Two Walled Lake Western students nominated for prestigious Sutton Foster Awards

Walled Lake Western’s Alyssa Vindershain and Michaela Willingham have been nominated for the 2025 Sutton Foster Awards for their performances in the Warriors’ rendition of The Addams Family.

Vindershain, who played Alice Beineke, and Willingham, who played Morticia Addams, were both recognized for Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role.

"Michaela and Alyssa both work so diligently to bring the best to every performance they have been a part of," said Walled Lake Western musical director Collin Kuss. "Seeing them grow over the years and receive this honor has been truly special."

"Their love of music and theatre, as well as their perseverance, shows in everything they do," added Kuss. "They deserve this honor wholly and completely, and I hope they are proud of carrying on the torch of theatrical excellence at Walled Lake Western."

Vindershain and Willingham will join Michigan’s other nominees for two weekends at Wharton Center for Performing Arts in East Lansing, where they will continue to develop their theatre skills in workshops led by industry professionals. At the conclusion of the workshops, they will take part in the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase at the Wharton Center in June. During that performance, judges will select Michigan’s two Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role winners. Those two winners will earn a $1,000 cash prize and fly to New York City to compete for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards on June 23 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.