🎭 Congratulations to Coach Nay – ariZoni Award Winner!

We are beyond thrilled to celebrate Coach Nay for winning the ariZoni Award for Actress in a Major Role – Musical Category for the 2024-2025 season! She earned this incredible honor for her role as Hermes in Hadestown: Teen Edition with Spotlight Youth Theater, under the expert direction of Jack and Fallon Taylor. This was Coach Nay’s debut at SYT, making her win even more remarkable.

At one of the Hadestown performances, a former director, Tyler Thompson, who directed her debut role at VYT’s Spookley the Square Pumpkin, attended the show. Impressed by her talent, he offered her a callback audition, which led to her debut at Hale Theatre in Gilbert as Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for Summer 2025.

Coach Nay continues to shine as a senior in high school this year with ATO Academy, and we can’t wait to see what incredible opportunities await her next.

From PHX Stages Website Blog:

The award recipients for the 2024/2025 ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence were announced during the 35th Annual ariZoni Awards on Tuesday, September 30th at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Over 1,250 people attended, marking a record attendance for the Zoni Awards. Over 200 productions from more than 35 theatre companies were adjudicated in both Adult and Youth categories, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication within our community. This annual event celebrates excellence in Arizona theatre and honors the hard work and creativity of our local theatre artists.

This year's event is generously supported by our presenting sponsor, Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, with additional support from Actor's PLAYground Theatre Company, Desert Foothills Theater, Ghostlight Theatre, and Greasepaint Youth Theatre/Scottsdale Community Players. The 2025 ariZoni Awards were made possible, in part, through assistance from Scottsdale Arts.

ariZoni board directors and award presenters noted several times that it is harder to win or be nominated for a Zoni than it is for a Tony, which makes Coach Nay’s achievement even more extraordinary. We are incredibly proud of her hard work, dedication, and commitment to every role she portrays. Learn more about the ariZoni Theatre Awards here! 

Join us in congratulating Coach Nay on this well-deserved honor! 🌟