2017 Utah High School Musical Theatre Award Nominees Announced
By: BWW News Desk May. 01, 2017
Broadway meets Utah on May 13, 2017 when more than 250 performers from 29 high school productions across the state compete in the seventh annual Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards at the new George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City.
Tickets, just $20, $15 for students, are on sale now at www.ArtTix.org and the Eccles Theater box office. The engagement landing page can be found here.
Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, in partnership with Broadway at the Eccles, produces, sponsors and organizes this event. Special thanks to Chevron, Zions Bank, The Domo Broadway at the Eccles Education Fund, Delta Airlines and Hotel Monaco for their support.
Throughout the year, UFOMT sends professional judges to adjudicate and respond to participating high school productions. Finalists, including schools and individuals, will perform and receive awards in front of a live audience on May 13th at 7 p.m in the Eccles Theater.
Months of preparation culminate on this red-carpet evening hosted by Michael Ballam, founding general director of UFOMT. In addition to the finalist performances, awards will be given for each aspect of the show from performance to technical awards.
"There's nothing like it in the state," said Vanessa Ballam, Utah Festival's education director. She described past ceremonies as "complete euphoria." She explained the high schools are supportive of each other and that while it's a competition, it's more importantly a chance to "celebrate excellence, and a wonderful way to unite the talented students of our state."
Ballam is enthusiastic that moving the awards program to the beautiful Eccles theatre will allow more students to participate and bring more recognition to the stellar student work.
Michael Ballam, the program visionary states, "Utah's youth strive to become high achievers. As a state, we do well to recognize and reward athletic prowess and academic acumen. Until 7 years ago, we had never done so for excellence in this creative forum. The UHSMTA was envisioned to celebrate excellence and tireless efforts of students, teachers, administrators and parents in our high schools, both state-wide and nationally. They create fantastic memories that the participants and observers will never forget." Kevin Nakatani, Utah Festival's co-director of the UHSTMA states, "This event is simply the highlight of my year. The arts are a pursuit of passion and Utah high school students, and the faculty that guide them in these productions, have it in spades. We are grateful to bring them together for one night to celebrate that passion and the incredible talent the youth in this state possesses."
The winners in the UHSMTA Best Actor and Actress categories will be sponsored to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this June. During this week-long intensive, students from across the country rehearse, attend master classes, receive one-on-one coaching from theatre professionals, work with casting agents, and rub shoulders with Broadway professionals. The week in New York culminates in a live awards show on June 26th at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre where the Jimmy™ Awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress will be presented. Scholarships for the 2017 Jimmy™ Awards include the opportunity for merit and need-based assistance to attend NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and New Studio on Broadway: Acting and Music Theatre contingent upon acceptance into the prestigious schools.
Best dress or formalwear is encouraged for the May 13th Awards Show at the Eccles Theatre.
Tickets, just $20, $15 for students, are on sale now at www.ArtTix.org and the Eccles Theater box office. The engagement landing page can be found here.
2017 UTAH HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS:
Finalists by Category
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Best Musical Finalists |
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Alta High The Music Man |
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DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
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Highland High Seussical |
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Layton High The Little Mermaid |
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Logan High Crazy for You |
|
Northridge High Fiddler on the Roof |
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Ogden High The Sound of Music |
|
Park City High Little Women |
|
Uintah High Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
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Best Actor Finalists |
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Preston Rowland (Edward Bloom) Cottonwood High |
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Gabriel Armstrong (Narrator) DaVinci Academy |
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Liam Hunsaker (Jekyll/Hyde) Layton High |
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McKay Horton (Eric) Layton High |
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Alex Lambert (Bobby Child) Logan High |
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Jason Neighbor (Bobby Child) Parowan High |
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Levi Hopkins (Gomez Addams) Ridgeline High |
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Brant Johnson (Caractacus Potts) Uintah High |
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Boston Curnow (Frank Abagnale, Jr.) Viewmont High |
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Preston Smith (Prince/Beast) Woods Cross High |
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Best Actress Finalists |
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Jessica Lewis (Miriam) DaVinci Academy |
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Sariah Pratt (Ariel) Layton High |
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Nalani Matthias (Polly Baker) Logan High |
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Morgan Jepson (Amneris) Northridge High |
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Emma Wadsworth (Maria Rainer) Ogden High |
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Alexa Wilcox (Jo March) Park City High |
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Matraca Bartel (Judy Bernly) Saint Joseph Catholic High |
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Jenna Urry (Eliza Doolittle) Skyline High |
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Taylore Cahoon (Brenda Strong) Viewmont High |
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Abigail Watts (Belle) Woods Cross High |
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Best Supporting Actor Finalists |
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Kaden Garcia (George Poppet) Fremont High |
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Thomas Moore (Roger) Juan Diego Catholic High |
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Liam Hunsaker (Sebastian) Layton High |
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Holden Smith (Sir Danvers Carew) Layton High |
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Dallin Clark (Bela Zangler) Logan High |
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Bailey King (Perchik) Northridge High |
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Jack Bell (Mereb) Northridge High |
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Caden Tudor (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts |
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Seth Pike (Freddy Eynsford-Hill) Skyline High |
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Jackson Adams (Gaston) Woods Cross High |
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Best Supporting Actress Finalists |
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Karin Allred (Jenny Hill) Cottonwood High |
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Angela Wright (Mother Superior) East High |
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Brie Bauer (Marty) Juan Diego Catholic High |
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Aubrianna Servoss (Ursula) Layton High |
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Mackenzie Turner (Lucy Harris) Layton High |
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Rylee Jensen (Aida) Northridge High |
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Savannah Coburn (Liesl von Trapp) Ogden High |
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Eileen Riley (Marmee) Park City High |
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Elizebeth Swink (Alice Beineke) Ridgeline High |
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Emma Duffin (Mrs. Potts) Woods Cross High |
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Best Cameo Finalists |
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Kylan Goodwin (Charlie Cowell) Alta High |
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Aria Critchley (Sister Mary Robert) East High |
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Kailey Going / Daniel Anson (Things) Highland High |
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Reilly Eder (Miss Lynch) Juan Diego Catholic High |
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Danielle Reid (Nellie) Layton High |
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Tatiana Chudy (Margaret) Saint Joseph Catholic High |
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David van Frankenhuijsen (Announcer) Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts |
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Mekenzie Davies (Mrs. Hopkins) Skyline High |
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Connor Talbot / Aidan Piner (Boris & Goran) Uintah High |
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Liz Hewlett / Kayli McCoy (Spiker & Sponge) Viewmont High |
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Dre Hay (LeFou) Woods Cross High |
|
Best Director Finalists |
|
Cottonwood High Big Fish |
|
Highland High Seussical |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Logan High Crazy for You |
|
Northridge High Fiddler on the Roof |
|
Ogden High The Sound of Music |
|
Park City High Little Women |
|
Uintah High Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
|
Viewmont High Catch Me if You Can |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Best Choreography (Faculty) Finalists |
|
Alta High The Music Man |
|
Cottonwood High Big Fish |
|
East High Sister Act |
|
Highland High Seussical |
|
Logan High Crazy for You |
|
Northridge High Aida |
|
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts Guys & Dolls |
|
Uintah High Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
|
Viewmont High Catch Me if You Can |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Best Set Design (Faculty) Finalists |
|
Bountiful High Into the Woods |
|
Cottonwood High Big Fish |
|
Fremont High Redhead |
|
Highland High Seussical |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Logan High Crazy for You |
|
Ogden High The Sound of Music |
|
Park City High Little Women |
|
Uintah High Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Best Costume Design (Faculty) Finalists |
|
East High Sister Act |
|
Fremont High Redhead |
|
Highland High Seussical |
|
Juan Diego Catholic High Grease |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Ogden High The Sound of Music |
|
Parowan High Crazy for You |
|
Skyline High My Fair Lady |
|
Uintah High Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Best Lighting Design (Faculty) Finalists |
|
Cottonwood High Big Fish |
|
Fremont High Redhead |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Logan High Crazy for You |
|
Northridge High Aida |
|
Northridge High Fiddler on the Roof |
|
Ogden High The Sound of Music |
|
Park City High Little Women |
|
Uintah High Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Best Technical Crew Finalists |
|
Alta High The Music Man |
|
Bountiful High Into the Woods |
|
DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
|
Highland High Seussical |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Northridge High Aida |
|
Ogden High The Sound of Music |
|
Park City High Little Women |
|
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts Guys & Dolls |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Best Orchestra Finalists |
|
Alta High The Music Man |
|
Cottonwood High Big Fish |
|
DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
|
Highland High Seussical |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Northridge High Fiddler on the Roof |
|
Park City High Little Women |
|
Ridgeline High The Addams Family |
|
Skyline High My Fair Lady |
|
Viewmont High Catch Me if You Can |
|
Best Ensemble Finalists |
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Alta High The Music Man |
|
DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
|
Highland High Seussical |
|
Layton High Jekyll & Hyde |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Logan High Crazy for You |
|
Northridge High Aida |
|
Northridge High Fiddler on the Roof |
|
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts Guys & Dolls |
|
Woods Cross High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Best Choreography (Student) Finalists |
|
DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
|
Layton High Jekyll & Hyde |
|
Layton High The Little Mermaid |
|
Ogden High A Funny Thing Happened... |
|
Viewmont High James and the Giant Peach |
|
Best Set Design (Student) Finalists |
|
Clearfield High Elf, Jr. |
|
DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
|
Layton High Jekyll & Hyde |
|
Ogden High A Funny Thing Happened... |
|
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts Guys & Dolls |
|
Viewmont High James and the Giant Peach |
|
Best Lighting Design (Student) Finalists |
|
Clearfield High Elf, Jr. |
|
DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
|
Layton High Jekyll & Hyde |
|
Ogden High A Funny Thing Happened... |
|
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts Guys & Dolls |
|
Skyline High My Fair Lady |
|
Skyridge High Beauty & the Beast |
|
Viewmont High Catch Me if You Can |
|
Viewmont High James and the Giant Peach |
|
Best Costume Design (Student) Finalists |
|
Clearfield High Elf, Jr. |
|
DaVinci Academy Fly by Night |
|
Layton High Jekyll & Hyde |
|
Northridge High Aida |
|
Ogden High A Funny Thing Happened... |
|
Saint Joseph Catholic High 9 to 5 |
|
Viewmont High James and the Giant Peach |
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