HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS A SMASH HIT

The power and promise of the arts and our youth met in a spectacular synergy on Monday, June 4 at Waterbury’s Palace Theater for the Fourth Annual High School Musical Theater Awards celebration.  Three thousand people dressed in gowns and black tie attended the event sponsored by Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich and its artistic director Brett. A. Bernardini.  Master of Ceremonies was actor Kevin Grey who set a wonderful tone for the evening’s festivities.

The Theater Awards involved 19 high schools from across the state. The participating schools and their associated productions included: East Lyme High School Legally Blonde; New Canaan High School, Sweet Charity; Newton High School, Sweeney Todd School Edition; Granby Memorial High School, No, No, Nanette;  New Britain High School, Hairspray; Jonathan Law High School (Milford) Hairspray; St. Paul Catholic High School (Bristol)Legally Blonde; Trinity Catholic High School, (Stamford) Beauty & The Beast; Trumbull High School, The Wiz; Valley Regional High School, (Deep River) Titanic, the musical; Westhill High School, (Stamford) The Drowsy Chaperone; Stratford High School My Favorite Year; Waterbury Arts Magnet High School, Esperanze Rising / Singing In The Rain; Guilford High School, Evita; Plainfield High School, Annie; Regional Center For The Arts, (Trumbull) Ragtime; Fairfield Prep, Kiss Me Kate;  Immaculate High School, (Danbury) Miss Saigon;  Amity High School, (Woodbridge) Legally Blonde.

Each nominated school presented a number from their show that showcased their talents and the enthusiasm was contagious.  Outstanding leading actor went to Shevance Stephens from Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull as Coalhouse in “Ragtime” and to Ali Kramer from Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde.”  Valley Regional High School’s production of Titanic, the Musical” won as outstanding production of the year. 

Mr. Stephens and Ms. Kramer will go on to New York’s Minskoff Theatre on Broadway from June 20-25 to represent Connecticut in the National High School Musical Theater Program.  Congratulations to all the wonderful participants who proved that the arts are alive and well.