Lillian Tang Takes Sutton Foster Award

Singing, dancing, acting, stage presence: a Sutton Foster award winner must have it all. And on May 31, 2026, Lillian Tang (grade 10) came away with the title as the best high school female in the state of Michigan.

Based on the adjudication by SFA judges who attended the BHHS 2025 Fall musical, The Hello Girls, Tang, as well as another leading actor, Lily Novestky (grade 11), received nominations to attend the annual SFA workshop, audition, and showcase at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts in East Lansing, MI. The showcase consisted of high school musical theater nominees from across the state. 

Eight finalists were chosen based on their initial live performances in the fall, dancing at the workshop, and an audition video of the song to be performed live at the showcase. When describing the process, Tang said, “During that [workshop] weekend, we learned all of our songs and dances for Sutton Foster Award night. Then, we had two more days of workshops and then the award night. They announced the eight finalists and then we had to sing our prepared solos right after. I was lucky that I went last because it gave me more time to calm my nerves!”

The two excited winners, Tang and her male counterpart, literally jumped for joy on stage, with mouths agape in wonder and awe at winning such a challenging competition among so many talented students.

Winning an award like this takes not only a strong base of natural talent, but also years of preparation, and various sources of support. “I want to thank everyone for their support. I want to thank all of the BHS teachers and principals I’ve had over the years, all of my friends and their families, and all of the people in the community who have come to my shows. I just want everyone to know that I’m going to try my best to make Bloomfield Hills proud," said Tang.

The next level of competition is the national stage at the Jimmy Awards in New York, NY. As the female nominee from Michigan, Tang will join nominees from other states who have won similar competitions. Students will spend 10 days in the dorms at The Juilliard School, taking classes and attending workshops, as well as facing additional adjudications. The Jimmy Awards will take place on Broadway on June 22. “On that day, we will get to perform and find out the results from the adjudication. They will name the eight finalists and they will get a chance to sing their solos to win the Jimmys. It will be livestreamed, so everyone can watch if they want to!”

Congratulations to Lily, her teachers, family, and friends, for this great accomplishment. We hope you “break a leg” in New York!

Raised in Troy, MI, Sutton Foster is a highly accomplished musical theatre actress, a two-time Tony Award winner, and television actress.