Finalists Announced for 2016 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards

Broadway In Chicago has announced the 24 finalists and nominations for Best Production and Grosh Award for Best Scenic Design for the fifth annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. The finalists (12 young actors and 12 young actresses) have been invited to participate in the Awards program, which will be held at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) on Monday, June 6, 2016.

Sponsored by THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Grosh Backdrops & Drapery, the Illinois chapter of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards serves as an annual national celebration of outstanding achievement in musical theater performance by high school students.

Broadway In Chicago has crafted a full day of workshops with theatre professionals for these twenty-four finalists that culminates in a performance on stage at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. During the day, finalists will audition for a panel of casting agents and theatre professionals who will choose the recipients of performance awards. The top two Illinois performers (one actor and one actress) will be invited to attend the National High School Musical Theatre Awards with an all-expense paid trip to New York City.

In addition to the workshop, finalists will receive tickets to THE SOUND OF MUSIC in Chicago (playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre June 7-19).

An award for Best Production will be presented to a participating school, and the Grosh Award for Best Scenic Design will be presented to a participating school for achievement in outstanding scenic design.

For more information on both awards and complete rules and regulations, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/about/IHSMTA. For more information on National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as The Jimmy Awards, visit www.NHSMTA.com.

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LIST OF 2016 FINALISTS AND HIGH SCHOOLS:

Kaitlin Feely

Buffalo Grove, IL

Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Jordan Radis

Lincolnshire, IL

Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Clare McLaughlin

Barrington, IL

Barrington High School

JT Snyder

Barrington, IL

Barrington High School

Justin Smusz

Bolingbrook, IL

Benet Academy

Spencer Avery

Bolingbrook, IL

Bolingbrook High School

Cecilia Trippiedi

Orland Park, IL

Carl Sandburg High School

Corey Barlow

Cary, IL

Cary Grove High School

Haley Gustafon

Cary, IL

Cary Grove High School

Kelsey Krigas

Fox River Grove, IL

Cary Grove High School

Katie Snyder

Northbrook, IL

Glenbrook North High School

Evan Donaldson

Hinsdale, IL

Hinsdale Central High School

Alyssa Rice

Shorewood, IL

Joliet West High School

Zachary Keller

Lake Zurich, IL

Lake Zurich High School

Jack Cahill-Lemme

Park Ridge, IL

Main South High School

Levi Skoog

Chadwick, IL

Milledgeville High School

Max Gonzalez

Oak Park, IL

Oak Park and River Forest High School

Rory Schrobilgen

Oak Park, IL

Oak Park and River Forest High School

Jordan Knapick

Machesney Park, IL

Rockford Christian High School

Melissa Wickland

Schaumburg, IL

Schaumburg High School

Emily Sierra

Clarendon Hills, IL

St. Ignatius College Prep

Emily Landreth

Elmhurst, IL

York Community High School

Tatum Langley

Elmhurst, IL

York Community High School

Erik Martenson

Elmhurst, IL

York Community High School

NOMINEES FOR BEST PRODUCTION

York Community High School's production of Les Miserables

Adlai E. Stevenson High School's production of Miss Saigon

Cary Grove High School's production of Cinderella

NOMINEES FOR THE GROSH AWARD FOR BEST SCENIC DESIGN

Coal City High School's production of Little Shop of Horrors

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School's production of Seussical

Oak Park and River Forest High School's production of Into the Woods

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The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) impacts more than 50,000 students annually who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by top professional theatres throughout the United States. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions is sent to New York for a weeklong theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway, where a panel of judges crowns the nation's top performers. Also known as The Jimmy Awards, named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $1,000,000 in educational scholarships. In 2012, the program inspired preeminent broadcaster WGBH Boston to produce a 3-part documentary series called "Broadway or Bust," which follows students on a journey from their hometown competitions to their debut on Broadway. The series remains popular viewing at www.pbs.org. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the eighth annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards will take place in late June 2016 in New York City. For more information, visit www.nhsmta.com.

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