Walton Arts Center’s Diamond Awards 

Walton Arts Center is proud to announce the second annual Diamond Awards. This program celebrates the power of the arts in education and motivates support for and interest in high school musicals. The award ceremony will take place in May 23, 2026 and will recognize achievement and excellence in musical theater among local high school students in the 2025-26 school year. 

Congratulations to the Inaugural Diamond Awards recipients!

Best Actor – Cardon Sullivan, Bentonville West High School

Best Actress - Audrey Redwine, Fayetteville High School

Best Supporting Performers – Julianne Senter, Bentonville High School, and Asher Jordan, Fayetteville High School

Sparkle Award for Outstanding Educator – Zac Perry, Farmington High School

Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards®, Diamond Awards will be presented in several categories for individuals and ensembles. The best actress and actor winners will be qualified to compete against other nominees from more than 50 regional awards programs in New York City at the Broadway League Foundation’s National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, “The Jimmy Awards®." Walton Arts Center will cover the cost of this trip for the two winners. Once there, they’ll also receive training from Broadway professionals and compete for The Jimmy Award for best actress or actor.
Watch the livestream on June 23, 2025 – jimmyawards.com

We are proud to provide the stage and spotlight for Arkansas’ students! High school theater programs that are interested in participating will need to register with Walton Arts Center. Registration will open in August of 2025. Industry professionals will adjudicate students for their performance in their high school musicals.

For more information, email diamondawards@waltonartscenter.org.

To learn more about the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, visit jimmyawards.com.

Teachers and students - it is free to participate in the Diamond Awards.

Sparkle Award Nomination for Outstanding Arts Educator

Like a diamond, teachers sparkle and shine their light on students, igniting a spark in them to grow and excel. Shine your light back on the teachers that help put students in the spotlight! Recognize the arts teacher you've worked from your high school production who has made an impact in your life and education by submitting a nomination.

Nominations for this award will be accepted in the Spring of 2026.