2016 Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards – Shuler Hensley Awards Nominees Announced
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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