Buffalo, NY

2026 Ceremony Date: May 16, 2026

The purpose of the Shea’s Wonder Awards is to recognize, reward, and encourage student talent and achievement in high school musical theatre productions in the Buffalo area.

The program was formerly known as The Kenny Awards and Shea’s High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Nominees

2025

Jonah Higgins

Jonah Higgins

Javert, Les Misérables: School Edition

West Seneca West High School

Naomi Lawley

Naomi Lawley

Elle Woods, Legally Blonde the Musical

Nardin Academy

2024

Tori Gill

Tori Gill

Velma Kelly, Chicago: Teen Edition

Nardin Academy

Connor Hesch

Connor Hesch

Jean Valjean, Les Misérables: School Edition

Amherst Central High School

2023

Tiffany Nowak

Tiffany Nowak

Belle, Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Maryvale High School

Ayden Weinstein

Ayden Weinstein

Prince Eric, Disney's The Little Mermaid

Williamsville East High School

2022

Ryan Butler

Ryan Butler

Jack Kelly, Newsies

Starpoint High School

Lizzie Hopkins

Lizzie Hopkins

Jo March, Little Women

Barker Central School

2021

Caleb Gould

Caleb Gould

Eden Junior Senior High School

Talia Mobley

Talia Mobley

West Seneca West Senior High School

2019

Penelope Sergi

Penelope Sergi

Elle Woods, Legally Blonde the Musical

West Seneca West Senior High School

Matthew Wilson

Matthew Wilson

Jean Valjean, Les Misérables

Buffalo Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts

2018

Emily Kuhn

Emily Kuhn

Lucy, Jekyll & Hyde

Tonawanda Middle High School

Christopher Palumbo

Christopher Palumbo

Bert, Mary Poppins

Starpoint High School

2017

Grace Auer

Grace Auer

Reno Sweeney, Anything Goes

Maple Grove Jr-Sr High School

Ian Hayes

Ian Hayes

Prince Eric, Disney's The Little Mermaid

Frontier Senior High School

2016

Rachel Kauderer

Rachel Kauderer

Frau Blücher, Young Frankenstein

Clarence High School

Joseph Russi

Joseph Russi

Gomez Addams, The Addams Family

Frontier High School