Five Students Nominated for Schmidt and Jones Awards

FWCD’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has earned regional recognition through multiple nominations for the Schmidt and Jones Awards, which highlight excellence in high school musical theatre in the DFW metroplex. Five actors stood out: Ethan Lampka ’26, Leo Hatem ’28, Ally Dykes ’27, Lorena Manrique ’28 and Clara Dean ’29 were each nominated for an award. 

Lamka was recognized in the Best Supporting Actor category for his portrayal of Pharaoh and Jacob. Hatem earned a nod for Best Actor in a Minfor Role for his performances as Dan, Guard and Poriphar. In the Best Actress in a Minor Role category, both Dykes, for her role as Mrs. Potiphar, and Manrique, as Apache Solo, received nominations. Dean was recognized for her role as Butler and her featured solo in “One More Angel.”

Established in 2010, the Schmidt and Jones Awards recognize outstanding student achievement in performance and technical theatre. A panel of theatre educators and professional artists attends productions from participating schools in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties, offering written evaluations and selecting nominees and winners across a range of categories. 

The awards are named for composer Harvey Schmidt and lyricist Tom Jones, the creators of The Fantasticks, the longest-running musical in American theatre history. Both native Texans, Schmidt and Jones built a lasting legacy in musical theatre, earning numerous honors, including a special Tony Award, induction into the Broadway Hall of Fame, and recognition from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Their connection to Texas theatre makes the awards particularly meaningful for students.

Lyric Stage organizes the Schmidt and Jones Awards. The awards are presented each year in a ceremony at the Moody Performance Hall, where nominated students and schools are featured in performances alongside professional artists. This year’s awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m.