Nominees for the Popejoy Awards Are Announced!

Popejoy Hall is pleased to announce the following 20 individual nominees for the innaugural Popejoy Awards.

The nominees for Best Musical Performance by an Actress are:

Rachel Blount, Albuquerque High School

Emily Chackerian, Albuquerque High School

Joliana Davidson, Cibola High School

Ariacella DelGrande, Albuquerque Academy

Dani Haines, Rio Rancho High School

Emma McKeen, Albuquerque High School

Nataly Moreno-Martinez, Albuquerque Academy

Micaela Pacheco, Sandia Preparatory School

Lillian Ridout, Rio Rancho High School

Camille Rousculp, Los Alamos High School

The nominees for Best Musical Performance by an Actor are

Daniel Blake Rio Rancho High School

Matt Burress Sandia Preparatory School

Trey Caperton Albuquerque Academy

Adam Foster Albuquerque Academy

Tanner Gill Sandia Preparatory School

Max Hermann Los Alamos High School

Devon McClesky Los Alamos High School

Joseph McKee Albuquerque High School

Daniel Romero Sandia Preparatory School

Craig Short Albuquerque Academy

We are also pleased to announce the following five production nominees. The nominees for Best Production, Best Direction, and Best Ensemble are:

Albuquerque Academy's production of Bye Bye Birdie

Albuquerque High School's production of Chicago

Cibola High School's production of Les Miserables

Los Alamos High School's production of Spamalot

Sandia Preparatory School's production of Guys and Dolls

Individual nominees will compete live on stage at the Popejoy Awards show at Popejoy Hall on Sunday, May 8, at 6:30 pm. The Tony Awards-style show, hosted by 2 KASA Style's Chad Brummett, features the best of New Mexico's high school musical theater talent performing selections from popular Broadway musicals in addition to a live awards presentation. Acting award nominees will perform solos from their respective performances as well as opening and closing numbers as an ensemble. Ensembles nominated for group awards will also perform selections from their productions.

Winners of the Popejoy Awards for Best Actor and Best Actress will be sent to New York in June to participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards, known as the Jimmy Awards, a program run by the not-for-profit Broadway League. Students train with Broadway coaches and performers before competing on the national awards show stage at the Minskoff Theater, current home of Disney's The Lion King. The two New Mexico winners will compete for the Jimmy Awards with other winners from 31 similar local competitions from across the country.

Tickets for the Popejoy Awards show are currently available at the UNM Ticketing Offices at the UNM Bookstore and The WisePies Arena (formerly The Pit), at select area Albertsons, and online atunmtickets.com. To charge tickets by phone, call UNM Ticketing at (505) 925-5858 or (877) 664-8661Monday through Friday 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Tickets cost $5 for students and $15 for the general public. Support seats, which include a $10 donation to the Popejoy Awards, are available for $25.

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About Popejoy Hall
Popejoy Hall is the premier performing arts center in New Mexico. Seating up to 1985 patrons, Popejoy is the largest multi-purpose venue in the state. Following a major renovation in 1996, Popejoy hosts touring Broadway shows, symphony concerts. musical solosits and artists of international caliber, world-renowned ballet and modern dance companies, and noted speakers from a broad spectrum of disciplines.