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McALLEN, Texas – The stage is officially set for the 2026 Palm Awards following the nominations announcement held at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. Community and civic leaders, along with educators gathered for the Palm Awards Nominations Breakfast to celebrate the outstanding talent of high school students.
The event serves as the official kickoff to the 8th Annual Palm Awards, scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Nominees were revealed across multiple categories, recognizing excellence in performance, design, and production among participating high schools. (see attached nomination list)
During the program, City Manager Isaac J. Tawil emphasized the broader impact of the Palm Awards. “At the City of McAllen, we believe the future of our community is shaped by the opportunities we create today, which is why we are proud to support initiatives like the Palm Awards. We want to ensure that more students have access not only to attend performances but to experience, learn from, and be inspired by them. When we invest in the arts, we are investing in our future and in McAllen. Next is Now.”
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Watch a video of the event from the City of McAllen:
Often compared to the Tony Awards for high school theatre and fine arts, the Palm Awards has become one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events. The show, historically sells out, draws more than 1,800 attendees annually, with thousands more tuning in via livestream.
Tickets to the 2026 Palm Awards are now available on Ticketmaster and at the box office. For more information, contact Joe Garcia at 956-681-3818 or email: conventionsmarketing@mcallen.net
Nominations – Straight Play Division
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| Nominees for BEST TECHNICAL EXECUTION of a Play are: |
| Clue: Live On Stage – PSJA North |
| Homestead – PSJA Southwest |
| Bright Ideas – McAllen “McHi” |
| Flowers for Algernon (AL-jer-non)– Robert Vela |
| Ripcord – Harlingen PAC |
| What I Did Last Summer – McAllen Memorial |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Rabbit Hole – Sharyland Pioneer |
| Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit – PSJA Memorial |
| Nominees for BEST ENSEMBLE of a Play are: |
| Homestead – PSJA Southwest |
| Bright Ideas – McAllen “McHi” |
| Ripcord – Harlingen PAC |
| What I Did Last Summer – McAllen Memorial |
| Clue: Live On Stage HSE – PSJA North |
| Flowers for Algernon – Robert Vela |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Everybody – Sharyland |
| Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit – PSJA Memorial |
| Nominees for BEST PERFORMER IN A FEATURED ROLE of a Play are: |
| D’zarei Mancha (deh-ZAR-ee) from McAllen Memorial in the role of Bonny |
| Isabella Pegan from McAllen “McHi” in the roles of Ms. Heath / Mom 2 |
| Sanaa Maddox from Robert Vela in the role of Mrs. Donner |
| Isabella Montemayor from Sharyland in the role of Death |
| Mariachi Group from Edinburg North in the role of Mariachi |
| Mariana Almanza from Brownsville Veterans Memorial in the role of The Queen |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Javier Cabello-Corona from Harlingen PAC in the role of Benjamin |
| Victoria Arteaga from PSJA Memorial in the roles of Captain / Doc / Sprat |
| Nominees for BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE of a Play are: |
| Tomas Gonzalez from McAllen Memorial in the role of Ted |
| George Matthew Gutierrez from Harlingen PAC in the role of Scotty |
| Eric Mendoza from Harlingen PAC in the role of Derek |
| Jose Gutierrez from McAllen “McHi” in the role of Ross |
| Rolando Morales from Robert Vela in the role of Dr. Strauss |
| Angel Rojero from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Califas |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Daniel Puentes from PSJA Memorial in the role of Pinocchio |
| Paxton Berry from Sharyland in the role of Somebody / Friendship |
| Nominees for BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE of a Play are: |
| Eliana Quintanilla from McAllen “McHi” in the role of Denise |
| Alexa Enriquez from PSJA Southwest in the role of Agnes Beckman |
| Elizza Gonzales from Harlingen PAC in the role of Colleen |
| Alexandra Guerrero from PSJA Southwest in the role of Birdie McClean |
| Taia Galloso from McAllen “McHi” in the role of Lynzie |
| Febe-Grace Snyman (FEH-beh Grace SNIH-man) from Sharyland Pioneer in the role of Izzy |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Josie Buitron from Sharyland Pioneer in the role of Nat |
| Kaylee Alvarez from Nikki Rowe in the role of Belmira |
| Nominees for BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE of a Play are: |
| Diego Ordonez from McAllen “McHi” in the role of Josh |
| Isaac Gonzalez from PSJA North in the role of Mr. Wadsworth |
| Reid Garcia from Robert Vela in the role of Charlie Gordon |
| Aiden Kaiser from McAllen Memorial in the role of Charlie |
| John Kidd from Sharyland in the role of Everybody |
| Juan Serrano from Sharyland Pioneer in the role of Howie |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Anthonie Luna from PSJA Memorial in the role of H.D |
| Matthew Suarez from PSJA North in the role of Mr. Plum |
| Nominees for BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE of a Play are: |
| Ava Rodriguez from McAllen “McHi” in the role of Genevra |
| Sophia Salazar from PSJA North in the role of Miss Scarlet |
| Azeneth Corrales from Harlingen PAC in the role of Abby Binder |
| Fernanda Macias from PSJA Southwest in the role of Lillian Beckman |
| Avery Janssen from Harlingen PAC in the role of Marilyn Dunne |
| Kendra Carle from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Marta Torres |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Luna Galvan from McAllen Memorial in the role of Grace |
| Khloe Solis from Weslaco in the role of Olivia |
| Nominees for BEST PRODUCTION of a Play are: |
| Ripcord – Harlingen PAC |
| Bright Ideas – McAllen “McHi” |
| Clue: Live On Stage HSE – PSJA North |
| Homestead – PSJA Southwest |
| What I Did Last Summer – McAllen Memorial |
| Flowers for Algernon (AL-jer-non) – Robert Vela |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Everybody – Sharyland |
| Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit – PSJA Memorial |
Nominations – Musical Division
| Nominees for BEST TECHNICAL EXECUTION of a Musical are: |
| Frozen – Harlingen PAC |
| The Lion King – PSJA Southwest / PSJA Jefferson T-STEM |
| Sweeney Todd – Robert Vela |
| Little Shop of Horrors – Harlingen PAC |
| The Descendants – PSJA North |
| The Addams Family School Edition – Mission Veterans Memorial |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Ride the Cyclone – La Joya Palmview |
| Seussical Jr. – PSJA |
| The Addams Family – McAllen Memorial |
| Nominees for BEST ENSEMBLE of a Musical are: |
| Frozen – Harlingen PAC |
| Seussical Jr. – PSJA |
| The Addams Family School Edition – Mission Veterans Memorial |
| Sweeney Todd – Robert Vela |
| Little Shop of Horrors – Harlingen PAC |
| The Addams Family – McAllen Memorial |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Mean Girls – McAllen “McHi” |
| Ride the Cyclone – La Joya Palmview |
| The Lion King Jr. – PSJA Southwest / PSJA Jefferson T-STEM |
Nominees for BEST CHOREOGRAPHY of a Musical are:
| The Descendants – PSJA North |
| Frozen – Harlingen PAC |
| Mean Girls – McAllen “McHi” |
| Alice by Heart – Nikki Rowe |
| The Addams Family – Mission Veterans Memorial |
| The Lion King Jr. – PSJA Southwest / PSJA Jefferson |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Sweeney Todd – Robert Vela |
| Into the Woods Jr. – Edinburg North |
| Ride the Cyclone – La Joya Palmview |
| Nominees for BEST PERFORMER IN A FEATURED ROLE of a Musical are: |
| Addison Ruiz from Harlingen PAC in the role of Oaken |
| Dean Cortez from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Lurch |
| Julia Belmonte from Harlingen PAC in the role of Audrey II |
| Andrea Hernandez from La Joya Palmview in the role of The Amazing Karnak |
| Kennedy Kaiser from McAllen Memorial in the role of Grandmama |
| Israel Frias from PSJA in the roles of Wickersham Brother / Decoy Cat in the Hat |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Camila Cortez from PSJA Southwest / PSJA Jefferson in the role of Sarabi |
| Camilo Gonzalez from Sharyland Pioneer in the role of Pepper |
| Max Coen from Los Fresnos in the role of Drake |
| Nominees for BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE of a Musical are: |
| Marco Lopez from Mission in the role of Pumba |
| Gilberto Silva from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Uncle Fester |
| Samuel Garza from PSJA in the role of Orin Scrivello (OR-in skrih-VELL-oh), DDS |
| Josh Brazier (BRAY-zhur) from PSJA Southwest / PSJA Jefferson in the role of Rafiki |
| George Matthew Gutierrez from Harlingen PAC in the role of Hans |
| Dwayne Lozano from PSJA Southwest / PSJA Jefferson in the role of Scar |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Aiden Kaiser from McAllen Memorial in the role of Pugsley |
| Lorenzo Lara from Harlingen PAC in the role of Pabbie |
| Damien Rivera from Mission in the role of Zazu |
| Nominees for BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE of a Musical are: |
| Kara Cisneros from Harlingen PAC in the role of Young Elsa |
| Isabella Pegan from McAllen “McHi” in the role of Gretchen Wieners |
| Kaitlyn Portillo from La Joya Palmview in the role of Constance Blackwood |
| Isabelle McKernan from Mission in the role of Nala |
| Luna Galvan from McAllen Memorial in the role of Alice |
| Alexa Trevino from Harlingen PAC in the role of Olaf |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Samira Chavarria from PSJA Memorial in the role of Tomika |
| Danika Leal from PSJA Memorial in the role of Summer Hathaway |
| Brooke Vaughn from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Alice Beineke |
| Nominees for BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE of a Musical are: |
| Bianca Rios from Harlingen PAC in the role of Elsa |
| Alana Carrillo from McAllen Memorial in the role of Morticia |
| Nadia Vento from Harlingen PAC in the role of Anna |
| Odalys Trevino from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Morticia Addams |
| Bianca Betancourt from Sharyland Pioneer in the role of Deb |
| Azeneth Corrales from Harlingen PAC in the role of Audrey |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Natalie Casteneda from La Joya Palmview in the role of Jane Doe |
| Sofia Guerra from PSJA North in the role of Maleficent |
| Jolly Garza from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Wednesday Addams |
| Nominees for BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE of a Musical are: |
| Justin Maya from Nikki Rowe in the roles of Alfred Hallem / White Rabbit |
| Reid Garcia from Robert Vela in the role of Sweeney Todd |
| Javier Cabello-Corona from Harlingen PAC in the role of Kristoff |
| Tomas Gonzalez from McAllen Memorial in the role of Gomez Addams |
| Jose Peralez from Mission Veterans Memorial in the role of Gomez Addams |
| Miguel Rodriguez from PSJA in the role of The Cat in the Hat |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Alejandro Rodriguez from Edinburg North in the role of The Baker |
| Milo Cruz from Robert Vela in the role of Anthony Hope |
| Alejandro Rodriguez from PSJA North in the role of Jay |
| Nominees for BEST PRODUCTION of a Musical are: |
| Mean Girls – McAllen “McHi” |
| Frozen – Harlingen PAC |
| Seussical Jr. – PSJA |
| The Addams Family School Edition – Mission Veterans Memorial |
| The Lion King Jr. – PSJA Southwest / PSJA Jefferson |
| Sweeney Todd – Robert Vela |
| Little Shop of Horrors – Harlingen PAC |
| The Addams Family – McAllen Memorial |
| Receiving Honorable Mention in this category: |
| Ride the Cyclone – La Joya Palmview |
Information source: City of McAllen
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