Soon thousands of students from Northampton, Lehigh, and Warren Counties will begin to present their spring musicals to hundreds of spectators across the region, culminating in the 24th annual FREDDY© Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 21st, 2026. This year, a record of 31 schools will participate.
“Seeing 31 schools participate is a true testament to the importance this area places on the performing arts,” said Kori Lotito, FREDDY© Awards Coordinator. “We are thrilled to be the place where these schools congregate and create a vibrant, supportive, and joyful community.”
Throughout its 99th season, the State Theatre has encouraged its patrons to Experience the Magic of theatre. The art that FREDDY students create yearly is often described as inspirational, and the friendships, memories, and community they gain are nothing short of magical – a sensation that can be felt even through a TV screen. Thanks to the State Theatre’s producing partner, WFMZ-TV, the FREDDYs have been televised live from the very beginning, and the public will once again be able to witness the magic of this celebrated event.
“We couldn’t be more excited,” says State Theatre Center for the Arts President and CEO, Shelley Brown. “We are welcoming an all-time high number of high schools to the program this year. The format will remain the same, but with more schools, the energy in the room will be higher than ever!”
A full list of participating schools, along with their productions, performance dates, showtimes, and ticket-purchasing links, is available at https://www.statetheatre.org/freddy-awards/. This year’s FREDDY© Award nominations will be announced on Thursday, May 7th, at noon. The live broadcast of the awards ceremony will air on Thursday, May 21st, at 7 PM. Both will be available to watch on WFMZ Channel 69 and streaming on WFMZ+. To learn more about the FREDDY Awards, visit https://www.statetheatre.org/education/.
Full List of Participating Schools available at FREDDYAwards.org