Orpheum Announces High School Musical Theater Noms.; Awards Presented 5/27

The Orpheum Theatre has announced the nominees for the 2010 High School Musical Theatre Awards. This program recognizes achievement in all areas of high school musical theatre in the region. Twenty schools are participating in this first year, representing public and private schools in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. On May 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm, students and supporters from all participating schools will gather at The Orpheum for the awards ceremony.

The nominees for the 2010 Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards are:

Best Supporting Actor
Britt Craig as A.J. Heinz in Germantown High School's PARADE
Michel Gratzer as Lefou in Collierville High School's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
James Ridney as The Dentist in Millington Central High School's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Michael Robinson as Cosmo in St. Benedict at Auburndale's SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
Chase Waldrip as Barnaby Tucker in Southern Baptist Educational Center's HELLO, DOLLY!

Best Supporting Actress
Nichole Crawford as Irene Molloy in Southern Baptist Educational Center's HELLO, DOLLY!
Chelsea Essary as the Baker's Wife in Harding Academy's INTO THE WOODS
Rebekah McFerran as Babette in Briarcrest Christian School's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Katie Sprayberry as Minnie Fay in Southern Baptist Educational Center's HELLO, DOLLY!
Olivia Wingate as Young Jane in Hutchison School's JANE EYRE

Best Choreography
Arlington High School for OKLAHOMA!
Cordova High School for ANYTHING GOES
St. Benedict at Auburndale for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
St. Mary's Episcopal School for WHITE CHRISTMAS
Southern Baptist Educational Center for HELLO, DOLLY!

Best Orchestra
Arlington High School for OKLAHOMA!
Collierville High School for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Overton High School for FAME
Southern Baptist Educational Center for HELLO, DOLLY!
White Station High School for GUYS AND DOLLS

Best Musical Direction
DeSoto Central High School for ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Germantown High School for PARADE
Ridgeway High School for FOOTLOOSE
St. Mary's Episcopal School for WHITE CHRISTMAS
Wynne High School for THE SECRET GARDEN

Best Scenic Design, sponsored by The Crump Firm
Briarcrest Christian School for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Germantown High School for PARADE
Hernando High School for SEUSSICAL
Millington Central High School for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
St. Benedict at Auburndale for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

Best Costume Design
Germantown High School for PARADE
Hernando High School for SEUSSICAL
Millington Central High School for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
St. Mary's Episcopal School for WHITE CHRISTMAS
Southern Baptist Educational Center for HELLO, DOLLY!

Best Hair & Makeup Design, sponsored by Mainstage Theatrical Supply
Collierville High School for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Hernando High School for SEUSSICAL
Hutchison School for JANE EYRE
Tipton Rosemark Academy for THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Wynne High School for THE SECRET GARDEN

Best Lighting Design
Germantown High School for PARADE
Harding Academy for INTO THE WOODS
Hutchison School for JANE EYRE
Millington Central High School for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
St. Mary's School for WHITE CHRISTMAS

Best Front of House
Arlington High School for OKLAHOMA!
Briarcrest Christian School for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Hernando High School for SEUSSICAL
St. Agnes Academy for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
Southern Baptist Educational Center for HELLO, DOLLY!

Best Technical Crew
Cordova High School for ANYTHING GOES
DeSoto Central High School for ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Harding Academy for INTO THE WOODS
Hutchison School for JANE EYRE
St. Agnes Academy for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

Technical Achievement Award, sponsored by Mainstage Theatrical Supply
Chelsea Aaron from White Station High School
Kacee Benson from Cordova High School
Carisa Bledsoe from Collierville High School
Lexi Gabel from DeSoto Central High School
MariBeth Russell from Briarcrest Christian School

Best Cameo Performance
Charlie Finan as Harry the Horse in White Station High School's GUYS AND DOLLS
Mary Kate Henderson as the Hairdresser in St. Benedict at Auburndale's SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
Amber Kiner as the featured soloist in Hutchison School's JANE EYRE
Honna Miller as Mrs. Mayor in Houston High School's SEUSSICAL
Wesley Williamson as Rudolph in Southern Bapist Educational Center's HELLO, DOLLY!

Best Featured Ensemble
The Bird Girls from Hernando High School's SEUSSICAL
The Chain Gang from Germantown High School's PARADE
The Havana Tango Dancers from White Station High School's GUYS AND DOLLS
The Townspeople at the Bar from Collierville High School's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
The Wickersham Brothers from Houston High School's SEUSSICAL

Best Ensemble Energy
Cordova High School for ANYTHING GOES
Harding Academy for INTO THE WOODS
Hernando High School for SEUSSICAL
Overton High School for FAME
Ridgeway High School for FOOTLOOSE

People's Choice Award, sponsored by Josten's Ringleader
(nominees to be determined by online voting)

Best Direction, sponsored by The Commercial Appeal
Frank Bluestein for Germantown High School's PARADE
Jenny Madden for St. Mary's Episcopal School's WHITE CHRISTMAS
Keith Salter for Collierville High School's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Cindy Wells and Bret Bilbrey for St. Benedict at Auburndale's SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
Jenny Hall and Dennis Whitehead for Millington Central High School's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Best Artistic Innovation
Arlington High School for OKLAHOMA!
DeSoto Central High School for ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Millington Central High School for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Tipton Rosemark Academy for THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Wynne High School for THE SECRET GARDEN

Best Actress, sponsored by Pickler Wealth Advisors
Moriah Jackson as Reno Sweeney in Cordova High School's ANYTHING GOES
Meredith Lesley as Lucille Frank in Germantown High School's PARADE
Jesse Lipscomb as Annie Oakley in DeSoto Cental High School's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Corinne Mestemacher as Jane Eyre in Hutchison School's JANE EYRE
Alexis Tarver as Belle in Briarcrest High School's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Best Actor, sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises
Paul Hoover as Leo Frank in Germantown High School's PARADE
Prentiss Mouton as Reverend Shaw in Ridgeway High School's FOOTLOOSE
John Phillians as Archibald Craven in Wynne High School's THE SECRET GARDEN
Wen Powers as Don Lockwood in St. Benedict at Auburndale's SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
Brad Waelbroeck as Seymour in Millington Central High School's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Best Musical, sponsored by The Orpheum Theatre
Germantown High School for PARADE
Millington Central High School for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
St. Benedict at Auburndale for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
St. Mary's Episcopal School for WHITE CHRISTMAS
Southern Baptist Educational Center for HELLO, DOLLY!

Sponsored in part by Sedgwick CMS, Mid-South Transplant Services, Lenny's, and Denker Award Company, The Orpheum's High School Musical Theatre Awards are Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $15-$35 and go on sale to the public May 5.

The Orpheum Theatre is located at 203 South Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103. For more information, please visit www.orpheum-memphis.com.