Nebraska High School Theatre Awards Showcase Set for Today

Omaha Performing Arts will present the first annual Nebraska High School Theatre Awards Showcase on tonight, June 12, 2014 at the Holland Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Modeled after the Tony Awards, this red carpet event will feature performances by more than 300 students from 22 local high schools, with awards for outstanding productions, top ensembles and performers, and artistic excellence behind-the-scenes. Local celebrities, community leaders and performing arts professionals will present awards in several categories.

Gretna High School's David Beran (Sweeny Todd, SWEENEY TODD) and Millard West High School's Deanna Richard (Tracy Turnblad, HAIRSPRAY) have been nominated to participate in the 2014 National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York. Both students will experience a weeklong theatre intensive, coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway, where a panel of judges will choose two students for the coveted awards of Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress.

Ten leading actors and actresses will be honored for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role. This year's award-winning leads include: Bellevue East High School's Luke Reestman (Ugly, HONK!); Burke High School's Julianna Cooper (Natalie Haller, ALL SHOOK UP); Creighton Preparatory High School's Andrew Baumer (the King, THE KING AND I produced by Marian High School); Gretna High School's David Beran (Sweeney Todd, SWEENEY TODD) and Grace Kimnach (Mrs. Lovett, SWEENEY TODD); Papillion La Vista South High School's Brady Vigness (Don Lockwood, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN); V.J. and Angela Skutt High School's achary Pohlman (Jean Valjean, LES MIS RABLES); Millard West High School's Deanna Richard (Tracy Turnblad, HAIRSPRAY); Omaha South High Magnet School's Xena Broaden (Rosie Alvarez, BYE BYE BIRDIE); and Westside High School's Eden Ginsberg (the Witch, INTO THE WOODS).

Five high schools will receive awards for Outstanding High School Musical Theatre Production, including: Gretna High School (SWEENEY TODD); Millard West High School (HAIRSPRAY); Papillion La Vista South High School (SINGIN' IN THE RAIN); V.J. and Angela Skutt HighSchool(LESMIS RABLES);andWestsideHighSchool(INTOTHEWOODS).

Awards for Outstanding Chorus & Ensemble Performance will be presented to: Concordia Junior-Senior High School (GREASE); Gretna High School (SWEENEY TODD); Marian High School (THE KING AND I); Millard West High School (HAIRSPRAY); and Papillion La Vista High School (SHREK THE MUSICAL).

Winners of Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role include: Bellevue East High School's Cody Girouex (Cat, HONK!); Burke High School's Ben Adams (Dennis, ALL SHOOK UP); Gretna High School's Cody Jackson (Anthony Hope, SWEENEY TODD); Papillion La Vista South High School's ach Little (Cosmo Brown, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN) and Abby Feden (Lina Lamont, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN); Plattsmouth High School's ach Prall (Jack, INTO THE WOODS) and Josie Ptacek (the Witch, INTO THE WOODS); Northwest High School's Aguel Lual (Ann, SYMPATHY JONES); V.J. and Angela Skutt High School's Grace Eliason (Madame Th nardier, LES
MIS RABLES); and Westside High School's Jessica Murphree (Baker's Wife, INTO THE WOODS).

Central High School's Haley Clark will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Technical Theatre Award for demonstrating professionalism, leadership and artistic excellence behind-the- scenes. Central High School's Melissa Comstock and Millard South High School's Brock McCollough are this year's Triple Threat Award winners. Both Triple Threat Award winners will receive scholarships to the 2014 Broadway Dreams Summer Intensive, where they will experience comprehensive musical theatre training with a faculty of Broadway professionals.

Sponsored by William & Harriet Otis and Wells Fargo, the Nebraska High School Theatre Awards is designed to celebrate, support and advocate for high school musical theatre education in Omaha, Nebraska and surrounding communities. "The Awards Showcase is a tribute to the accomplishments of our area's high school musical theatre programs," says Kendra Whitlock Ingram, Omaha Performing Arts Vice President of Programming & Education.

High schools receiving outstanding production awards will perform selections from their award-winning musicals as a part of the Awards Showcase. Top actors and actresses in leading roles will perform in two interschool medleys, and student representatives from all 22 participating high schools will perform in opening and finale numbers. Awards Showcase performers will have the opportunity to work with Tony Award®-nominated choreographer and director, Daniel Knechtges, and nationally renowned conductor and music director, Hal France.

Tickets for the Nebraska High School Theatre Awards Showcase are $10 general admission. To reserve tickets, contact the Ticket Omaha Box Office at 402.345.0606 or visit TicketOmaha.com. To learn more about the Nebraska High School Theatre Awards visit

NebraskaHSTA.org. More information about the National High School Musical Theater Awards is available at NHSMTA.com.

The sixth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards will take place on Monday, June 30, 2014, at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event will be held Wednesday, June 25, through Tuesday, July 1, 2014, in New York City. For more information, visit NHSMTA.com.

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