FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: ANAKAREN CÁRDENAS UREÑO
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT
(949) 497-7700 EXT. 5232 | AURENO@LBUSD.ORG

June 5, 2026

Laguna Beach High theatre students earn top honors at MACY and Cappies awards

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Laguna Beach High School's theatre program earned one of its highest honors to date this season, receiving the Spirit of the Macy Award for its production of “Urinetown” and placing second among 57 participating schools from across Orange County and Los Angeles County.

Presented annually by the MACY Awards, the Spirit of the Macy Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre production and program achievement. According to LBHS Theatre Director Meghan Minguez-Marshall, the recognition marks a historic accomplishment for the school's theatre program.

"This was an extraordinary year for our students," Minguez-Marshall said. "Urinetown was one of the smallest casts competing in the MACY Awards this season, and to earn the Spirit of the Macy Award among so many outstanding programs speaks to the talent, dedication, and collaboration of our students both onstage and behind the scenes."

In addition to the Spirit of the Macy Award, Urinetown was recognized as a MACYs Top 10 Musical. LBHS students also earned the following MACY Awards honors:

Best Female Dancer: Eliana Seven Merritt

Best Comedic Actor Nominee: Sam Doshi O'Neill

Best Actor Nominee: Luke Donaldson

Best Actress Nominee: Sam Doshi O'Neill

Ten additional individual achievement awards recognizing members of the cast and production team

LBHS students also received significant recognition through the Orange County Cappies program, earning 11 nominations and three awards:

Best Comic Actress in a Play: Marina Strombom

Best Marketing and Publicity in a Musical: Tatum Brennan, Sam Doshi O'Neill, Mallory Keller, and Marina Strombom

Best Marketing and Publicity in a Play: Tatum Brennan, Sam Doshi O'Neill, Mallory Keller, Marina Strombom, and Georgia White

The Cappies is a student-led program in which trained high school critics attend productions at participating schools, write reviews, and vote on award recipients. The MACY Awards celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre across Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

"Our students continue to demonstrate what is possible when creativity, hard work, and collaboration come together," Minguez-Marshall said. "These recognitions reflect the commitment of our performers, technicians, designers, student leaders, and theatre educators who contribute to every production."

The LBHS theatre program provides students with opportunities to develop skills in performance, technical theatre, design, marketing, and arts leadership through productions and real-world creative experiences.

Community members can follow @lbusdtheatre on Instagram for information about upcoming performances and theatre program activities.

To learn more about Laguna Beach Unified School District and stay informed about district news, visit www.lbusd.org, follow @LagunaBeachUSD on Instagram, and subscribe to the district newsletter (www.lbusd.org/itsawrap). 

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