2016 Shuler Nominees Press Release

 April 21 ceremony to air live on Georgia Public Broadcasting  

ATLANTA – (March 30, 2016) – ArtsBridge Foundation, the arts education outreach arm of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, today announced the nominees for the 8th Annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards – Shuler Hensley Awards in a live streaming broadcast on GPB.org. Tony Award-winner and Marietta-native Shuler Hensley joined GPB Sports Anchor Jackie Brittan to announce the nominations. 28 public and private schools from throughout the state were nominated in 17 categories. The awards, which showcase the next generation of Georgia’s musical theatre talent, will be presented at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on April 21. GPB will air the show live on its nine-station statewide television network.

The Shuler Awards, fashioned after Broadway’s Tony Awards, annually celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre. A team of more than 60 Atlanta-based arts professionals evaluated the productions of 59 participating high schools. Awards will be presented in the following categories: Overall Production, Ensemble, Show Stopper, Leading Actress and Actor, Supporting Actress and Actor, Featured Performer, Direction, Sound, Costume Design, Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Technical Execution, Orchestra, Music Direction and Choreography. The winners of the Leading Actress and Leading Actor categories will travel to New York City in June to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Jimmy AwardsTM, held at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway.

The Shuler Awards will feature performances by the six schools nominated for overall production, the Show Stopper winner, and the leading actor and actress nominees. The 92 member Shuler Student Ensemble will join Shuler Hensley in the opening and finale numbers. Students will walk the Red Carpet beginning at 6:00 p.m. and curtain is at 7:30. As part of a new partnership between ArtsBridge, GPB, and Georgia State University, the show will be broadcast live on nine GPB stations from 7:30-9:00 p.m.

“GPB is very excited to partner with ArtsBridge Foundation and GSU to present the live broadcast of The Shuler Awards,” said GPB President and CEO Teya Ryan. “GPB is dedicated to the advancement of students across the state through our many education initiatives, which include the live broadcasts of high school football games each year, teacher trainings and the development of digital education resources like the Georgia Studies Digital Textbook. This is a wonderful opportunity to spotlight the talented youth of Georgia and encourage their future aspirations.”

The Shuler Awards are a program of, and are produced by, ArtsBridge Foundation. ArtsBridge provides quality performing arts education programs designed to engage and motivate the next generation of artists and art supporters. The accounting firm Bennett Thrasher tabulated the results for the 2016 Shuler Awards.

Tickets range from $25-27 and may be purchased through Ticketmaster.com, any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling 800-653-8000, or purchased in-person at the Bank of North Georgia Box Office at the Cobb Energy Centre on Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The box office is located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA.

The Shuler Awards will be broadcast live on: Atlanta (WGTV – Channel 8); Augusta (WCES – Channel 20); Chatsworth (WNGH – Channel 18); Columbus (WACS – Channel 25); Macon (WMUM – Channel 29); Pelham (WABW – Channel 14); Savannah (WVAN – Channel 9); Warm Springs (WJSP – Channel 28) and Waycross (WXGA – Channel 8).

Nominees and honorable mentions by category:

Direction Nominees
Kimberly Staples – Buford High School’s Jekyll and HydeJulie Leggett – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!              Debbie Prost  – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams Family

Renee Denney – Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

Kirk Grizzle – South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Eric Gray – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Cece Conrath – Lakeview Academy’s Catch Me If You CanJacob Garcia – Marietta High School’s HairsprayEric Bragg – Providence Christian Academy’s The Little Mermaid               

Pete Talton – White County High School’s Dogfight

Music Direction Nominees
Darlene Wright – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Rhonda Fossum – Johns Creek High School’s  The Addams FamilyPatricia Jacobson – Kennesaw Mountain High School’s Little Shop of Horrors

Drew Bowers – Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

Eric Gray – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Richard Prouty – Whitewater High School’s In The Heights

Honorable Mentions
Lisa Belk – Forsyth Central High School’s Crazy for YouTerrance Green – Heritage High School’s Little Shop of HorrorsJenny Piacente – King’s Ridge Christian School’s The Sound of Music

Susan Griffin – Walton High School’s Kiss Me Kate

Orchestra Nominees
Rhonda Fossum – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams FamilyMichael Huebner – Kennesaw Mountain High School’s Little Shop of HorrorsChris Shumick –  Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

Paul Scott – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Children of Eden

Todd Motter – The Walker School’s The Addams Family

Wesley Brooks – Woodland High School’s Catch Me If You Can

Honorable Mentions
Elizabeth Benz –  Cambridge High School’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeSarah Tinsley – Dawson County High School’s A Year with Frog and ToadJohn Kelley – Sandy Creek High School’s               Dreamgirls

Derrick Jackson – Stilwell School of the Arts’Ragtime

Choreography Nominees
Ashley Johnson – Buford High School’s Jekyll and HydeHeather Bragg – Heritage High School’s Little Shop of HorrorsAllison Polaski – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams Family

Lynn Brague & Laurel Henson – Mount Paran Christian School’s Crazy for You

Brieanna Bailey – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Children of Eden

Stephanie Simmons  – Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado

Honorable Mentions
Aja Bignon, Emma Dean & Karishma Parbhoo  – Douglas County High School’sOklahoma!                                                         Coy Dunn – Kennesaw Mountain High School’s Little Shop of Horrors

Carly Ann Berg – Lambert High School’s Thoroughly Modern Millie

Pete Talton – White County High School’s Dogfight        

Ensemble Nominees
Buford High School’s Jekyll and HydeCalhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado

West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Forsyth Central High School’s Crazy for YouJohns Creek High School’s The Addams FamilyRiverwood International Charter School’s The Addams Family

Walton High School’s Kiss Me Kate

Technical Execution Nominees
Madisyn Mniszewski – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Haley Mahoney-Werner – Milton High School’s Young FrankensteinClara Hammel – Providence Christian Academy’s The Little Mermaid

Sean Lakey – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Children of Eden

Olivia Morris – South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Savannah Shooter – Whitewater High School’s In The Heights

Honorable Mentions
Jack Stoffel – Johns Creek High School’s                The Addams FamilyEmily Taylor – Lakeview Academy’s Catch Me If You CanMelesa Bennet-Wilson – Marietta High School’s                Hairspray

Chad Simmons – Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado              

Lighting Design Nominees
Julie Leggett – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Sim Jones – Milton High School’s Young FrankensteinLogan Lilla – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Children of Eden

Kirk Grizzle – South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Steven Broyles – Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado

Thomas Cheeseman – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Madison Boyd – Alpharetta High School’s Legally Blonde, the MusicalBarbara Uterhardt – Atlanta Girls’ School’s Peter PanWhit Whitall – King’s Ridge Christian School’s The Sound of Music

Addison Walden – North Forsyth High School’s Frankenstein, a New Musical

Sound Nominees
Barbara Uterhardt – Atlanta Girls’ School’s Peter PanDarlene Wright – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Tara Mitra – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams Family

Jack Liddle & Sam Shelton – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Children of Eden

Bill Schreiner – The Walker School’s The Addams Family

Keith Denmon – Whitefield Academy’s Thoroughly Modern Millie

Honorable Mentions
John Matthews – Cambridge High School’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeMikhail Lovell & Army Castillo – Lakeview Academy’s Catch Me If You CanMyKala Johnson – McIntosh High School               ‘s Monty Python’s Spamalot     

Alex Skelton & Chris Arias – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid         

Scenic Design Nominees
Julie Leggett – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Sim Jones – Milton High School’s Young FrankensteinEric Bragg – Providence Christian Academy’s The Little Mermaid

Trevor Nichols & Sarah Barr – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Children of Eden

Kirk Grizzle – South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Steven Broyles – Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado

Honorable Mentions
Dakota Whitlock & Andrew Snider – Dawson County High School’s A Year with Frog and Toad  Stephen Hansen – Greenbrier High School’s The Little Women   Debbie Prost – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams Family   

Eric Gray – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Costumes Nominees
Kimberly Staples – Buford High School’s Jekyll and HydeJulie Leggett – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Jenn Fitzpatrick – Mount Paran Christian School’s Crazy for You

Emily Olson – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Children of Eden

Alexandria Patterson – South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Katie Ott, Maggie Wright & Regena Simpson – The Walker School’s The Addams Family

Honorable Mentions
Andrew Snider – Dawson County High School’s A Year with Frog and ToadMary Hayes Ernst – North Forsyth High School’s                Frankenstein, a New MusicalLucy Howard – Riverwood International Charter School’s The Addams Family

Michelle Baumann – Walton High School’s Kiss Me Kate

Best Performance By A Leading Actress Nominees
Emily Simes – Chattahoochee High School’s HairsprayElla Welch – King’s Ridge Christian School’s The Sound of MusicShelbea Owen – Marietta High School’s Hairspray

Owen Smith – Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

Christen Owen – South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Peyton Smith – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Lauren Hill – Flowery Branch High School’s Grease                            Bethany Wood – Greater Atlanta Christian School’s Mary PoppinsAlison Roth – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams Family

Brie Wolfe – Kennesaw Mountain High School’s Little Shop of Horrors

Best Performance By A Leading Actor Nominees
Will Davis – Buford High School’s Jekyll and HydeChandler Padgett – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Connor Tarpley – Greater Atlanta Christian School’s Mary Poppins

Brennen Blotner – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams Family

Brody Grant – North Forsyth High School’s Frankenstein, a New Musical

Evan Calatayud – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Logan Harr – Gainesville High School’s The Pajama GameLandon Ebuna – Kennesaw Mountain High School’s Little Shop of HorrorsJaucqir LaFond – Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado

Zach King – Whitewater High School‘s In The Heights

Best Performance By A Supporting Actress Nominees
Parker Jennings – Greater Atlanta Christian School’s Mary PoppinsMaggie Christine – Greenbrier High School’s Little WomenMary Caroline Owens – Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

Ni’na Banks – Stilwell School of the Arts’ Ragtime

Delana Reynolds – Trinity Christian School’s Mary Poppins

Colette Caspari – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Leila Bowman –  Buford High School’s Jekyll and Hyde     Abigail Wright – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Alexis Trammell – Providence Christian Academy’s The Little Mermaid

Karyn DeVito – South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Best Performance By A Supporting Actor Nominees
Kade Wright – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Koosha Kermani – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams FamilyCarson Colenbaugh – Kennesaw Mountain High School’s Little Shop of Horrors

Hayden Kerzie – Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

Miguel Corado – Stilwell School of the Arts’ Ragtime

Chase Colson – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Hugh Entrekin –  Buford High School’s Jekyll and Hyde    Dakota Whitlock – Dawson County High School’s A Year with Frog and ToadCalvin Gassmann – Marietta High School’s Hairspray      

Tyler Ledbetter – Woodland High School’s Catch Me If You Can

Best Performance By A Featured Performer Nominees
Caleb Hayes – Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Ramiro Salinas – Gainesville High School’s The Pajama GameRachel Finazzo – Greater Atlanta Christian School’s Mary Poppins

Lauren Kenner – Milton High School’s Young Frankenstein

Allie Stewart – Mount Paran Christian School’s Crazy for You

Jeremy Hathcoat – Whitewater High School’s In The Heights

Honorable Mentions
Julianna Leopold – Flowery Branch High School’s Grease               Erika Davis – Johns Creek High School’s The Addams Family         Bryce Greene –  Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado               

David Evans – West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Overall Production Nominees
Calhoun High School’s Oklahoma!Johns Creek High School’s The Addams FamilyMilton High School’s Young Frankenstein

South Forsyth High School’s Ghost, the Musical

Wesleyan School’s Hot Mikado

West Forsyth High School’s The Little Mermaid

Honorable Mentions
Buford High School’s Jekyll and HydeGreenbrier High School‘s The Little WomenKennesaw Mountain High School’s Little Shop of Horrors

Lakeview Academy’s Catch Me If You Can

Show StopperNote: Winner is announced during the nominations Nominees
Buford High School – 2016 Shuler Award Recipient – Jekyll and Hyde, Murder MurderGreater Atlanta Christian School, Mary Poppins, Step in TimeHeritage High School, Little Shop of Horrors, Prologue

Lakeview Academy, Catch Me If You Can, Don’t Break the Rules

Mount Paran Christian School, Crazy for You, I Got Rhythm

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, Children of Eden, Ain’t It Good?

Trinity Christian School, Mary Poppins, Step in Time

The 2016 Shuler Awards are made possible by the following generous sponsors: platinum sponsors – The Georgia Lottery; gold sponsors – Georgia Public Broadcasting, Bennett Thrasher, Georgia State University TV and the Bobbie Bailey Foundation; silver sponsors – Delta Community Credit Union, Staging Directions, Norcostco and Magnum Companies as well as many others. To learn more about the Shuler Hensley Awards, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/GHSMTA/ and visit artsbridgega.org/programs/shuler-awards/ or call (770) 916.2800. To learn more about ArtsBridge, visit http://artsbridgega.org/.

About ArtsBridge Foundation

ArtsBridge Foundation is dedicated to providing quality arts education and community engagement programs that engage, motivate, inspire, and elevate the next generation of artists and arts supporters. ArtsBridge forms connections with students in grades K-12 by providing arts education opportunities through field trip programs to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, master class workshops, artists-in-schools, and the annual Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards – The Shuler Hensley Awards. Since our inception in 2007, ArtsBridge has served more than 300,000 students and educators from 49 Georgia counties, plus students from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina. To learn more, visit artsbridgega.org and follow us on Twitter at @ArtsbridgeGA and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArtsBridgeGa.

 

About GPB

As one of the largest PBS stations in the nation, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB Media), has been creating content worth sharing for over 50 years. With nine television stations, 18 radio stations and a multi-faceted web presence, GPB strives to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of our viewers and listeners with programming that includes statewide radio news, current affairs, high school sports, educational resources for teachers and students and enlightening programs about our state like Georgia Outdoors, Georgia Traveler and When Georgia Howled: Sherman on the March.

 

About GSUTV

GSUTV is a partnership between Georgia State University and Georgia Public Broadcasting, the second largest PBS station in the country, with the digital sub channel focusing on arts and culture. The majority of the channel’s programming is developed and produced by GSU students under the mentorship and direct supervision of industry professionals and professors of practice from the GSU Department of Communication. The channel’s programming is broadcast to the residents of Georgia over the air on The Knowledge Channel (channel 8.3) as well as on Comcast (channel 246). As a fully credited curriculum course the GSUTV “film & journalism practicum is committed to providing the student producer with the type of professional mentoring that will allow them to find careers in the fields of digital journalism and broadcast production. To learn more, visit www.gsutv.com and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gsutv2015, Twitter @therealgsutv and Instagram at www.instagram.com/gsutv.

 

 Contacts: Becky Erwin
On behalf of ArtsBridge Foundation
404-293-7263 | becky.erwin@gmail.com

Contact: Mandy Wilson
Communications Manager, GPB
404-685-2427 | mwilson@gpb.org

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