High School in the Spotlight: New Canaan High School

Based on user demand, BWW is taking our commitment to arts education one step further with the launch of the BWW Student Center - High School Edition. This directory features upcoming show listings for more than 1500 high schools nationwide with more being added each week. Schools can register for 'enhanced' listings on the site - adding in photos, cast lists, videos, links and more. Productions that take advantage of this will receive highlights on our listing pages, extra editorial mentions and potential spotlight features.

And just like we do with our College Center, each week BWW will be selecting a high-school program and featuring it as our 'School in the Spotlight: High-School Edition'. 

This week, BWW tips its hat to New Canaan High School (NCHS) located in New Canaan, Connecticut. NCHS is a public four-year high school with over 1300 students enrolled in grades 9-12. The school offers students interested in the visual and performing arts a multitude of opportunities to flex their talents and skills, including courses and extra-curricular activities in Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Orchestra, Band, Choir, Dance, and Theatre. 

The 2010-2011 production season proved to be not only a success with theatergoers but also award-winning for NCHS. The department's production of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' earned the Oustanding High School Musical honor in the Connecticut High School Musical Theatre Awards, and the show's director, Deirdre Alexander, picked up the award for Oustanding Direction. Students Ashley Pacelli and Ryan Stiffelman also picked up awards, winning the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, respectively. NCHS' production of 'The Secret Garden', also produced during the 2010-2011 season, was singled out from over 100 schools by The New England Theatre Conference and earned the Moss Hart Award for First Place in the Secondary School Division.  To check out photos from past shows, click here and browse the shows on the left side of the page.

The current season kicked off with 'Almost, Maine', 'Godspell', and 'Sweet Charity'. Up next is The 23rd Annual Drama Festival playing from April 19 thru 21. The year comes to a close with Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Oklahoma!' running June 3 and 4 in the NCHS Auditorium. For more information on the 2011-2012 season, click here.

To learn more about New Canaan High School, click here or 'like' them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nchstheatre to see more productions photos and read the latest NCHS news!

Congratulations to all the students and teachers at NCHS on earning this week's BWW spotlight, and on your award-winning productions! 

If you would like to be considered for a School in the Spolight: High School Edition or have questions/concerns/suggestions related to BWW's student center, please contact studentcenter@broadwayworld.com

Photo: Production of 'Almost, Maine' (2011-2012) courtesy of NCHS.