2016 Blumey Awards Nominations Announced!

Blumenthal Performing Arts is pleased to announce the 72 nominees - six each in 12 categories - competing in the 5th Annual High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as The Blumey Awards, presented by Wells Fargo on Sunday, May 22, in Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

The Blumey Awards program recognizes and celebrates the best in high school musical theater and fosters even greater achievements in the future.

Winners will be announced at The Blumey Awards Ceremony on May 22, at 7:00 p.m., in Belk Theater. Tickets for The Blumey Awards ceremony go on sale to the public on Thursday, May 5 at 10 a.m. Tickets range from $45 to $75. Tickets will be available at BlumenthalArts.org, 704-372-1000 or from the box office in the Belk Theater lobby, 130 N. Tryon St.

Like the Tony Awards, The Blumey Awards Ceremony will also feature live performances by the six finalists for Wells Fargo Best Musical: Butler High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Tryin; cfa Academy, Mary Poppins; Nation Ford High School, The Little Mermaid; Ardrey Kell High School, Mary Poppins; Central Academy of Technology and Arts, Ragtime; Providence Day School, Anything Goes.

Maureen O'Boyle, anchor for WBTV, and Amy Burkett of WTVI will be emceeing the black-tie event. This year, The Blumey Awards will also be broadcast on WTVI on Tuesday, June 14 at 8 p.m.

"The Blumey Awards is an incredible celebration of the talented kids in our region," said Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard. "The show recognizes the hard work of teachers, students and parents to produce a school musical. This year the show will be even more exciting with the addition of a broadcast on WTVI, Charlotte's PBS station. This will extend the reach of the show throughout the region and advance Blumenthal's mission to strengthen our community."

Award presenters include several local media personalities, community leaders and acclaimed performing arts professionals.

David Dabbon is a New York based composer and Grammy nominated orchestrator, providing additional orchestrations for the Tony nominated musical "Sondheim on Sondheim". David has served as conductor/arranger/orchestrator for the first annual Blumey Awards, arranger for the Gene Kelly Awards and the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. He is an orchestrator on Audra McDonald's album "Go Back Home." David most recently wrote the dance arrangements for the new roadway bound musical 'The Nutty Professor," composed by the late Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes, directed by its original star Jerry Lewis.

The Blumey Awards Ceremony will feature a medley of performances by the six finalists for Best Actor and for Best Actress; and two students from each production will be featured in opening and closing production numbers. Linda Booth, a professional choreographer will choreograph these musical numbers. She holds a BFA in dance performance from UNC-Greensboro. She is passionate about musical theater, and has choreographed over 100 productions in regional and educational theater. Recent credits include Hairspray, Chicago, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Drowsy Chaperone and Charlotte Squawks.

Along with The Blumey Awards themselves, The Doctor Family Foundation will award a $10,000 annually renewable scholarship to two area students. This year, The Mary Doctor Performing Arts Scholarship will be awarded to Sawyer Newsome, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, and Sean Mason, Phillip O'Berry Academy of Technology. A special scholarship committee chose these winners. The scholarship recipients will be awarded the scholarships live on May 22 during The Blumey Awards Ceremony.

Blumenthal Performing Arts will again participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards. The national show and ceremony takes place in New York on June 27, 2016. The two students named Best Actor and Best Actress at The Blumey Awards will receive an all-expenses-paid trip and weeklong stay in New York City where they will train and compete with other regional winners in a national competition known as The Jimmy Awards (named after famed Broadway producer, James M. Nederlander).

Twelve student critics are also participating in the Student Critic Program in association with the 5th Annual Blumey Awards presented by Wells Fargo. The Student Critic Program is launched as a part of The Blumey Awards with support from The Charlotte Observer. Of these twelve Student Critics, one will be awarded "The Charlotte Observer Student Critic Award" at The Blumey Awards, chosen by the editors at The Charlotte Observer.

Plus, a new Technical Achievement award will be presented this year giving students who were part of the technical aspects of their participating Blumey Awards production the chance to be recognized for outstanding work. This award is portfolio-based and the winner will be announced during the ceremony on May 22.

"Wells Fargo was the inaugural corporate underwriter for this performing arts program in 2012," said Jay Everette, Community Affairs Manager for Wells Fargo. "The Blumeys are all about showcasing the amazing talent of students in our region. It's a 'Glee meets the Tony's at the intersection of Fame' kind of evening. We are thrilled to be part of the presentation again in 2016."

This year's nominees for The Blumey Awards:

Best Set Construction

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Ragtime

cfa Academy - Mary Poppins

Nation Ford High School - The Little Mermaid

North Lincoln High School - Beauty and the Beast

Providence Day School - Anything Goes

Providence High School - Annie

Best Costume Creation

A. L. Brown High School - Hairspray

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Ragtime

Cuthbertson High School - Hairspray

Hickory Ridge High School - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Marvin Ridge High School - Thoroughly Modern Millie

Northwest School of the Arts - The Pirates of Penzance

Best Student Orchestra

Ardrey Kell High School - Mary Poppins

Bunker Hill High School - The Sound of Music

Butler High School - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Ragtime

Hickory Ridge High School - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Hough High School - The Little Mermaid

Best Choreography Execution

Arborbrook Christian Academy - You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Ardrey Kell High School - Mary Poppins

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Ragtime

cfa Academy - Mary Poppins

Nation Ford High School - The Little Mermaid

Providence Day School - Anything Goes

Best Ensemble/Chorus

Arborbrook Christian Academy - You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Ardrey Kell High School - Mary Poppins

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Ragtime

Charlotte Latin School - The Pirates of Penzance

Northwest School of the Arts - The Pirates of Penzance

Providence Day School - Anything Goes

Best Overall Direction

Arborbrook Christian Academy - You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Ragtime

cfa Academy - Mary Poppins

Charlotte Latin School - The Pirates of Penzance

Nation Ford High School - The Little Mermaid

Providence Day School - Anything Goes

Best Featured Performer

Butler High School - Rickey-Levon Burch II as Mr. Twimble (How to Succeed in Business...)

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Meg Gwyn as Emma Goldman (Ragtime)

cfa Academy - Kimani Coleman as Robertson Ay (Mary Poppins)

Charlotte Christian School - Dallas Thomley as Telly (Godspell)

Northwest School of the Arts - Ryan Kapur as Major General Stanley (The Pirates of Penzance)

Providence Day School - David Conlin as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Anything Goes)

Best Supporting Actor

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Gaige Robinson as Tateh (Ragtime)

cfa Academy - Timothy Brausch as Neleus/Mr. Northbrook (Mary Poppins)

Charlotte Latin School - Ethan Holtzman as Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance)

Hickory Ridge High School - Kyle Riggs as Pseudolus (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)

Northwest School of the Arts - Jeremy Cousar as Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance)

Providence Day School - Aidan Clements as Moonface (Anything Goes)

Best Supporting Actress

Arborbrook Christian Academy - Libby Hatfield as Sally Brown (You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Butler High School - Miranda DiPaolo as Hedy LaRue (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Emma Licata as Mother (Ragtime)

cfa Academy - Sarah Ann Burke as Bird Woman (Mary Poppins)

Nation Ford High School - Lauren Renner as Ursula (The Little Mermaid)

Providence Day School - Katlyn Gonzalez as Erma (Anything Goes)

Wells Fargo Best Musical - Tier 1

Butler High School - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

cfa Academy - Mary Poppins

Nation Ford High School - The Little Mermaid

Wells Fargo Best Musical - Tier 2

Ardrey Kell High School - Mary Poppins

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Ragtime

Providence Day School - Anything Goes

The following students have scored in the top 20 in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories and will be invited to audition for The Blumey Award judges on Saturday, May 7. The six nominees for both of these categories will be chosen after the auditions and announced on Monday, May 9.

Best Actor

Ardrey Kell High School - Christian Mauney as Bert (Mary Poppins)

Butler High School - Riley Kirwan as J. Pierrepont Finch (How to Succeed in Business ...)

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Justin Rivers as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. (Ragtime)

Central Cabarrus High School - Lane Palmer as Jeff ([title of show])

cfa Academy - Jonathan DeJesus as Bert (Mary Poppins)

Charlotte Christian School - Brad Kesling as Jesus (Godspell)

Charlotte Country Day School - Jackson Widener as Uncle Fester (The Addams Family)

Charlotte Latin School - Michael Julliard as Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance)

Cuthbertson High School - Michael Newman as Edna Turnblad (Hairspray)

Hickory Ridge High School - Cade Pace as Hysterium (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)

Independence High School - Micah Simmons as Albert Peterson (Bye Bye Birdie)

Jay M. Robinson High School - Ryan Albinus as Jack (Into the Woods)

Lincolnton High School - Elijah Smith as Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors)

Marvin Ridge High School - Jack Shanahan as Jimmy Smith (Thoroughly Modern Millie)

Nation Ford High School - Jamaas Britton as Sebastian (The Little Mermaid)

Northwest Cabarrus High School - Kaleb Jenkins as Charlie Brown (You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Northwest School of the Arts - Liam Pearce as Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance)

Piedmont Community Charter School - Josh Carper as Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors)

Providence Day School - Chris Melton as Billy Crocker (Anything Goes)

Stuart W. Cramer High School - Carter Frady as Link Larkin (Hairspray)

Best Actress

Arborbrook Christian Academy - Ava Smith as Lucy Van Pelt (You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Ardrey Kell High School - Haley Stone as Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)

Bunker Hill High School - Savannah Frye as Maria (The Sound of Music)

Butler High School - Molly Bridges as Rosemary Pilkington (How to Succeed in Business...)

Central Academy of Technology and Arts - Amina Faye as Sarah (Ragtime)

cfa Academy - Brittany Schell as Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)

Davidson Day School - Tommi Aleman as Leading Player (Pippin)

Hickory Ridge High School - Taylor Foley as Philia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)

Hough High School - Hannah Wilder as Ursula (The Little Mermaid)

Independence High School - Lexi Moore as Rose Alvarez (Bye Bye Birdie)

Lincolnton High School - Macy Gilroy as Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors)

Marvin Ridge High School - Ellen Bailey as Millie Dillmount (Thoroughly Modern Millie)

Nation Ford High School - Jessica Shamble as Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Northwest Cabarrus High School - Karen Stahl as Sally Brown (You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Northwest School of the Arts - Karley Kornegay as Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance)

Piedmont Community Charter School - Bianca Moten as Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors)

Providence Day School - Tessa Giordano as Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes)

Providence High School - Rachel Kowadlo as Mrs. Hannigan (Annie)

South Point High School - Kayla Booth as Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)

Southlake Christian Academy - Haley Conway as Gertrude McFuzz (Seussical)