TUTS Announces 2012-2013 Tommy Tune Awards Participants

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has announced the 45 Houston area high schoolscompeting in the 11th annual Tommy Tune Awards. Developed by TUTS in 2002, the Tommy Tune Awards honor musical theatre excellence at the high school level, celebrating outstanding student achievement in 15 categories. During the 2012-2013 school year, a team of Houston-based theatre professionals will evaluate the participating high schools’ productions and announce the winners at a Tony Awards-style ceremony to be heldApril 16, 2013 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The event will spotlight musical numbers from the nominated shows as well as reveal the winning performers, directors, choreographers, orchestras and designers who have defined excellence throughout the 2012-2013 school year.  The Best Leading Actor and Actress, the most prestigious recognitions of the Tommy Tune Awards, will represent TUTS in an all-expense paid trip as they go on to compete at the national level for the Jimmy Award at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City in June 2013.

TUTS’ Tommy Tune Awards are named for Broadway legend, Houston native and Lamar High School alumnusTommy Tune.  A performer, director, and choreographer with more than 50 years of stage experience, Tune received nine Tony Awards for his work in the following productions: Seesaw, My One and Only, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Nine, Grand Hotel, and The Will Rogers Follies.  He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2003 by President Bush.

TUTS’ Tommy Tune Awards are designed not only to acknowledge remarkable artists in musical theatre at the high school level, but also to encourage their future in the profession by providing an opportunity to win scholarships, compete on a national level, and receive recognition from their peers.  The 45 schools competing in the 11th annual Tommy Tune Awards are as follows: 

•    Austin High School, Annie Get Your Gun (January 25, 26, February 1, 2 at 7 p.m.)
•    Cesar Chavez High School, Joseph…Dreamcoat (February 27, 28 at 4 p.m. and March 1, 2 at 7 p.m.)
•    Clear Falls High School, Once Upon A Mattress (January 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 at 7 p.m.)
•    Clear Springs High School, Curtains (January 31, February 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m. and February 3 at 2:30 p.m.)
•    Conroe High School, A Funny Thing Happened…Forum (January 17, 18, 19 at 7 p.m.)
•    Cypress Creek High School, Spamalot (January 31, February 1, 2, 4 at 7 p.m. and February 3 at 3 p.m.)
•    Cypress Falls High School, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (October 18, 19, 20, 22 at 7 p.m.)
•    Cypress Woods High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie (November 1, 2, 3 at 7 p.m. and November 3 at 2 p.m.)
•    Dekaney High School, The Wiz (January 25, 26 at 7 p.m.)
•    Energized for STEM (Southeast):  Title and dates to be determined
•    Energized for STEM (Southwest):  Title and dates to be determined
•    Episcopal High School, Seussical (March 1, 2 at 7:30 p.m. and March 3 at 3 p.m.)
•    Foster High School, South Pacific (December 7 at 7:30 p.m. and December 9 at 2:30 p.m.)
•    Friendswood High School, Title to be determined (February 22, 23, March 1, 2 at 7 p.m. and March 3 at 2:30 p.m.)
•    G. W. Carver Magnet High School, The Color Purple (January 10, 11 at 7 p.m.)
•    George Ranch High School, Footloose (Dates to be determined)
•    Houston Christian High School, The Wizard of Oz (February 28, March 1, 2 at 7 p.m. and March 2 at 2 p.m.)
•    High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, The Pajama Game (October 10, 11, 12, 13 at 7 p.m. and October 14 at 2 p.m.)
•    James E Taylor High School, Seussical (February 7, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m. and February 10 at 2 p.m.)
•    John Cooper School, Bye Bye Birdie (November 15, 16, 17 at 7 p.m. and November 17, 18 at 2 p.m.)
•    Katy High School, Joseph…Dreamcoat (January 31, February 1, 2 at 7 p.m. and February 3 at 2 p.m.)
•    Kerr High School, Avenue Q - School Edition (January 18, 19 at 7 p.m.)
•    Kingwood High School, How to Succeed… (November 1, 2, 3, 5 at 7:30 p.m.)
•    Kinkaid School, Chicago (March 1, 2 at 7 p.m. and March 3 at 2 p.m.)
•    Klein Collins High School, Legally Blonde (January 31, February 1, 2, 4, 5 at 7 p.m. and February 2 at 2 p.m.)
•    Klein Forest High School, 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (January 31, February 1, 2 at 7 p.m.)
•    Klein High School:  Title and dates to be determined
•    Klein Oak High School:  Title and dates to be determined
•    Magnolia West High School, Once Upon A Mattress (January 17, 18, 19, 21 at 7 p.m.)
•    Mayde Creek High School, The Wizard of Oz (February 7, 8, 9 at 7 p.m.) 
•    Memorial High School, South Pacific (February 21, 22, 23, 28, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. and March 2 at 2:30 p.m.)
•    Northland Christian School, Seussical (October 25, 27 at 7 p.m. and October 28 at 2 p.m.)
•    Pasadena Memorial High School, Hello, Dolly! (February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 at 7 p.m. and February 3 at 2 p.m.)
•    Pearland High School, South Pacific (January 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m.)
•    Sam Rayburn High School, Grease (January 30, 31 at 7:30 p.m.)
•    Second Baptist School, Title to be determined (February 28, March 1, 2 at 7 p.m. and March 2 at 2 p.m.)
•    Seven Lakes High School, The Drowsy Chaperone (February 7, 8, 9 at 7 p.m. and February 9 at 2 p.m.)
•    Spring High School, Gypsy (September 27, 29, October 4, 6 at 7 p.m. and September 29, October 6 at 2 p.m.)
•    Spring Woods High School, Children of Eden (February 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m. and February 2, 9 at 2:30 p.m.)
•    St. Agnes Academy, Legally Blonde (Dates to be determined)
•    St. John's School, Kiss Me, Kate (March 1, 2 at 7:30 p.m.)
•    Stratford High School, Crazy For You (January 31, February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m. and February 2, 9 at 2:30 p.m.)
•    Texas City High School:  Title and dates to be determined
•    Westchester Academy, Into the Woods (November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 at 7:30 p.m.)
•    Woodlands High School, Oklahoma! (January 17, 18, 19 at 7 p.m.)

The Tommy Tune Awards ceremony is open to the general public, and tickets will be available for purchase beginning on April 2, 2013.  For information on the 2013 Tommy Tune Awards ceremony, call (713) 558-2600 or visit TUTS.com/TommyTune.