The Dazzle Awards, hosted annually by Playhouse Square, recognize excellence in high school musical theater productions across Northeast Ohio. Two Solon High School students were selected as Musical Apprentices: Steven Haines and Finely Barron.
The SHS Drama Club earned nominations for Best Student Orchestra, Best Choreography Execution, Best Technical Execution, and Best Scenic Design. Alongside the nominations, three Solon High School students were recognized for their work in the school’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Senior Lilah Anders received a Best Actress nomination for her role as Ariel, junior Daniel Luce earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as Jetsam and Playhouse Square.
When Playhouse Square education and creative teams selected Barron as a Musical Apprentice, the news completely surprised him. The program requires Northeast Ohio high school students to submit an application and letters of recommendation for the chance to shadow professionals and perform in the orchestra pit during the Dazzle Awards.
“It was super exciting,” Barron said, “My reveal for winning was towards the end, and we had a whole watch party with the Drama Club. If we got a nomination, we would cheer. We had no warning, and I just saw my name pop up. It was pretty great, and it was good to have all my friends surrounding me to congratulate me. It definitely had me excited.”
As a trombone player, Barron credited several mentors for helping him prepare and grow throughout the experience in the pit orchestra.
“Mr. Malden really helped me, as he’s the only one who played the trombone, and another is the associate music director named Rob,” Barron said. “It was cool— he was encouraging me during my stay at Playhouse Square.”
Barron encourages younger musicians to take risks and chances, put themselves forward, even when they’re not sure about the outcome.
“Try or audition, even if you don’t think you’ll make it, because it shows interest to that director, whoever it is, and shows you want to be part of that ensemble,” Barron said. “Always reach out to people, even if you play really well, they don’t know if you’re interested. You have to put yourself out there and introduce yourself.”
He’s also reflected on the pressure younger students can face in the competitive music and theater environments that many students experience.
“A lot of times music can fall into comparison with each other, and competition is fine, but don’t get lost in it,” Barron said, “Make sure to focus on yourself and your own playing.”
This production’s success extended beyond the orchestra pit, with cast members earning recognition for their performances. Luce’s describes his nomination as both surreal and exciting.
“I was so shocked and overwhelmed with excitement and also support from my friends,” Luce said. “I honestly couldn’t believe it at first, and it took me a few minutes to process it.”
To prepare for the role, Luce said he concentrated on physicality and deeper character development.
“I connected with Jetsam by analyzing his motivations, his background and his personality as I would with any character,” Luce said. “I also practiced my movements onstage, so I could move fluidly like an eel instead of a human. It was a fun learning curve for me, and I think the hard work paid off.”
Luce emphasized that the recognition reflected the efforts of the entire cast and crew, all cheering each other on the entire time.
“The cast of ‘The Little Mermaid’ was so supportive of both Lilah and me,” Luce said. “I felt so much love and excitement from the whole group because I think everyone understood that it wasn’t just the achievements of two individuals, but rather the dedication and care of the entire group that got us there.”
Luce also praised the atmosphere at the Dazzle Awards, saying participants encouraged one another and celebrated each other’s performances throughout the event.
“Everyone was so supportive of one another because we all knew that winning an award isn’t the point of the Dazzles – it’s about learning, meeting other actors, performing on an amazing stage and having fun,” Luce said.
While Luce doesn’t plan on pursuing acting professionally, he hopes that theater remains part of his life.
“I plan to act for fun in college, as it’s been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Luce said. “I likely won’t pursue a career in acting, but it’s still a passion of mine that I hope to continue for the rest of my life.”
After Anders received a Best Actress nomination for her role as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” she said the news left her feeling both stunned and delighted.
“My first reaction when I found out I was nominated was somewhere between pure shock and utter joy,” Anders said. “It was definitely some of the most exciting news I’ve ever received.”
Anders said that she approached the iconic role of Ariel by creating her own interpretation rather than copying previous portrayals.
“It’s easy to get lost in replicating someone else’s work, so my goal was to avoid watching other performances and instead focus on how I wanted to present Ariel,” Anders said.
Anders said representing Solon at the Dazzle Awards carried a special meaning for her.
“Coming from such a demanding and successful program, lots of students know who you are, so it’s important to uphold the things Solon is known for: professionalism, kindness and selflessness,” Anders said.
Anders encourages aspiring performers to persevere through setbacks, as she said that challenges and disappointments are part of growing as an actor.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work,” Anders said. “If you want to be up on that stage, put in the time and effort to make it happen.”
