SMASH Announces Finalists for MAKE A MUSICAL Competition

Thirty schools from across the country have been selected as finalists in NBC's "Smash" Make a Musical Constructed by Lowe's initiative to improve school theater facilities. The schools will compete to receive the most online votes at makeamusical.org by Wednesday, April 10 in order to receive one of five grand prize gift certificates to Lowe's for their renovations.

The finalists are:

New School for the Arts and Academics: Tempe, AZ 85281
Abraham Lincoln High School: San Jose, CA 95126
Escondido High School: Escondido, CA 92026
Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies: Tarzana, CA 91335
Windsor High School: Windsor, CO 80550
John F. Kennedy High School: Chicago, IL 60638
Mt. Carmel High School: Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
Prospect High School: Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
Thibodaux High School: Thibodaux, LA 70301
St. Martin Middle School: Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Myers Park High School: Charlotte, NC 28211
Piedmont Community Charter School: Gastonia, NC 28054-4725
T.C. Roberson High School: Asheville, NC 28803
Lawrence High School: Cedarhurst, NY 11516
Scholars' Academy: Rockaway Park, NY 11694
Sherman Central School: Sherman, NY 14781
Muskogee High School: Muskogee, OK 74403
Scenic Middle School: Central Point, OR 97502
Interboro High School: Prospect Park, PA 19076
Seneca Valley Middle School: Harmony, PA 15235
Classical High School: Providence, RI 02930
Central Magnet School: Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Cypress Falls High School: Houston, TX 77095
J. L. Long Middle School: Dallas, TX 75209
Jasper High School: Plano, TX 75024
Noel Grisham Middle School: Austin, TX 78750
Montevideo Middle School: Penn Laird, VA 22846
Washington High School: Tacoma, WA 98444
Ronald Reagan College Prep High School: Milwaukee, WI 53221
Elkins Middle School: Elkins, WV 26241

"These 30 exceptional schools all deserve to win the grand prize. Whether you live near to or far from them, please take a moment to applaud them. And please find your own unique way to express support of young people in the arts in your community, whether it's buying tickets to a show, donating time or resources, or congratulating a student performer or member of the backstage crew," says Timothy Allen McDonald, founding chairman of iTheatrics.

To kick off the initiative, Broadway star and "Smash" cast member Jeremy Jordan joined local Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers, Irwin Contracting, Inc., and volunteers from national nonprofit Rebuilding Together in early February to rebuild and restore East Rockaway High School's theater, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

East Rockaway High School was overcome by a tidal surge during Hurricane Sandy, which caused an estimated $10 million worth of damage. The auditorium took on more than four feet of water, which destroyed the stage, theater seating, curtains, props, and flats. Students at East Rockaway were planning to perform the musical Seussical JR. at the beginning of February. Even though their theater wasn't functioning, they performed excerpts from the show on a neighboring school district's stage as a fundraiser to raise additional funds to repair their auditorium.

Last season, "NBC's 'Smash': Make a Musical" created musical theater programs in schools by giving educators and students the tools and training they needed to build self-sustaining programs in under-served schools. The partnership was the catalyst for iTheatrics to produce 170 "Make a Musical" programs in schools across the U.S., with "NBC's Smash': Make a Musical" being directly responsible for creating 30 additional musical theater programs. "NBC's 'Smash': Make a Musical" was awarded a 2012 Thalo Critics' Choice Inspiration Award.

"Smash" is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire - to be a Broadway star. The series stars Emmy Award winner Debra Messing ("Will & Grace"), Oscar winner Anjelica Huston ("Prizzi's Honor"), Jack Davenport ("Pirates of the Caribbean" films), Tony Award-winner Christian Borle ("Peter and the Starcatcher"), Katharine McPhee ("American Idol"), Megan Hilty ("9 to 5: The Musical"), Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan ("Newsies"), Andy Mientus ("Spring Awakening"), Leslie Odom Jr. ("Leap of Faith") and Krysta Rodriguez ("Spring Awakening").

Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company's signature education grant program, Lowe's Toolbox for Education, has donated more than $34 million to 7,500 K-12 public schools, benefiting more than 4 million schoolchildren. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and the American Red Cross. In 2012, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home. Our focus provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy-efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Our impact extends beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and communities across the country. Our nearly 200 local affiliates complete 10,000 rebuild projects a year thanks to the efforts of about 200,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trade professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us - visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

iTheatrics uses the transformative power of the arts to make the world a better place. The company adapts existing Broadway and West End musicals for students at all age-including elementary, middle and high school-to perform. In addition, iTheatrics also creates a teacher's tool chest of resources which provides educators with enhancements such as choreography DVDs, accompaniment CDs, director's guides, and curriculum connections. iTheatrics' clients include The Jim Henson Company, Music Theatre International, Disney Theatrical Group, the Roald Dahl Estate and McMillan/McGraw-Hill. Likewise, iTheatrics also develops new musicals for family audiences such as "The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley," "The Phantom Tollbooth" and "Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach." Junior Teaching Intensives from iTheatrics provide professional development for teachers in the area of musical theater and its Junior Theater Academy provides young artists with an innovative outlet for developing their skills as performers and artists.