Homewood-Flossmoor High School theater department’s spring musical “The Little Mermaid” placed in the top five Best Productions in Illinois in the 2026 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards program on Monday, May 11.
“This is a tremendous honor that reflects the hard work, creativity and dedication of our entire company,” said teacher Anne Calderon who directed the musical.
Marcus McGhee, who performed as Sebastian the crab, won third place honors. Eleanor O’Shea garnered a top 12 ranking for her performance in the lead role as Ariel the mermaid. They were among 348 student nominees.
Ash Komorowski was selected one of the top five Backstage Champions in Illinois.
“This is especially exciting as this is the first year this award has been given and Ash’s recognition highlights his exceptional behind-the-scenes leadership in our program,” Calderon said.
The production involved more than 100 H-F students from each grade level who acted under the direction of Calderon and music teacher Steve Sifner, performed the music under the direction of teacher Sarah Whitlock, worked on the scenery and were part of the technical crew under the direction of Tim Tholl.
“These achievements reflect not only individual excellence, but also the strength of our ensemble and the commitment of every student who contributed to this season,” Calderon said. “We had so many incredible students involved from on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the pit from August until April.” Performances were April 16, 17 and 18.
“An extra shout out to the production staff members for every production this year. It takes many hours and a lot of collaboration to put on the kind of shows H-F is known for.”
This is the third year H-F’s spring musical has been recognized in this awards program. In 2024, “Urinetown” won first place, and in 2025 “Between the Lines” was nominated for the best production.
Related stories:
- H-F’s musical production of ‘The Little Mermaid’ nominated for best in state award (April 29, 2026).
- Behind the Scenes: Before it’s a musical, it’s a production (April 7, 2026).
