ArtsBridge Announces Nominees For 2018 Shuler Hensley Awards

This week ArtsBridge announced the nominees for the 10th Anniversary Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards - Shuler Hensley Awards. 38 public and private schools from throughout the state were nominated in 17 categories. The awards show is the culmination of a year-long professional development program and will showcase the next generation of Georgia's musical theatre talent. Presented by the Georgia Lottery, the awards show will air on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) over its nine-station statewide television network live from Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on April 19, 2018 from 7-9 pm.

75 high schools across the state enrolled this year and to determine the nominees a team of more than 60 Georgia-based arts professionals evaluated their productions. Awards will be presented in the following 17 categories: Overall Production, Ensemble, Show Stopper, Leading Actress and Actor, Supporting Actress and Actor, Featured Performer, Direction, Sound, Costume Design, Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Technical Execution, Orchestra, Music Direction and Choreography.

The Shuler Hensley Awards, fashioned after Broadway's Tony Awards, celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre. The 110-member Shuler Student Ensemble will join Shuler Hensley in the opening and finale numbers at the awards show. Performances by the six schools nominated for Overall Production, the Show Stopper winner, and the Leading Actor and Actress nominees will also be featured during the show. 30 theatre production students, known as the S.T.A.R. Council, will serve as production assistants to the professionals working behind-the-scenes on the show.

"GPB's live broadcast of The Shuler Hensley Awards is part of our strong commitment to student achievement," said GPB President and CEO Teya Ryan. "In addition to providing digital learning resources and trainings that benefit K-12 students and teachers throughout the state of Georgia, we recognize that our partnership with the Artsbridge Foundation and GSU provides additional opportunities for students to succeed."

The accounting firm Bennett Thrasher tabulated the results for the 2018 Shuler Hensley Awards Nominees.

Here is the list of Nominees by category:

DIRECTION

Julie Leggett, Calhoun High School, Bring It On
Cece Conrath, Lakeview Academy, All Shook Up
David Hopkins, Cabaret, Milton High School
Kirk Grizzle, South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Joymichelle Green, Walton High School, Pippin
Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

MUSIC DIRECTION

Shannon O'Dowd, Johns Creek High School, 42nd Street
Drew Bowers & Nathan Shreer, Milton High School, Cabaret
Russell Watkins, Savannah Arts Academy, Bring It On The Musical
Kirk Grizzle, South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
JD Flynn, Walton High School, Pippin
Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

ORCHESTRA

Jim Palmer, Allatoona High School, Hairspray
Laura Tomlin, Davidson Fine Arts School, Footloose
Jason Smith, Newton High School, High School Musical
Tracy Wright, Ringgold High School, Oklahoma!
Michael Nestor, Savannah Arts Academy, Bring It On The Musical
Christian Bigliani, South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

CHOREOGRAPHY

Cindy Folger, Davidson Fine Arts School, Footloose
Wylie Watlington, Mcintosh High School, Urinetown
Lynne Brague, Mount Paran Christian School, Oklahoma!
Antonella Kljajic & Clarence White, Starr's Mill High School, Wizard Of Oz
Chris Arredondo, Walton High School, Pippin
Maddie Eibler & Adrianne Crawford, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

ENSEMBLE

Calhoun High School, Bring It On The Musical
Gordon Central High School, 110 In The Shade
Mcintosh High School, Urinetown
Milton High School, Cabaret
South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Wesleyan School, Disney's Beauty And The Beast

TECHNICAL EXECUTION

Ben Riley & Darlene Wright, Calhoun High School, Bring It On The Musical
Stephen Hansen, Greenbrier High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Jan Ewing, North Hall High School, Catch Me If You Can
Sean Lackey & Zach Nash, Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, Cabaret
Kirk Grizzle, South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

LIGHTING DESIGN

Julie Leggett, India Galyean & Ben Riley, Calhoun High School, Bring It On The Musical
Logan Swaim, Gordon Central High School, 110 In The Shade
Natalie Cook, Greenbrier High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Holly Krig-Smith & Parker Rawson, King's Ridge Christian School, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Sydney Hunt, Milton High School, Cabaret
Emma Wiggington, South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

SOUND

Darlene Wright & Ben Riley, Calhoun High School, Bring It On The Musical
Savannah Taylor, Evans High School, Little Shop Of Horrors
Dr. Kim Watters & Jonathan Gaines, Gordon Central High School, 110 In The Shade
Mia Delap, Kellen Blotner & Adam Britt, 42nd Street, Johns Creek High School
Grant Norcom & Eli Jones, Milton High School, Cabaret
Izzy Ettwein, Sam Poole & Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, Cabaret

SCENIC DESIGN

Stephen Hansen, Greenbrier High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
David Hopkins, Milton High School, Cabaret
Kacper Kuzimski & Jack Zhou, Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, Cabaret
Sydney Frederiksen & Sadie Pijanowski, South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Bill Schreiner, The Walker School, Bye Bye Birdie
Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

COSTUMES

Cece Conrath, Debbie Hendrix & Janell Myers, Lakeview Academy, All Shook Up
Jenn Fitzpatrick, Mount Paran Christian School, Oklahoma!
Jan Ewing & Kaitley Congdon, North Hall High School, Catch Me If You Can
Donna Stembridge, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Cara Clements & Ginni Gray, Starr's Mill High School, Wizard Of Oz
Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS

Olivia Palmer, Alpharetta High School, Little Shop Of Horrors
Elizabeth Dutch, Gordon Central High School, 110 In The Shade
Parker Jennings, Greater Atlanta Christian School, My Fair Lady
Elena Araoz, Lambert High School, Chicago
Mary Caroline Owens, Milton High School, Cabaret
Milkah Sadiki-Yisrael, Tri-Cities High School, Pippin

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR

Luke Brown, Glynn Academy, Bonnie And Clyde
Josh Martin, Milton High School, Cabaret
Thompson Sewell, Prince Avenue Christian School, Seussical
Jonathan Marciniak, Artios Academies Of Sugar Hill, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Laughton Berry, Tri-Cities High School, Pippin
Chase Colson, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Anna Jarrett, Allatoona High School, Hairspray
Hailey Thornton, Buford High School, The Addams Family
Alexis Trammel, Providence Christian Academy, All Shook Up
Jessie Kirtley, Roswell High School, Legally Blonde
Madison Thompson, The Lovett School, Peter Pan
Ali Leblanc, West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR

Drew Gravitt, Calhoun High School, Bring It On The Musical
John Spalding, Dunwoody High School, Urinetown
Luis Vijil, Lakeside High School, Bring It On The Musical
Harrison Lewis, Milton High School, Cabaret
Seth Atkins, South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Sam Perry, The Artios Academies Of Sugar Hill, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED PERFORMER

Dillion Burrell, Alpharetta High School, Little Shop Of Horrors
Nanditha Rajini, Lakeview Academy, All Shook Up
Louis Sellers, Milton High School, Cabaret
Natalee Castro, Mount Paran Christian School, Oklahoma!
Schuyler Drose, Pace Academy, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Madison Hudgins, Savannah Arts Academy, Bring It On The Musical

OVERALL PRODUCTION

Calhoun High School, Bring It On The Musical
Greenbrier High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Milton High School, Cabaret
South Forsyth High School, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
The Artios Academies Of Sugar Hill, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
West Forsyth High School, Bullets Over Broadway

SHOWSTOPPER

Nominees:

Wesleyan School, Beauty And The Beast, "Gaston"
Starr's Mill High School , Wizard Of Oz, "Merry Old Land Of Oz"
North Hall High School, Catch Me If You Can, "Live In Living Color"
Greater Atlanta Christian School, My Fair Lady, "Get Me To The Church On Time"
Lambert High School, Chicago, "Razzle Dazzle"
Tri-Cities High School, Pippin, "Morning Glow"

Recipient:

Starr's Mill High School, Wizard Of Oz, "Merry Old Land Of Oz"

SCHOLARSHIPS

Smiley For Kylie Foundation Scholarship

Ava Williams/Providence Christian Academy

Ciara Pyszynski/Greenbrier High School

Benjamin Reardon/King's Ridge Christian School

College Audition Project (CAP) Ultimate Package Scholarship

Jonathan Marciniak, The Artios Academies Of Sugar Hill

Broadway Dreams Foundation Summer Intensive Scholarship

Jack Chavous/Davidson Fine Arts School

Sydney Lewis/Allatoona High School

ALLIANCE THEATRE Summer Intensive Scholarship

Collin Dorsett/Lowndes High School

Ashley Stephens/Northgate High School

The Performers Warehouse Summer Intensive Scholarship

Parker Jennings/Greater Atlanta Christian School

James Sterner/The Artios Academies of Sugar Hill

Morrell Memorial Music Education Scholarship

Margaret Ausband/The Artios Academies of Sugar Hill

James Carlos Family Musical Theatre Performance Scholarship

Alden Kennedy/Lambert High School

The complete list of Nominations, and Honorable Mentions, can also be found here: http://artsbridgega.org/programs/shuler-awards/.

Bravo to our Sponsors! The 2018 Shuler Hensley Awards are made possible by the generous support of the following: Platinum Sponsor - The Georgia Lottery; Silver Sponsors - Georgia Public Broadcasting and Bennett Thrasher; Bronze Sponsors - Molly Blank Foundation, Delta Community Credit Union, Jimmy and Helen S. Carlos and GSUTV; Star Sponsors - Ed Voyles Automotive, Smiley For Kiley Foundation, Magnum, Norcostco and Staging Directions.

ArtsBridge Foundation is dedicated to providing quality arts education and community programs that engage, motivate, inspire, and elevate the next generation of artists and arts supporters. ArtsBridge provides arts education opportunities to students in grades K-12 through programs at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre including Field Trips, Master Classes, a Family Series, and the annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards - Shuler Hensley Awards. Since inception in 2007, ArtsBridge has served more than 300,000 students and educators from 58 Georgia counties, plus students from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina. ArtsBridge Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To learn more about their programs and how you can get involved, visit artsbridgega.org.

As one of the largest PBS stations in the nation, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB Media), has been creating content worth sharing for over 50 years. With nine television stations, 18 radio stations and a multi-faceted digital presence, GPB strives to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of our viewers and listeners with programming that includes statewide radio news, current affairs, high school sports, educational resources for teachers and students and enlightening programs like Georgia Outdoors, On Second Thought, Two-Way Street and Political Rewind.

GSUTV is a partnership between Georgia State University and Georgia Public Broadcasting, with the digital sub channel focusing on arts and culture. The majority of the channel's programming is developed and produced by GSU students under the mentorship and supervision of industry professionals and professors of practice from the GSU Department of Communication. The channel's programming is broadcast in Georgia on The Knowledge Channel (channel 8.3) as well as on Comcast (channel 246). As a fully credited curriculum course the GSUTV film & journalism practicum is committed to providing the student producer with professional mentoring that will allow them to find careers in the fields of digital journalism and broadcast production. To learn more, visit www.gsutv.com.

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