Finalists Announced for 2016 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards
Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce the twenty-four finalists and nominations for Best Production and Grosh Award for Best Scenic Design for the fifth annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. The finalists (12 young actors and 12 young actresses) have been invited to participate in the Awards program, which will be held at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) on Monday, June 6, 2016. Sponsored by THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Grosh Backdrops & Drapery, the Illinois chapter of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards serves as an annual national celebration of outstanding achievement in musical theater performance by high school students.
Broadway In Chicago has crafted a full day of workshops with theatre professionals for these twenty-four finalists that culminates in a performance on stage at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. During the day, finalists will audition for a panel of casting agents and theatre professionals who will choose the recipients of performance awards. The top two Illinois performers (one actor and one actress) will be invited to attend the National High School Musical Theatre Awards with an all-expense paid trip to New York City.
In addition to the workshop, finalists will receive tickets to THE SOUND OF MUSIC in Chicago (playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre June 7-19).
An award for Best Production will be presented to a participating school, and the Grosh Award for Best Scenic Design will be presented to a participating school for achievement in outstanding scenic design.
For more information on both awards and complete rules and regulations, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/about/IHSMTA/. For more information on National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as The Jimmy Awards, visit www.NHSMTA.com.
LIST OF FINALISTS AND HIGH SCHOOLS
| NAME | HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL |
| Kaitlin Feely | Buffalo Grove, IL | Adlai E. Stevenson High School |
| Jordan Radis | Lincolnshire, IL | Adlai E. Stevenson High School |
| Clare McLaughlin | Barrington, IL | Barrington High School |
| JT Snyder | Barrington, IL | Barrington High School |
| Justin Smusz | Bolingbrook, IL | Benet Academy |
| Spencer Avery | Bolingbrook, IL | Bolingbrook High School |
| Cecilia Trippiedi | Orland Park, IL | Carl Sandburg High School |
| Corey Barlow | Cary, IL | Cary Grove High School |
| Haley Gustafon | Cary, IL | Cary Grove High School |
| Kelsey Krigas | Fox River Grove, IL | Cary Grove High School |
| Katie Snyder | Northbrook, IL | Glenbrook North High School |
| Evan Donaldson | Hinsdale, IL | Hinsdale Central High School |
| Alyssa Rice | Shorewood, IL | Joliet West High School |
| Zachary Keller | Lake Zurich, IL | Lake Zurich High School |
| Jack Cahill-Lemme | Park Ridge, IL | Main South High School |
| Levi Skoog | Chadwick, IL | Milledgeville High School |
| Max Gonzalez | Oak Park, IL | Oak Park and River Forest High School |
| Rory Schrobilgen | Oak Park, IL | Oak Park and River Forest High School |
| Jordan Knapick | Machesney Park, IL | Rockford Christian High School |
| Melissa Wickland | Schaumburg, IL | Schaumburg High School |
| Emily Sierra | Clarendon Hills, IL | St. Ignatius College Prep |
| Emily Landreth | Elmhurst, IL | York Community High School |
| Tatum Langley | Elmhurst, IL | York Community High School |
| Erik Martenson | Elmhurst, IL | York Community High School |
NOMINEES FOR BEST PRODUCTION
York Community High School’s production of Les Miserables
Adlai E. Stevenson High School’s production of Miss Saigon
Cary Grove High School’s production of Cinderella
NOMINEES FOR THE GROSH AWARD FOR BEST SCENIC DESIGN
Coal City High School’s production of Little Shop of Horrors
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School’s production of Seussical
Oak Park and River Forest High School’s production of Into the Woods
ABOUT THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) impacts more than 50,000 students annually who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by top professional theatres throughout the United States. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions is sent to New York for a weeklong theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway, where a panel of judges crowns the nation’s top performers. Also known as The Jimmy™ Awards, named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $1,000,000 in educational scholarships. In 2012, the program inspired preeminent broadcaster WGBH Boston to produce a 3-part documentary series called “Broadway or Bust,” which follows students on a journey from their hometown competitions to their debut on Broadway. The series remains popular viewing at www.pbs.org. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the eighth annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards will take place in late June 2016 in New York City. For more information, please visit www.nhsmta.com.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
A brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien, is coming to [Theater or City]. The beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award® winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. THE SOUND OF MUSIC enjoyed extraordinary success as a live television production when “The Sound of Music Live!” aired on NBC in December, 2013 and was seen by over 44 million people. 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history.
Tickets for THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Cadillac Palace Theatre are on sale now. Group tickets for 10 or more are available by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
GROSH BACKDROPS & DRAPERY
Grosh Backdrops & Drapery supplies schools and theaters with an extensive selection of backdrops and drapery at the most competitive pricing. A choice of sizes and beautiful scenes help you enhance any production. Two warehouse locations reduce shipping times and cost. Visit us online to view our entire inventory of 5,000 products in 75 unique categories, check pricing and availability, and to reserve your order today at www.grosh.com.
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 16 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including its newly named The PrivateBank Theatre, the Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.
The 2015 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Award recipients were Ben Love of Byron, IL (Best Actor), Grace Etzkorn of Lisle, IL (Best Actress) and Joliet West High School for their production of INTO THE WOODS (Best Scenic Design).