7th Annual CT High School Musical Theater Awards Set for June 1
Norwich, CT – B2 Productions LLC in Norwich, CT is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards. (CHSMTA) The Black Tie Awards Gala will be held Monday, June 1, 2015 at The Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT at 6:30pm and will feature the most outstanding high school musical theater performances from across the State of Connecticut.
As the nationally designated, high school musical theater awards program for the State of Connecticut, The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards are connected with The National High School Musical Theater Award Program based in New York City.
“When I created The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards program in 2009, I did so to take a stand for high quality musical theater education within our high schools” said CHSMTA Founding Producer / Director Mr. Brett A. Bernardini. “Clearly, being attached to the National Program a good draw for schools to participate at the state level, however, for us, this program is about shining a bright light on the need – and place - for high quality, music theater educational opportunities within the school; and not as extra-curricular activities. Theater plays a major role in our national society, both as a cultural export and as a viable career for many, many people. Additionally, the leadership, commitment and self-expression gained through participating in theater are skills that contribute to strong, compassionate and thoughtful leaders of tomorrow.”
As noted in “Qualities of Quality: Understanding Excellence in Arts Education” a publication by The Harvard Graduate School of Education, commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and with additional support from the Arts Education Partnership, “Many children in the United States have little or no opportunity for formal arts instruction, and access to arts learning experiences remains a critical national challenge. In addition, the quality of arts learning opportunities that are available to young people is a serious concern.”
The year-long program, culminates with a Black Tie Awards Gala at The Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT on Monday, June 1, 2015. Hosted each year by a VIP Special Guest Master of Ceremonies, 16 awards will be presented along with performances of nominated schools, soloists and accompanied by a full orchestra!
The recipients of the CHSMTA awards for Outstanding Actor and Actress with travel to New York City at the end of June 2015 where they will join with others young people selected from other similar State program runs by professional theaters, from all across the country for the annual presentation of The Jimmy Awards. The National High School Musical Theater Awards, produced by The Broadway League, is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement that recognizes individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performances by high school students. “The Jimmy Award” is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theater owner and producer.
To participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards, professional theaters are required to be a member of The Broadway League. Each organization agrees to sponsor two student representatives, namely their local winners of the “Best Performance by an Actress” and “Best Performance by an Actor” category, in the national competition in New York City.
Over the past years, The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards has had its success at Nationals. Over the past 6 years, The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards has had 6 finalists (Stephen Mark, Grace Hardin, John Jorge, Katie Oxman, Taylor Varga, Jillian Cailoutte) and 2 National winners!! (Stephen Mark, Ridgefield HS and Taylor Varga, Newtown HS).
“The CHSMTA adjudication process is challenging, rigorous and encourages high-quality work (on stage, behind the scenes and in the classrooms) and the process obviously works!!” said Bernardini. “Not only are Connecticut students doing exceptional work in their schools, but the level of their work is being recognized on the National stage. Some awards programs hand out awards to "make sure that everyone gets something". That is not what we do at CHSMTA. We celebrate excellence based on measurable, educational goals defined by a rubric of excellence.”
“I want to challenge every school Board across this State and every single school Administrator to prove to me that High School Music Theater Education is a frill”
said Bernardini. “Musical Theater is a valid career choice for many students and for others, it is more than just a ‘school play’; it is the opportunity to develop self-esteem, discover a new country, find personal skills in public speaking, independent learning, and leadership skills. “
One of the unique and defining hallmarks of this program is the adjudication process. “We don’t label our program ‘the preeminent high school musical theater awards program in Connecticut’ without having evidence to substantiate that claim” said CHSMTA Founding Producer, Mr. Brett A. Bernardini. “Our adjudication process – one of the most challenging throughout the country – is a three-tiered process. It was created to ensure maximum educational impact and guaranteed high-quality achievement” said Bernardini.
“This year, CHSMTA is celebrating the work of 20 high schools from across the State and one school from Rhode Island. CHSMTA is in the process of creating similar programs throughout New England. Bernardini said “We are looking at expanding this exceptional educational program into Rhode Island in 2016 and then, eventually, throughout New England. We believe in the power of theater to transform lives and serve as a vehicle for career exploration and enhanced learning opportunities within the school curriculum. This program encourages schools to reach for excellence and puts that work on display for others to emulate and aspire to.”
This years schools include: Amity Regional (Woodbridge), Cheshire, Co-Operative Arts & Humanities (New Haven), East Lyme, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Housatonic Valley Regional (Falls Village), Immaculate (Danbury), Lyme - Old Lyme, New Britain, New Canaan, Newtown, Sacred Heart Academy (Hamden), St. Paul Catholic (Bristol), Suffield Academy, Trumbull High School, Westhill (Stamford), Westover (Middlebury), West Warwick (RI) Wethersfield, Valley Regional (Deep River).
Tickets for the Gala event are currently on sale through The Palace Theater Box Office by calling 203.346.2000. The Awards Gala begins at 6:30pm. Ask the Box Office about tickets that include the VIP Invitation Only pre-show reception.
2015 FINAL ROUND NOMINATIONS
OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Andrea Kennedy & David Linet
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Shannon Courtney
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Gina Gallo, Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeannette Davidson
West Warwick High School – BIG FISH
Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY
Troye Evers
OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Julie Chevan
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Irene Ludemann
Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND
Judi Moore
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Dierdre Alexander
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Bonnie Johnson
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Joanne Nyerick
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeanette Davidson
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Dan Hassenmyer
Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY
Robyn Joyce
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Kevin Gleason
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Stef Carr
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Rich Parsons
Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS
Paul Caginalp
Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY
Jeff Whitsett
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Robert Kennedy
Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY
Karen Sparks Mellon
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Kevin Gleason
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Abby Callery, Jane Matson, Bill Mangold
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Mark Mazzarella
Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS
Casey Lampert
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Cathy Bolton, Sam Maloney, Stephanie Bont
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Tom Ivanovich & Dave Trovarelli - Horizon Sound
Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY
Greg Boucher
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Jason Kurtzman
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Tim Mammen
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Dave Glanovsky
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Tom Ivanovich
Valley Regional High School – BAND GEEKS
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Robert & Andrea Kennedy
Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND
Michael Berkeley
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Deirdre Alexander
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Jane Matson
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Mark Mazzarella
Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS
Thomas Dugan
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Jessica Spillane
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Andrea Kennedy
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
John Carter
Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY
Christine Bard-Simoes
Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND
Amber Cameron
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Deirdre Alexander
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Frank Root & Abigail Root
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Peter Randazzo
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Dan Balint
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Brett Boles
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Chelsea Kane, Kim Wiggin
Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS
Chelsea Kane, Kim Wiggin
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Jerold Goldstein
Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY
Michael Wyatt and Jonathan Curri
OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Co-operative Arts & Humanities High School – CURTAINS
East Lyme High School – GREASE
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Molly Silverman - BILLIE BENDIX
Immaculate High School – WEST SIDE STORY
Emma Giorgio - MARIA
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Elizabeth Koennecke – SANDY
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Chiara Giampietro - MARIA
Valley Regional High School – BAND GEEKS
Maggie Walsh - LAURA
Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY
Alexandra Cahr - TRACY
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Hudson Lee – JIMMY WINTER
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Kyle Watkins – STEIN
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Joe Schigas - CAPTAIN VON TRAPP
Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS
Alex Mainoff - USNAVI
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Zac Gottschall - HORACE VANDERGELDER
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Morgan Guadagnoli - KALA
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Nancy Leville – RIZZO
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Emily Crebbin - GABBY
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
KodyLynn Perkins - MOTHER ABBAS
Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS
Katherine Kalill - DANIELLA
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Katherine Griffin - MINNIE FAY
Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY
Madeline Bria - VELMA
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Kahari Blue – KURCHIK
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Thomas Mueller - COOKIE
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Jack Leonard – BARNABY
Michael Lapore - CORNELIUS
Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY
Ethan Riordan – CORNEY
Jason Nekritz - WILBER
Anthony Laszlo - EDNA
OUTSTANDING CHORUS
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
Valley Regional High School – BAND GEEKS
Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY
OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER
Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Isabella Riccio – JEANNIE MULDOON
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Audrey Kirkpatrick - MARTY
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
Aimee Talbot - MALLORY
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Caleigh Lozito - ELSA
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP
West Warwick High School – BIG FISH
- ALABAMA LAMBS
Sacred Heart Academy – SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
- DIVA DANCERS
Greater Hartford Arts Academy – SWEET CHARITY
FANDAGO GIRLS
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
- ANGEL CITY 4
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY
OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY
Amity Regional High School – TARZAN
Co-operative Arts and Humanities High School - CURTAINS
Immaculate High School – WEST SIDE STORY
New Canaan High School – GREASE
Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS
The 7th Annual High School Musical Theater Awards Gala