Matthew S. Morgan to Host 7th Annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards Gala, 6/1

With school budgets always under pressure to cut, B2 Productions LLC of Norwich, CT has been working to put the focus on the need for high quality musical theater education in Connecticut and Rhode Island High Schools.

B2 Productions LLC is proud to announce the Seventh Annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards (CHSMTA) Gala, will take place on Monday June 1, 2015, 6:30pm at The Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT, featuring Connecticut born and raised actor who has appeared in the Broadway productions of The Lion King and Hairspray, Special Guest Master of Ceremonies, Matthew S. Morgan. Awards will be presented in 17 different areas of recognition including Technical, Design, Performance and Educational.

"The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards is not simply the preeminent high school musical theater awards program in the State of Connecticut" said CHSMTA Founding Producer / Director, Mr. Brett Bernardini. "This year-long educational program sends theater professionals into high schools to provide valuable, constructive and supportive evaluations of the schools productions. These 16 page evaluations are based on a rubric of excellence for each of the 17 categories related to school productions, including technical, design and performance categories" said Bernardini "Additionally, by being linked to The National High School Musical Theater Awards program, I am working to lift-up these programs in our schools as vehicles for interdisciplinary learning, valid career training, leadership development and necessary creative skills training."

"All too often, schools tend to consider the arts a frill" said Bernardini. "Personally, I think we are not looking far enough down the road. Cuts to arts education are already having an impact on this nations workforce creativity problem-solving skills and ultimately, to our global standing as a country. We are a country whose number one export is our culture and yet, we are cutting arts funding across the spectrum of school, city, and state. I am 100% convinced that we - as a country - will pay for these cuts in the immediate future as our edge in innovation, creativity and discovery declines."

According to Ready to Innovate, a 2011 study conducted by The Conference Board, Americans for the Arts, and the American Association of School Administrators:

- U.S. employers rate creativity/innovation among the top five skills that will increase in importance over the next five years, and rank it among the top challenges facing CEOs.

- Employers (56 percent) and superintendents (79 percent) agree that a college degree in the arts is the most significant indicator of creativity in a prospective job candidate.

- Among eleven subjects offered in high school, superintendants rank arts activities in the top four that are most likely to develop creativity. Yet, three out of four top rated arts subjects are offered as an only as elective by a majority of respondents. Creative writing is the sole required course in more than half the districts. Less than 1 in 5 require a music class.

The 2015 Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards - dedicated to honor and showcase high school musical theater talent while placing a spotlight on the rich educational opportunities offered through a strong and vibrant High School musical theater programs - has 20 participating high schools and represent all areas of the State of Connecticut and, for the first year, Rhode Island.

The participating schools and their associated productions include: Amity Regional High School (Tarzan), Cheshire High School (Nice Work If You Can Get It), Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School (Curtains), East Lyme High School (Grease), Greater Hartford Academy Of The Arts (Sweet Charity), Housatonic Regional High School (The Boyfriend), Immaculate High School (West Side Story), New Britain High School (Seussical), New Canaan High School (Grease), Newtown High School (City of Angels), Old Lyme High School (Carousel), Sacred Heart Academy (Singin' In The Rain), St. Paul Catholic High School (The Sound of Music), Suffied High School (In The Heights), Trumbull High School (Hello Dolly!), Valley Regional High School (Band Geeks), Westhill High School (Hairspray), West Warwick High School (Big Fish), Westover High School (Once Upon A Mattress), and Wethersfield High School (Seussical).

Click here for the full list of nominees!

"Throughout my nearly 20 years as a high school educator, I was passionate and vocal about the fact that the arts need to be both accessible to students of all abilities and backgrounds and an essential part of student development," Bernardini said. "Now as a theater director, I am thrilled to have joined forces with colleagues across the U.S. to create an awards program that begins at the state level and culminates with top national winners engaging in a week of workshops, rehearsals and auditions for further recognition."

Connecticut will compete along with roughly 30 other states from across the United States at The National High School Musical Theater Awards program, held the end of June in New York City. Students awarded Best Actor and Best Actress honors at the CHSMTA Gala in Waterbury, will have the opportunity to be seen and adjudicated by top industry professionals. The National Awards Gala will take place at the Marquis Theater on Broadway.

"I would love to see The Palace Theater sold out for this event," said Bernardini. "2014 was the sixth year we held this event and it was beyond magical...people are still talking about. More importantly to me is that while schools budgets are cut and more and more theater programs are eliminated, it is important for everyone who cares about the arts to make a stand that arts education matters. It is not a luxury, it is essential!

The only way we will ever make people understand the importance of arts education is to show up in such numbers, that those who make decisions cannot ignore. " said Bernardini. "We have the opportunity on June 1, 2015 to show to the entire State that at least 2,500 people care about arts education! Get your tickets and join us for this remarkable evening!!"

For tickets to this Black Tie Gala event are $50 and include the VIP INVITATION ONLY reception. A very limited number of premium seating is available at $75. To reserve your tickets, call The Palace Box Office at 203.346.2000

Master of Ceremonies Matthew S. Morgan grew up in Meriden, Connecticut, and always dreamed of being on Broadway and his family is so proud that he has made that dream come true! He started out in a gifted and talented program in elementary school and choose performing arts. After being bitten by the theatre bug, he pursued it to the fullest, attending music camps and learning all he could about the craft. After attending college, and doing as many community theatre produtions as possible, it was time for NYC and the GREAT WHITE WAY!!! After a few years of learning the ropes and the many lessons of living in the big pond with the other big fish he was blessed to book his first professional acting workshop with a show called De La Guardia! Some of his credits include: The Lion King (Broadway/Las Vegas/Gazelle tour), Hairspray (Broadway/Toronto), RENT (National Tour), Blues for Mister Charlie and many other workshops and readings of new works! Some favorite roles include Simba (The Lion King), Seaweed (Hairspray) and Tobias Ragg (Sweeney Todd).