We are thrilled with your interest in the Dazzle Awards program!
The Dazzle Awards program has become the cornerstone of Playhouse Square’s Education Department, serving over 20,000 students from 61 schools across Northeast Ohio since the inaugural year. The program has offered over 100 professional classes and audition workshops with some of the most talented artists from Broadway and Cleveland, providing students with valuable backstage and technical theater experience as well as triple-threat performer skills. Over the last 11 years, the Dazzle Awards has recognized the skill and achievement of local high school students with 127 trophies and awarded over $50,000 in cash prizes!
Playhouse Square can accommodate a limited number of high schools in the Dazzle Awards program. Applications are processed in the order they are received. All 2025-26 participating schools in good standing are guaranteed a place in the 2026-27 program upon receipt of a completed application by the deadline. Applications from new or returning schools that did not participate in 2025-26 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The application period is Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 10 a.m. – Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Application Criteria:
To apply for participation in the Dazzle Awards program, schools must:
- Be a four-year accredited high school located in one of the following counties:
- Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage or Summit.
- Produce a full-length musical listed on the NHSMTA Qualifying Shows & Roles list.
- Produce their musical within the adjudication window of October 30, 2026–April 18, 2027.
- Cast the production with a minimum of 80% current high school students (grades 9-12).
- Schools accepted into the program must attend the Orientation Meeting at Playhouse Square on October 6, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
- Provide their Insurance Policy showing Playhouse Square Foundation as an Additional Insured through June 30, 2027, upon acceptance into the program.
- Pay the following expenses after acceptance into the program:
- A $300 participation fee. A minimum purchase of 25 tickets ($20 each) for the Dazzle Awards Ceremony.
The application and subsequent materials must be submitted by the primary or secondary school contact. Any materials submitted by students or parents will not be processed. Please Note: you cannot submit the application until you have completed all sections. This means that we cannot process your school’s application until the completed survey is submitted.
Schools will be notified of their participation status by September 25, 2026.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY for the 2026-27 Dazzle Awards Program