Northwest Theatre earns top Allie honors
Key Points
- – Multiple Northwest Mississippi Community College theatre students and instructors won major Allie Awards
- – Honors spanned acting, directing, technical design, and legacy recognition
- – Faculty praised students’ dedication and the impact of The Diviners and Little Shop of Horrors
SENATOBIA, Miss. — Northwest Mississippi Community College Theatre students and faculty earned top recognition at the 2026 Northwest Mississippi Theatre Alliance Awards, taking home multiple honors for standout performances and technical achievements.
Founded in 2002 by Mathew Lipscomb III, the Allie Awards spotlight excellence in community theatre across the region, including groups such as DeSoto Family Theatre. This year, Northwest’s fall production of The Diviners and its staging of Little Shop of Horrors led to a strong showing across categories.
Noah Barnette of Southaven won Best Leading Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Buddy in The Diviners. Anna Denton Landrum of Hernando earned Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role as Darlene, while Steven Black of Memphis received Best Lighting. Theatre instructor Alyssa Algee of Sardis won Best Sound, and instructor Kayla Manzolillo of Ethelsville, Alabama was awarded Best Director of a Drama.
From Little Shop of Horrors, Carter Juzeszyn of Southaven won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as Mr. Mushnik, and Kaileigh Kellum of Houlka earned Best Props. 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,” Manzolillo said. “Seeing their work recognized at this year’s Allie Awards was incredibly rewarding.”
Algee echoed the sentiment, calling the recognition “a surprise and a blessing.”
“We are incredibly proud of the work that our students do,” Algee said. “They pour their hearts and souls into each production, and it is so rewarding to watch them walk across that stage and receive an award for all of their hard work.”
