Two Walled Lake Northern students nominated for prestigious Sutton Foster Awards

Walled Lake Northern’s Blake Bardocz and Truman Columbus have been nominated for the 2025 Sutton Foster Awards for their performances in the Knights’ rendition of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat.

Bardocz, who played Pharaoh, and Columbus, who played Joseph, were both recognized for Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role.

“Being nominated for the Sutton Foster Awards is not just a recognition of talent, but a celebration of passion, dedication and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the performing arts at Walled Lake Northern,” said Walled Lake Northern musical director Ashley Ward. “Both Blake and Truman exemplify the heart and soul of theater, and we are very proud of this recognition.”

Bardocz and Columbus will join Walled Lake Western’s Alyssa Vindershain and Michaela Willingham, as well as Michigan’s other nominees, for two weekends at Wharton Center for Performing Arts in East Lansing, where they will continue to develop their theatre skills in workshops led by industry professionals. At the conclusion of the workshops, they will take part in the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase at the Wharton Center in June. During that performance, judges will select Michigan’s two Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role winners. Those two winners will earn a $1,000 cash prize and fly to New York City to compete for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards on June 23 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.