaiah Barafwala | Topher | Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Elliott Richards | Robert | The Drowsy Chaperone | Westwood
Nicholas Neumann | Frank Abagnale Jr. | Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Walker Wallace | Nick Bottom | Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Best Direction
Footloose | Dripping Springs
Matilda the Musical | Hendrickson
Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Something Rotten! | Round Rock
Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Newsies | Hutto
Bright Star | East View
Best Production
Into the Woods | ZACH
The Drowsy Chaperone | Westwood
Once Upon a Mattress | Vista Ridge
Bright Star | East View
Cinderella (Concord Broadway) | Rouse
Catch Me If You Can | Cedar Ridge
Pippin | Weiss
Six: Teen Edition | Cedar Creek
Student Achievement | Design
Kairi Natal | Akins
Jamie Jarratt | Austin
Alia Pambrum | Bastrop
Jade Vasquez | Bastrop
Anabel Bordelon | Cedar Creek
Ryan Fontaine | Cedar Park
Nathan McCoy | Crockett
Vanessa Esquivel Gaona | Del Valle
Elise Turner | Dripping Springs
Alyssa Ruiz | Elgin
Lake Facchini | Georgetown
Anastasia Benavides | Hendrickson
Caleb Bell | Hutto
Annie Mawson | Jack C. Hays
Synneva Leckbee | John B. Connally
Lucy Rees | Lago Vista
Sara Nishimura | Leander
Grant Bell | LASA
Lucy Zanker | McCallum
Rylee Montgomery | McNeil
Carmen Cartlidge | NYOS
Lorelei Lemieux | Pflugerville
Mya Barry | Rouse
Jade Ruiz | San Marcos
Priscilla Burton | Tom Glenn
Carly Klein | Vista Ridge
Jordyn Sanchez | Weiss
Hudson Kerr | Westlake
Lucy Brown | Westwood
Student Achievement | Marketing
Ever Haynes | Akins
Alia Pambrum | Bastrop
Emery Orsini | Cedar Creek
Maggie Baker | Dripping Springs
Regina Diaz | East View
Gabrielle Valle | Elgin
Amity Wann | Georgetown
Anastasia Benavides | Hendrickson
Emma Smurthwaite | Hutto
Abbie Marcionetti | Jack C. Hays
Lily Hardie | Leander
Ariana Balderaz | Lehman
Ezekiel Gregory | LASA
Mia Gonzales | McCallum
Madelyn Cregar | McNeil
Ava Dornak | Moe and Gene Johnson
Kat Pruett | Pflugerville
Emma Bannister | Rouse
Haze Close | San Marcos
Ava Ludwig | Tom Glenn
Nicolas Pacelli | Vista Ridge
Natalie Berkaw | Westwood
Student Achievement | Stage Management
Dakota Martin | Akins
Paige Solka | Austin
Miley Wood | Bastrop
Ariana Sullivan | Cedar Creek
Charlotte Adair | Cedar Park
Niko Upton | Dripping Springs
Maggie Curtis | East View
Carlos Basilio | Elgin
Elia Calzada | Georgetown
Lane Decker | Hendrickson
Caleigh Kenter | Hutto
Rain Howard | Jack C. Hays
Connie Spearman | John B. Connally
Olivia Smith | Lago Vista
Mary Shammas | Leander
Emilea White | Lehman
Naman Mishra | LASA
Ronan Henson | McCallum
Forest Trammell | McNeil
Scarlett Teague | Moe and Gene Johnson
Naomi Taylor | NYOS
Malorie Visness | Pflugerville
Reece Clark | Round Rock
Savannah DeVille | Rouse
Catherine Cortez | San Marcos
Grace Thomas | Tom Glenn
Kiera Aston | Vista Ridge
Lourdes Hernandez | Vandegrift
Sienna Connally | Weiss
Aubry Smith | Westlake
Nathan Spector | Westwood
Congratulations to all the performers, crews, educators, schools, and families who participated! We can’t wait to see y’all back at the LC – on April 16 to be exact.
Until then, be sure to follow @hellerawardsatx on social media, and click here for more information about 2025 t-shirts, digital show program ads, 2024’s ceremony photos, and to sign up for email updates!
Today, February 22, happens to be a very important holiday that we at the Long Center are excited to be observing – National Margarita Day! If you know us, you know we love a good margarita. When you come to an event at the Long Center, it’s not hard to find this ~quintessentially Austin~ beverage (usually themed to pair with your show). And there’s someone very special we have to thank for that – our friends over at Dulce Vida Tequila!
This local business (who happens to be celebrating their 15th birthday🎉) has been a proud sponsor of the Long Center for the last two years, and we’ve seen firsthand how passionate they are about Austin. We love partnering with folks who value community just as much as we do, which is why we couldn’t help but take this national holiday as a chance to tell you a little more about them! Read on to get to know DV (and look out for a little hint about what they have in store 👀).

Photo by Brynn Osborn
Long Center: Before we get started, do you have a recommendation of something people could sip on while they read?
Dulce Vida: Sure! How about a delicious Dulce Vida margarita made with our Reposado tequila that’s aged 11+ months, organic and made without additives. We’ve recently garnered accolades on our Reposado such as a 93 Rating from Wine Enthusiast and The Robb Report said we have “The best organic Reposado tequila!”
LC: First and foremost, happy 15th birthday! Can you share a bit about the brand and how it all got started?
Dulce Vida: Thank you very much! Dulce Vida Tequila’s founders are members of the community and love that Austin is a cool, weird, eclectic city with a history of successful startup brands. It’s also one that shares our brand values, such as living an active, outdoorsy lifestyle, so what better place to launch an organic, zero additive, sustainable tequila than Austin, TX, baby! In our 15 years, the industry has added 2000 tequilas and we are the ‘originals’ FROM Austin! We were the first Austin tequila launched brand and we’re very proud of our roots.

Photo by Brynn Osborn
LC: What’s the impact you’re most proud of after 15 years in the Austin community?
Dulce Vida: Over the past 15 years we’ve been able to create meaningful relationships with various entities across town that do a lot of good for the Austin community. Being able to support organizations such as HAAM (The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), The Trail Conservancy via the annual Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run, The Junior League of Austin, and Candlelight Ranch to name a few.
We’re proud of the partnerships we’ve created to further strengthen our Austin community. From our revered partnerships with historic entities such as The Long Center and Texas Longhorns Athletics, to the Austin Chronicle’s “Austin Music Awards” that highlight the important local music scene, to strong local art collectives like Almost Real Things, The Cathedral, and Good Dad Studios.
Dulce Vida Tequila is also proud to support organizations that champion inclusivity such as the ATX Gay Flag Football League, the Human Rights Campaign, and Out Youth, to name a few. It’s such an honor and privilege to showcase our 100% pure agave, zero additive, USDA Organic tequila to the Austin community. To stay connected with us and learn more, follow us on Instagram @DulceVidaTequila.
LC: We know Dulce Vida prioritizes sustainability. What are some sustainability goals you have for the next 15 years?
Dulce Vida: Yes, sustainability is very important to us. To catch people up, the concept of sustainability was very strategic in the selection of our tequila production facility as it not only had to be capable of making an award-winning product, but also had to meet requirements for organic production and overall sustainability measures. A complete recapture of all production waste is performed and yields a nutrient-rich soil supplement to the local farming community, as well as methane gas being captured to use as an energy source for the facility. Austin has always been a city that prioritizes the environment, holistic, natural approaches to wellness and clean living (ex. Whole Foods), so taking that shared ethos of sustainable practices and better-for-you products, it only made sense for our founders to create a tequila brand that did the same.
So, to answer your question on what sustainability goals that we have for the next 15 years…we plan to keep moving forward with our aforementioned processes to be a leading example in the tequila (and non-tequila) industry for other brands to take note from. For more information on our process, please visit DulceVidaSprits.com!


Photos by Gracie Oliver
LC: Obviously, Austin is THE place for Tex-Mex and margaritas. What’s your favorite part of being in a such bustling scene?
Dulce Vida: There are so many great places in Austin to get great food and great drinks (and see live music). It truly is a privilege to live in a place where so many places exist. We love it when a bartender/ mixologist/ restauranteur utilizes our amazing tequila to make an exceptional cocktail that people can enjoy. Part of what draws people to Dulce Vida Tequila is the fact that we’re organic and made without additives, which is highlighted in our flavor profile. It’s great to see our brand showcased in revered cocktails across the city. We love being integrated into great drinks that pair deliciously with the delectable culinary scene in Austin! Not to mention, add live music to your experience and Dulce Vida will fit right in.
LC: You’ve been partnered with the LC for 2 years now, and we’ve had a lot of fun along the way! What are some of your favorite parts of working together, and why do you think this partnership is important?
Dulce Vida: The Long Center has been an iconic venue in Austin for many years, helping support, highlight, and showcase the best there is to offer in the performing arts universe (locally and globally). The Long Center does a great job of bringing world renowned acts to our city for locals to enjoy while also championing established local acts and giving up-and-coming artists opportunities to highlight themselves. We love our partnership because The Long Center also offers incredible (and free!) experiential opportunities (The Drop In, for example) for locals to enjoy our city with the greatest view of Austin and our beautiful downtown skyline as the backdrop. Dulce Vida is proud to partner with The Long Center for doing such a great job of giving Austinites a place we are proud to call our own. Plus, we hear you can get a great Dulce Vida cocktail there!
LC: What are you most looking forward to as you begin your 16th year?
Dulce Vida: Dulce Vida is looking forward to another great year with The Long Center in 2025 with more great programming and of course, another great season of The Drop-In! We hear there might be some special date(s) in the works for The Drop-In – wink, wink, nudge, nudge – National Tequila Day is July 24th, just sayin…Keep an eye out for details! 🙂
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Last Thursday was a special one here at the LC – prior to the evening’s incredible performance by Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, our campus was buzzing as the exceptional dance group prepared to perform a matinee – for over 2,200 Austin ISD students!
This event was underwritten by Sarah & Ernest Butler and made possible by Long Reach for the Arts, our program in which we host K-12 students for one-of-a-kind experiences at the Long Center – all for free. In this Mid-Week Intermission, we’re diving in to share a little more about this program and the spectacular moments it creates, and why we’re putting it at the forefront on this year’s Amplify Austin Day.




AT THE SHOW
While we of course love the Long Center’s ✨regularly scheduled programming✨, the School Show Days that this program creates are some of our favorites. Students and staff from 26 AISD schools gathered to attend the morning’s performance along with a Q&A with dancers and the Mexican American Cultural Center. Based on the belief that art is a necessity and that it should be accessible to everyone, Long Reach for the Arts strives to provide new opportunities for creative discovery, connecting students to the center of Austin’s artistic identity year-round.
Every seat in the house was locked in on what was happening on stage. As the world-class dancers dazzled with their choreography, costumes, sense of humor, and surprises, you could actually feel the excitement in the air. It was clear that not only were those kiddos watching the performance, they were participating in it too.
THE IMPACT
More than just a performance, this show was a celebration of heritage as Mexican folklore, culture, and music were displayed on a truly dazzling scale. Being able to provide so many dual-language students with creative programming that features Spanish language elements is something we value, and keep top of mind when working to create these opportunities for students.
“We loved how this felt like a community event, with different organizations coming together to support our young people and teachers, and make them feel at home and valued.”
Austin ISD Staff Member
By removing traditional barriers to access like transportation and ticket prices, this program gave students who attended Thursday’s performance the chance to be immersed in creative programming they may not have had access to otherwise, with some engaging in the arts in this capacity for the very first time. And to experience it in a way that could make them feel inspired, celebrated, and connected to their community? Well, we think that’s pretty darn neat!

HELP US DO MORE
The impact was tangible – all you had to do was look at the faces (and listen to the cheers (and screams)) of the students after the show. While we do a ton of cool stuff here at the LC, it’s moments like this that highlight our impact and get us all soft n’ tender. And we can’t wait for even more just like it!
“I saw the student and teachers’ faces before and after the show. They were so excited. I was crying tears of joy, literally crying like a baby.”
Austin ISD Executive Director
That’s why this year on Amplify Austin Day, we’re raising $20,000 for this special little program of ours. Join us on this community-wide day of giving and help us continue to provide even more one-of-a-kind arts experiences for students in our community.
Thank you to our Long Reach for the Arts supporters for making this all possible!
Sarah and Ernest Butler
MFI Foundation
The Long Foundation
Dr. Marylin Gaddis and Lt. Col. George Carruthers
Sharon Hall
All photographs by Brynn Osborn
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Sometimes trying something new has a big impact, and that’s exactly what’s happening at the Long Center! Once a month Transformative Youth Justice takes over one of our spaces to create a safe, holistic environment for ages 17-20 as they participate in this innovative court-led diversion program, led by Judge Denise Hernández. Read on in this Mid-Week Intermission to learn a little more about the creative ways Judge Hernández and the TYJ team are making big impact!

Learn more about Transformative Youth Justice with Judge Denise Hernández
Long Center: Welcome to Mid-Week Intermission! We usually like to ask folks for a song to go with their interview – anything come to mind? Is there one you like to play before starting a session of Transformative Youth Justice?
Judge Hernández: When I think of a song to go with this interview, I automatically think about Morning Asana by Londrelle. It represents the energy and balance I hope participants receive in the program.
LC: Most people won’t know what Transformative Youth Justice is. Can you tell us more about the program?
Judge Hernández: The Transformative Youth Justice (TYJ) Program is a court-led diversion program for individuals between the ages of 17-20. The program utilizes a holistic community-centered approach to provide participants with developmentally-appropriate support, intervention, and case management. This age group is experiencing a pivot moment in their brain development, and the program takes this into consideration to help decrease recidivism for this age-group long-term. By focusing on intentional programming held in the community instead of the courtroom, the program helps eliminate systemic barriers to community support and increases long-term success for the participant.
The goal and vision of TYJ is to reduce recidivism and increase public safety by building a continuum of care centered in holistic community support for all program participants.
LC: How did TYJ start and how did you get involved?
Judge Hernández: TYJ started in 2023 as a collaborative effort between myself and Travis County Attorney Delia Garza. There is significant research that shows that a non-traditional docket approach, community support, and one-on-one case management will help decrease recidivism for individuals between the ages of 17-20. I took the time to meet with national research organizations to address justice system involvement among emerging adults of this age and began implementing the research into practice by creating the TYJ structure.
Motivated by my own lived experience of being system impacted, I worked with county Attorney Garza to create a program that was holistic, research-driven, and trauma-informed to help decrease system involvement for the youngest members of the adult justice system. Within a month of being on the Bench, I moved the program into community space and began building a resource network to host monthly resource fairs for the participants. The program continues to maintain a recidivism rate of less than 10%.
LC: TYJ has been taking place at the Long Center for over a year now. Why did you decide to find an “unconventional” space to host it?
Judge Hernández: I intentionally reached out to the Long Center to discuss hosting our TYJ monthly meetings because the Long Center represents community, creativity, and soul. There are so many soulful events that take place at the Long Center, but many of our participants have never even stepped into the venue. By hosting our meetings at the Long Center, we remind our participants that they belong. The space is intentionally designed to create a welcoming environment of creativity and soul, and you can feel that in every monthly TYJ meeting. By hosting our meetings at the Long Center, we intentionally create space that calms the nervous system, creates safety, and makes it easier for the participants to connect with the resources on-site.
LC: How does being in a creative setting help set the tone for the program?
Judge Hernández: We are intentionally creating an innovative approach to a diversion program. Think TED Talks for youth impacted by the justice system. Being in a creative setting allows us to create a tone of inspiration and hope for the program. Every month, we host speakers that present on topics like “making good choices,” “trauma responses,” “how to start a business,” all with the idea to inspire. We want participants to walk away from each meeting with the belief and knowing that they can change the direction of their lives. Being in a creative space helps us instill that belief into every single meeting.
LC: How have you seen the program and the impact change in the last year since switching locations?
Judge Hernández: We are bringing participants to the heart of the city by hosting TYJ meetings at the Long Center. You can see the impact of the location in the demeanor of each participant. They feel safe, they feel inspired. Since moving locations, we’ve had many participants bring their children and/or parents with them to the monthly meetings. It’s become a space of resource connection and support. Typically, in a traditional court program setting, participants would attend meetings in the courtroom. The courtroom can be a very triggering space for people, which makes people apprehensive to ask for help or support. By moving the meetings into the Long Center, we help remind participants that we are all interconnected and it’s okay to ask for help and support. At the Long Center, participants are asking for help, leaning into the resources, and working to make better decisions for themselves.
LC: What do you hope the program achieves in the future?
Judge Hernández: I hope the program becomes a national model for reducing recidivism for the youngest population impacted by the adult justice system. I dream that the program turns into a multi-agency program that brings together many sectors of our community to help address a major community issue. Together, we can create impactful change, and I’m grateful for the Long Center partnership to help bring this program to life!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.