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Byron Nelson's "Tuck Everlasting" wins top Buckley Award

Byron Nelson's "Tuck Everlasting" wins top Buckley Award
Image of entire Tuck Everlasting crew at Betty Buckley Awards

UPDATE: Byron Nelson theatre’s production of “Tuck Everlasting” picked up three wins at the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards, including the top honor of Excellence in a Musical! In addition to that honor, Avery Sharber and Walter Jepson won Excellence in Scenic Design, and Corinne Thomas won Excellence in a Supporting Role: Musical for her role as Mae Tuck.


The theatre programs at Byron Nelson and Eaton high schools have garnered a total of 15 nominations in the prestigious Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theater Awards (HSMTA) and the Casa Mañana Betty Lynn Buckley Awards. As part of the nominations, Byron Nelson’s production of “Tuck Everlasting” is up for best musical by each organization.

“Tuck Everlasting” received nine nominations from Broadway Dallas HSMTA and five from Casa Mañana’s Buckley Awards. In addition, Eaton’s production of “High School Musical” earned a Buckley Awards nomination in the Excellence in a Student Orchestra category.

Among the HSMTA nominations for “Tuck Everlasting” are Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Lead Performer (Jackson Lacefield) and much more. In the Buckley Awards, the production is nominated for Excellence in Musical, Excellence in Supporting Performance (Corinne Thomas) and more. A complete list of nominations can be found below:

Broadway Dallas HSMTA nominations for “Tuck Everlasting”

  • Outstanding Crew and Technical Execution
  • Outstanding Stage Management (Aster Merle, Seraphina Kang and Cameron Busby)
  • Outstanding Sound Design (Addison Knisley)
  • Outstanding Set Design (Avery Sharber and Walter Jepson)
  • Outstanding Lighting Design (Peyton Watkins, Amanda Goldsmith, Jenna Dyer and Amya Jefferson-Garries)
  • Outstanding Lead Performer (Jackson Lacefield)
  • Outstanding Music Direction
  • Outstanding Direction 
  • Outstanding Musical

Casa Mañana Betty Lynn Buckley Awards nominations for “Tuck Everlasting” (winners listed in bold)

  • Excellence in Stage Management (Aster Merle, Seraphina Kang and Cameron Busby)
  • Excellence in Scenic Design (Avery Sharber and Walter Jepson)
  • Excellence in Lighting Design (Peyton Watkins, Amanda Goldsmith, Jenna Dyer and Amya Jefferson-Garries)
  • Excellence in a Supporting Performance: Musical (Corinne Thomas)
  • Excellence in a Musical
Image of orchestra at High School Musical

Casa Mañana Betty Lynn Buckley Awards nominations for “High School Musical”

  • Excellence in a Student Orchestra

The HSMTA were created to recognize and support excellence in high school musical theater in North Texas. Students and educators are recognized with an annual awards ceremony modeled after the Tony Awards and include both performance and production categories. This year’s award ceremony will be held on May 24 at Music Hall at Fair Park. Learn more at www.BroadwayDallas.org.

The Betty Lynn Buckley Awards are named after Fort Worth’s own Tony Award-winning Best Actress, Fort Worth ISD and Casa Mañana alumna Betty Lynn Buckley. This scholarship awards program has celebrated the best in high school performing arts since 2000. This year’s winners will be announced on May 16 at Casa Mañana. Learn more at www.CasaManana.org.