Two Walled Lake Central students nominated for prestigious Sutton Foster Awards

Walled Lake Central’s Diego Baca and Aliya Riste have been nominated for the 2025 Sutton Foster Awards for their performances in the Vikings’ rendition of She Loves Me.

Baca, who played George Novak, and Riste, who played Ilona Ritter, were both recognized for Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role.

“We are incredibly proud of them,” said Walled Lake Central musical director Olivia Bloomer. “Diego and Aliya are two of the hardest working high schoolers I have had the privilege of teaching and directing.”

“Diego, an All-State swimmer and high achieving student, balance a rigorous swim schedule along with the lead role in our music,” added Bloomer. “Aliya, a 3-time dance captain in our musical program, has shown major dedication in every role she has played within our program over her four years at Central.”

Baca and Riste will join Walled Lake Northern’s Blake Bardocz and Truman Columbus, Walled Lake Western’s Alyssa Vindershain and Michaela Willingham, as well as 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.