7th Annual CHSMTA Nominees Announced; Ceremony Set for 6/1

B2 Productions LLC in Norwich, CT is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards (CHSMTA). The Black Tie Awards Gala will be held Monday, June 1, 2015 at The Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT at 6:30pm and will feature the most outstanding high school musical theater performances from across the State of Connecticut.

As the nationally designated, high school musical theater awards program for the State of Connecticut, The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards are connected with The National High School Musical Theater Award Program based in New York City.

"When I created The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards program in 2009, I did so to take a stand for high quality musical theater education within our high schools" said CHSMTA Founding Producer / Director Mr. Brett A. Bernardini. "Clearly, being attached to the National Program a good draw for schools to participate at the state level, however, for us, this program is about shining a bright light on the need - and place - for high quality, music theater educational opportunities within the school; and not as extra-curricular activities. Theater plays a major role in our national society, both as a cultural export and as a viable career for many, many people. Additionally, the leadership, commitment and self-expression gained through participating in theater are skills that contribute to strong, compassionate and thoughtful leaders of tomorrow."

As noted in "Qualities of Quality: Understanding Excellence in Arts Education" a publication by The Harvard Graduate School of Education, commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and with additional support from the Arts Education Partnership, "Many children in the United States have little or no opportunity for formal arts instruction, and access to arts learning experiences remains a critical national challenge. In addition, the quality of arts learning opportunities that are available to young people is a serious concern."

The year-long program, culminates with a Black Tie Awards Gala at The Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT on Monday, June 1, 2015. Hosted each year by a VIP Special Guest Master of Ceremonies, 16 awards will be presented along with performances of nominated schools, soloists and accompanied by a full orchestra!

The recipients of the CHSMTA awards for Outstanding Actor and Actress with travel to New York City at the end of June 2015 where they will join with others young people selected from other similar State program runs by professional theaters, from all across the country for the annual presentation of The Jimmy Awards. The National High School Musical Theater Awards, produced by The Broadway League, is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement that recognizes individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performances by high school students. "The Jimmy Award" is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theater owner and producer.

To participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards, professional theaters are required to be a member of The Broadway League. Each organization agrees to sponsor two student representatives, namely their local winners of the "Best Performance by an Actress" and "Best Performance by an Actor" category, in the national competition in New York City.

Over the past years, The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards has had its success at Nationals. Over the past 6 years, The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards has had 6 finalists (Stephen Mark, Grace Hardin, John Jorge, Katie Oxman, Taylor Varga, Jillian Cailoutte) and 2 National winners!! (Stephen Mark, Ridgefield HS and Taylor Varga, Newtown HS).

"The CHSMTA adjudication process is challenging, rigorous and encourages high-quality work (on stage, behind the scenes and in the classrooms) and the process obviously works!!" said Bernardini. "Not only are Connecticut students doing exceptional work in their schools, but the level of their work is being recognized on the National stage. Some awards programs hand out awards to "make sure that everyone gets something". That is not what we do at CHSMTA. We celebrate excellence based on measurable, educational goals defined by a rubric of excellence."

"I want to challenge every school Board across this State and every single school Administrator to prove to me that High School Music Theater Education is a frill," said Bernardini. "Musical Theater is a valid career choice for many students and for others, it is more than just a 'school play'; it is the opportunity to develop self-esteem, discover a new country, find personal skills in public speaking, independent learning, and leadership skills."

One of the unique and defining hallmarks of this program is the adjudication process. "We don't label our program 'the preeminent high school musical theater awards program in Connecticut' without having evidence to substantiate that claim" said CHSMTA Founding Producer, Mr. Brett A. Bernardini. "Our adjudication process - one of the most challenging throughout the country - is a three-tiered process. It was created to ensure maximum educational impact and guaranteed high-quality achievement" said Bernardini.

"This year, CHSMTA is celebrating the work of 20 high schools from across the State and one school from Rhode Island. CHSMTA is in the process of creating similar programs throughout New England. Bernardini said "We are looking at expanding this exceptional educational program into Rhode Island in 2016 and then, eventually, throughout New England. We believe in the power of theater to transform lives and serve as a vehicle for career exploration and enhanced learning opportunities within the school curriculum. This program encourages schools to reach for excellence and puts that work on display for others to emulate and aspire to."

This years schools include: Amity Regional (Woodbridge), Cheshire, Co-Operative Arts & Humanities (New Haven), East Lyme, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Housatonic Valley Regional (Falls Village), Immaculate (Danbury), Lyme - Old Lyme, New Britain, New Canaan, Newtown, Sacred Heart Academy (Hamden), St. Paul Catholic (Bristol), Suffield Academy, Trumbull High School, Westhill (Stamford), Westover (Middlebury), West Warwick (RI) Wethersfield, Valley Regional (Deep River).

Tickets for the Gala event are currently on sale through The Palace Theater Box Office by calling 203.346.2000. The Awards Gala begins at 6:30pm. Ask the Box Office about tickets that include the VIP Invitation Only pre-show reception.

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2015 FINAL ROUND NOMINATIONS:

OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Andrea Kennedy & David Linet

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Shannon Courtney

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Gina Gallo, Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeannette Davidson

West Warwick High School - BIG FISH

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

Troye Evers

OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Julie Chevan

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Irene Ludemann

Housatonic Valley Regional High School - THE BOYFRIEND

Judi Moore

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Dierdre Alexander

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Bonnie Johnson

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Joanne Nyerick

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeanette Davidson

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Dan Hassenmyer

Greater Hartford Academy - SWEET CHARITY

Robyn Joyce

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Kevin Gleason

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Stef Carr

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Rich Parsons

Suffield Academy - IN THE HEIGHTS

Paul Caginalp

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

Jeff Whitsett

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Robert Kennedy

Greater Hartford Academy - SWEET CHARITY

Karen Sparks Mellon

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Kevin Gleason

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Abby Callery, Jane Matson, Bill Mangold

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Mark Mazzarella

Suffield Academy - IN THE HEIGHTS

Casey Lampert

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Cathy Bolton, Sam Maloney, Stephanie Bont

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Tom Ivanovich & Dave Trovarelli - Horizon Sound

Greater Hartford Academy - SWEET CHARITY

Greg Boucher

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Jason Kurtzman

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Tim Mammen

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Dave Glanovsky

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Tom Ivanovich

Valley Regional High School - BAND GEEKS

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Robert & Andrea Kennedy

Housatonic Valley Regional High School - THE BOYFRIEND

Michael Berkeley

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Deirdre Alexander

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Jane Matson

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Mark Mazzarella

Suffield Academy - IN THE HEIGHTS

Thomas Dugan

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Jessica Spillane

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Andrea Kennedy

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

John Carter

Greater Hartford Academy - SWEET CHARITY

Christine Bard-Simoes

Housatonic Valley Regional High School - THE BOYFRIEND

Amber Cameron

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Deirdre Alexander

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Frank Root & Abigail Root

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Peter Randazzo

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Dan Balint

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Brett Boles

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Chelsea Kane, Kim Wiggin

Suffield Academy - IN THE HEIGHTS

Chelsea Kane, Kim Wiggin

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Jerold Goldstein

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

Michael Wyatt and Jonathan Curri

OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Co-operative Arts & Humanities High School - CURTAINS

East Lyme High School - GREASE

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Molly Silverman - BILLIE BENDIX

Immaculate High School - WEST SIDE STORY

Emma Giorgio - MARIA

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Elizabeth Koennecke - SANDY

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Chiara Giampietro - MARIA

Valley Regional High School - BAND GEEKS

Maggie Walsh - LAURA

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

Alexandra Cahr - TRACY

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Hudson Lee - JIMMY WINTER

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Kyle Watkins - STEIN

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Joe Schigas - CAPTAIN VON TRAPP

Suffield Academy - IN THE HEIGHTS

Alex Mainoff - USNAVI

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Zac Gottschall - HORACE VANDERGELDER

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Morgan Guadagnoli - KALA

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Nancy Leville - RIZZO

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Emily Crebbin - GABBY

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

KodyLynn Perkins - MOTHER ABBAS

Suffield Academy - IN THE HEIGHTS

Katherine Kalill - DANIELLA

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Katherine Griffin - MINNIE FAY

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

Madeline Bria - VELMA

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Kahari Blue - KURCHIK

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Thomas Mueller - COOKIE

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Jack Leonard - BARNABY

Michael Lapore - CORNELIUS

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

Ethan Riordan - CORNEY

Jason Nekritz - WILBER

Anthony Laszlo - EDNA

OUTSTANDING CHORUS

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Greater Hartford Academy - SWEET CHARITY

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

Valley Regional High School - BAND GEEKS

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER

Cheshire High School - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Isabella Riccio - JEANNIE MULDOON

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Audrey Kirkpatrick - MARTY

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

Aimee Talbot - MALLORY

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Caleigh Lozito - ELSA

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP

West Warwick High School - BIG FISH

- ALABAMA LAMBS

Sacred Heart Academy - SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

- DIVA DANCERS

Greater Hartford Arts Academy - SWEET CHARITY

FANDAGO GIRLS

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

- ANGEL CITY 4

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Housatonic Valley Regional High School - THE BOYFRIEND

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

St. Paul's Catholic - THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Trumbull High School - HELLO DOLLY

OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY

Amity Regional High School - TARZAN

Co-operative Arts and Humanities High School - CURTAINS

Immaculate High School - WEST SIDE STORY

New Canaan High School - GREASE

Newtown High School - CITY OF ANGELS

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