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Northwest Theatre Students Shine at Allie Awards 2026

by Sarah Smith-Hutchinson

Senatobia, MS (02/10/2026) — Northwest Mississippi Community College Theatre Department took home several awards at this year's Northwest Mississippi Theatre Alliance Awards (Allie Awards) ceremony on February 6, 2026.

The Allie Awards was founded in 2002 by Mathew Lipscomb III to support the performing arts. The Allie Awards celebrate the talent and excellence in Northwest Mississippi. Northwest competes alongside other community theatres like DeSoto Family Theatre.

Many of Northwest Theatre students won for their roles in the fall production of "The Diviners" including Noah Barnette of Southaven who won Best Leading Actor in a Play for Buddy, Anna Denton Landrum of Hernando who won Best Featured Actress in a Play for Darlene, Steven Black of Memphis, Tenn., for Best Lighting, Theatre Instructor Alyssa Algee of Sardis for Best Sound, and Theatre Instructor Kayla Manzolillo of Ethelsville, Alabama for Best Director of a Drama. Carter Juzeszyn of Southaven won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role as Mr. Mushnik in "Little Shop of Horrors" and Kaileigh Kellum of Houlka won Best Props for her work on Little Shop. Olivia Callahan of Lake Cormorant received the Wesley Williamson Legacy Award.

"I could not be more proud of our students and the dedication, passion, and professionalism they brought to this production," said Manzolillo. "Seeing their work recognized at this year's Allie Awards was incredibly rewarding. This marked my fifth year participating in the Allie Awards, an organization that has had a lasting impact on the local theatre community and has long served as a valuable source of networking and outreach for the Northwest Theatre Program."

Manzolillo said she's heard a lot of positive feedback from people including frequently hearing "it (the Diviners) stuck with me - I keep thinking about it." She said it means a lot to her to create work that resonates with audiences.

"It was a surprise and a blessing to be recognized so many times for both productions," said Algee. "We are incredibly proud of the work that our students do; they pour their hearts and souls into each production and it is so rewarding to be able to watch them walk across that stage and receive an award for all of their hard work. A big thank you to Mat Lipscomb and the Alliance for their recognition."

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Northwest Mississippi Community College students and faculty (L-R) Alyssa Algee, Clayton Gregg, Hannah Cummins, Olivia Callahan, Anna Landrum, Noah Barnette, Carter Juzeszyn, Allison Scurlock, Zyaira White, Macie Fischer, Jon-Albert Wooley, Kayla Manzolillo, (Back Row L-R) Jackson Kemp, Nathan Washington, and Tanner Hays (alumnus) at the Allie Awards on Friday February 6. Photo provided by Alyssa Algee

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