STAGE TUBE: Watch Highlights of the 2016 Shuler Awards

ArtsBridge Foundation, the producer of the 8th Annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards - Shuler Hensley Awards, last night announced the winners of the 2016 awards during a ceremony at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Check out the highlight video!

Award highlights include: Overall Production - Milton High School for Young Frankenstein; Direction - Calhoun High School's Julie Leggett for Oklahoma!; Best Performance by a Leading Actor - Buford High School's Will Davis for his role as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde inJekyll & Hyde; and Best Performance by a Leading Actress - Marietta High School's Shelbea Owens for her role as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. Additionally, recipients of five scholarships and one grant were announced. For a complete list of 2016 Shuler Award recipients, click here.

The recipients of the leading actor and actress awards will travel to New York City to participate in the 8th Annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards that will take place at the Minskoff Theater on Broadway on June 27, 2016. They will compete with young performers from across the country for the coveted Jimmy Award as well as merit scholarships and professional opportunities.

The 91 member Shuler Student Ensemble performed an opening number from Motown the Musical and closing number from Memphis. The ceremony also featured cameo appearances from Marietta-native and Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley; performances by the six schools nominated for overall production; a performance of Murder, Murder from Jekyll & Hyde by Buford High School, winner of the Show Stopper award; and leading actor and actress nominee medleys.

A team of more than 60 Atlanta-based arts professionals evaluated the productions of the 50 participating high schools. Twenty-eight (28) public and private schools from throughout the state were nominated in the 17 categories for the 8th annual Shuler Awards. The accounting firm Bennett Thrasher tabulated the results.