SHOWBIZ CHICAGO: Interview IHSMTA Best Actress Nominee JOY WOODS

June 4, 2018 Michael J. Roberts

JOY WOODS, Best Actress Nominee, discusses her performance as “Deloris Van Cartier” in Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s Sister Act.

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.jimmyawards.com.

SHOWBIZ CHICAGO: Interview IHSMTA Best Actress Nominee JOY WOODS from Showbiz Chicago on Vimeo.

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce the twenty-four students nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress, and nominees for Best Production presented by Guardian Music Travel, Best Direction and Best Scenic Design presented by SPL for the seventh annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. The nominees (12 young actors and 12 young actresses), selected after evaluating 80 productions across the state of Illinois, 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 4, 2018 at 6:30PM and hosted by NBC 5 entertainment reporter LeeAnn Trotter. Sponsored by NBC 5, the Illinois chapter of The Jimmy Awards (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 workshop led by HAMILTON Chicago cast member Gabriella Sorrentino (Dance Captain/Swing) whose previous theatrical credits include ON YOUR FEET! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan on Broadway as well as regional productions of A CHORUS LINE, IN THE HEIGHTS and WEST SIDE STORY. HAMILTON currently plays at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe).

The workshop for these twenty-four nominees will culminate in a performance onstage at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. During the day, nominees will audition for a panel of casting agents and theatre professionals who will choose the recipients of performance awards. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from Illinois will be sent to New York City, on an all-expense paid trip, for a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase, where they will represent the state of Illinois at The Jimmy Awards on Broadway.

In addition to the workshop, nominees will receive tickets to a Broadway In Chicago show.

An award for Best Production presented by Guardian Music Travel, Best Direction, and Best Scenic Design presented by SPL will be presented to participating schools.

The 2017 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Award recipients were Justin Smusz of Benet Academy in Bolingbrook, IL (Best Actor), Carly Meyer of Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, IL (Best Actress), York Community High School for their production of WEST SIDE STORY (Best Production), Cary-Grove High School for their production of EVITA (Best Scenic Design) and Lauren Condon and Brian Wand of Benet Academy for their production of ALL SHOOK UP (Best Direction).

NOMINEES FOR BEST ACTRESS

Audrey Hare as “Mrs. Irene Molloy” in Benet Academy’s Hello, Dolly!
Alicia O’Reilly as “Eponine” in Carl Sandburg High School’s Les Miserables
Alyssa DiRaimondo as “Gertrude McFuzz” in Cary-Grove High School’s Seussical
Natalie Doppelt as “Sister Mary Robert” in Deerfield High School’s Sister Act
Carly Meyer as “Ariel” in Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South High School’s The Little Mermaid
Joy Woods as “Deloris Van Cartier” in Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s Sister Act
Alexandria Hibbard-Brown as “Anna Leonowens” in Libertyville High School’s The King and I
Emma Samuelson as “Jo March” in Loyola Academy’s Little Women
Maura Pawleko as “Velma Von Tussle” in Oak Park-River Forest High School’s Hairspray
Annie Yamamoto as “Sister Mary Robert” in William Fremd High School’s Sister Act
Carina Kanzler as “Mae Tuck” in York Community High School’s Tuck Everlasting
Erin Lee as “Winnie Foster” in York Community High School’s Tuck Everlasting

NOMINEES FOR BEST ACTOR

Connor White as “Don Lockwood” in Addison Trail High School’s Singin’ In The Rain
A.J. DePew as “Tevye” in Adlai E. Stevenson High School’s Fiddler On The Roof
Patrick Vivoda as “Cornelius Hackl” in Benet Academy’s Hello, Dolly!
Spencer Avery as “Prince Eric” in Bolingbrook High School’s The Little Mermaid
Jake Mickel as “J. Pierpont Finch” in Burlington Central High School’s How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
Justin O’Brien as “The Cat In The Hat” in Cary-Grove High School’s Seussical
Johnny Rabe as “Charley Kringas” in The Chicago Academy for the Arts’ Merrily We Roll Along
Darian Goulding as “The Beast” in Hampshire High School’s Beauty & The Beast
Dominic Cappuccilli as “Jean Valjean” in Mundelein High School’s Les Miserables
Aiden Lenehan as “Edna Turnblad” in Oak Park-River Forest High School’s Hairspray
Andrew Tufano as “Bobby Child” in St. Ignatius College Prep’s Crazy For You
David Larsen as “Quasimodo” in South Elgin High School’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame

NOMINEES FOR BEST PRODUCTION presented by Guardian Music Travel

Adlai E. Stevenson High School’s production of Fiddler On The Roof
Benet Academy’s production of Hello, Dolly!
Cary Grove High School’s production of Seussical
Libertyville High School’s production of The King & I
York Community High School’s production of Tuck Everlasting

NOMINEES FOR BEST DIRECTION

Jack Micetich, Coal City High School- Les Miserables
Danny Yuska, Hinsdale South High School- Legally Blonde
Christopher Thomas, Libertyville High School – The King & I
Michelle Bayer, Oak Park-River Forest High School- Hairspray
Rebecca Marianetti, York Community High School- Tuck Everlasting

NOMINEES FOR BEST SCENIC DESIGN presented by SPL

Coal City High School’s production of Les Miserables
Crystal Lake South High School’s production of Peter Pan
Hinsdale South High School’s production of Legally Blonde
Lincoln-Way East High School’s production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Prairie Ridge High School’s production of In the Heights

ABOUT THE JIMMY AWARDS
The Jimmy® Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards™ (NHSMTA) impacts more than 100,000 students who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of Touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions is sent to New York for a week-long 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. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $2,000,000 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. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
NBC 5 CHICAGO
NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) is the owned NBC station in Chicago. Originally WNBQ, the station’s current call letters, WMAQ-TV, were established in 1964. During NBC 5 Chicago’s rich history, the station pioneered a number of television “firsts.” On April 15, 1956, NBC 5 became the world’s first all-color TV station. In September of 1986, NBC 5 became the first Chicago commercial station to broadcast in stereo. In 1989, NBC 5 was the first Chicago station to present closed captioning of all local newscasts. Currently, NBC 5 airs over 37 hours of local news per week in HD on its core channel and the latest news, weather and streamed original content on NBCCHICAGO.COM and the NBC Chicago Mobile App.

GUARDIAN MUSIC TRAVEL
Guardian Music Travel is a company that specializes in student group travel across the United States and abroad. This educator founded and operated company provides the finest service in the industry at the best price. The company has thrived using its model of teachers working with the Guardian staff of educators to create custom itineraries and wonderful educational experiences. Guardian’s theatre groups have loved the New York City packages including Broadway shows and workshops with professional and teachers. For more information, visit www.gmgtravel.com.

SOUND, PRODUCTION & LIGHTING
Sound, Production & Lighting (SPL) is a full-service event production and system installation company. We provide production services for corporate meetings, galas and fundraising parties, marketing activations, and anything between – we’re always up for a challenge. We offer permanent installation services for a variety of venues in fields such as live performance, education, worship, and hospitality. Our goal for any project is to provide an unparalleled experience and service. https://www.splchicago.com/

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 18 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 more than 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 the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.

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