Two University of Southern Maine students are celebrating a combined three wins at the 2025 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards, earning statewide recognition for their work on professional and community stages. The annual awards, determined by audience vote, honor Maine’s favorite theater productions and artists across both professional and non-professional productions.
Senior theater major Emma Graffam earned the award for Best Performer in a Play (Professional) for her role as Shelby Hinkley in Out There Theater Company’s production of I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire – her first professional acting award.
Abbie Kneeland, a fifth-year music major in the Osher School of Music, won twice: Best Music Direction & Orchestra Performance (Non-Professional) for Lakewood Theater’s production of Anything Goes, and Best Supporting Performer in a Musical (Non-Professional) for Lakewood Theater’s production of Footloose.
Emma Graffam’s win: A comedic triumph
In the dark comedy I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, Graffam played Shelby Hinkley, a bullied 14-year-old and Tobey Maguire fan club president who kidnaps the Spider-Man actor.
“I’m a comedic actor to my core and felt like this was a role written for me,” Graffam said. “Shelby is a very well written character and was such a delight to embody.”
The award marked a milestone for Graffam, who was previously nominated for community theater work but had never won. As a fan-voted honor, the recognition holds special meaning.
“It’s so nice to have evidence that I made an impact on people,” Graffam said. “It’s one of my favorite parts about being an actor.”
Graffam, who has been cast in a USM production every semester since enrolling, credits the theater program’s supportive environment with developing her skills.
“All our faculty are incredibly encouraging,” said Graffam. “They always will take time out of their busy schedules to meet and discuss our careers or go over audition material.”
Abbie Kneeland’s double win showcases her range
For Kneeland, the two non-professional honors from her work with Lakewood Theater are a meaningful sign of community support.
“It meant a lot to me that so many theatergoers came and supported these shows,” Kneeland said. “It’s wonderful that community theaters in Maine continue to foster the arts and that audiences continue to show up.”
At Lakewood Theater, a community theater in Madison, Maine, Kneeland took on two distinct roles. She played Rusty Rodriguez, best friend to the lead character, in Footloose. Shortly after, she served as both ensemble member and music director for Anything Goes. The dual responsibilities proved fulfilling.
“Lakewood Theater became an outlet for me to play around with performing and music directing in a low stakes environment,” Kneeland said. “I found myself rapidly growing my confidence.”
Kneeland said her success was shaped in large part by her time at USM.
“My experience and training at USM is really the sole reason that I have the confidence to continue to participate in, and really thrive, in these environments,” she said.
What’s next after graduation?
After four years of steady work on USM stages, Graffam is ready to pursue professional acting full-time.
“I want to get cast in more and more professional productions and maybe eventually work in TV or film,” said Graffam.
For Kneeland, the wins have been encouraging, helping her to build confidence as she looks toward a career in choral music – whether through teaching in schools or auditioning for professional choirs.
As both students prepare for graduation this spring, their BroadwayWorld wins mark early milestones in what they hope will be long careers in the performing arts.Their successes reflect the hands-on training and performance opportunities available through USM’s Department of Theatre and the Osher School of Music, where students gain real-world experience both onstage and behind the scenes.