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Fairfax County Public Schools theater programs captured 27 honors at the 2026 Cappies Awards, including the top prizes for both play and musical.

The Cappies of the National Capital Area recognized high school theater excellence during its annual gala June 7 at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

Three FCPS students earned critic awards: Abby Marroquin of West Springfield High School received the Andy Mays Rising Critic award for ninth- and 10th-grade students; Alden Walcott of South Lakes High School won the Maryland Theater Guide Returning Critic award for 11th grade; and Mary Campbell of Westfield High School received the Bill and Jane Strauss Graduating Critic award for 12th grade.

Technical and production honors included:

  • Special Effects and/or Technology: Jonah Johnson and the SFX Team for Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic Young Wizard Edition, Westfield High School.
  • Lighting: Sage Esarey for Cabaret (1998 Version), Lake Braddock Secondary School.
  • Costumes: Lila Halleran for Cabaret (1998 Version), Lake Braddock Secondary School.
  • Sets: Carson Brownlee, Mubeen Ahmad, Trevor Freeman and Serena Indrisano for Arsenic and Old Lace, Herndon High School.
  • Orchestra: The Kit Kat Club Orchestra for Cabaret (1998 Version), Lake Braddock Secondary School.
  • Choreography: Nate Smith, Naomi Bautista and Libby Hansen for Something Rotten!, Fairfax High School.
  • Creativity: Taylor Clawson, Emilie Fiske and Isabelle Phillipe for animation and video editing in A Monster Calls, South Lakes High School.
  • Stage Management: Christine Dang for Cabaret (1998 Version), Lake Braddock Secondary School.
  • Stage Crew: Lena Thepvongsa, Callaghan Crofton and Amelia Loht for The Play That Goes Wrong (High School Edition), Centreville High School.

Performance awards went to:

  • The Core Ensemble of A Monster Calls at South Lakes High School, Ensemble in a Play.
  • Holland Hasle of Cabaret (1998 Version) at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Dancer in a Female Role.
  • Nate Wheeler Smith of Something Rotten! at Fairfax High School, Dancer in a Male Role.
  • Cara Ethington of Arsenic and Old Lace at Herndon High School, Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play.
  • Yann Lam of The Play That Goes Wrong at Langley High School, Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play.
  • Savannah Day of Anything Goes at Oakton High School, Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical.
  • Lucy Baboyian of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Annandale High School, Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play.
  • Pascual Aguilar-Rodriguez of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Annandale High School, Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play.
  • Romain Dairay of Anything Goes at Oakton High School, Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical.
  • Liam Birch of A Monster Calls at South Lakes High School, Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play.
  • Murphy Finnegan of Cabaret (1998 Version) at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical.
  • Nathan Lee of Cabaret (1998 Version) at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical.

Westfield High School also won the Critic Team award. South Lakes High School’s A Monster Calls was named the winning play, while Lake Braddock Secondary School’s Cabaret (1998 Version) took the musical honor.