MTW Announces Winner Of Footlighter Scholarship

MTW's Education and Outreach Department is proud to announce that Kyle Selig, recipient of the Musical Theatre West Footlighters Scholarship Award has just won the top prize at the National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA), also known as the Jimmy Awards. Selig competed against entries from 22 other musical theatre companies across the nation to take home the Best Performance by an Actor prize, which includes $10,000 to further his education, as well as eligibility for four-year merit and need-based scholarship assistance to attend the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama, Undergraduate at New Studio on Broadway: Music Theatre and Acting, contingent upon acceptance into the program.

Huntington Beach resident and Huntington Beach High School Academy of Performing Arts senior Selig and 43 other contestants arrived in New York City last week and rehearsed every day to prepare for the event held Monday, June 28, at Broadway's Marquis Theatre. The event was hosted by Kathy Lee Gifford and the judges included Broadway legend Tommy Tune and casting director Bernard Telsey. Selig shared, "Participating in the NHSMTA was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so grateful for the chance to represent and be sponsored by such an amazing theater company. Thanks to Paul Garman and all the staff at MTW for making such an incredible experience a reality."

Selig's performance of "The Streets of Dublin" from A Man of No Importance clinched him the top honor. Alexandria Payne from Atlanta, Georgia won Best Performance by an Actress for her rendition of "Your Daddy's Son" from Ragtime. The Best Performance by an Actress award also includes $10,000 to further her education, as well as eligibility for four-year merit and need-based scholarship assistance to attend the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama, Undergraduate at New Studio on Broadway: Music Theatre and Acting, contingent upon acceptance into the program.

Selig's journey to the Jimmy Awards began on April 3rd, 2010, when the Musical Theatre West Footlighters held their 6th annual scholarship awards at the Rose Center in Westminster, California. The Footlighters event welcomed over 40 students representing 15 area schools who competed this year for five $1,000.00 scholarships. On April 24th, Musical Theatre West announced that from the five Footlighters Scholarship winners, two performers were chosen to compete on behalf of Musical Theatre West at the NHSMTA in New York: Kyle Selig and Orange County High School of the Arts Senior, Emily Rowan.

This was Musical Theatre West's first year to sponsor local musical theatre students at the event. MTW was among 22 of the nation's most prestigious regional theatre companies to send students to compete in the Jimmy Awards.

Paul Garman, Musical Theatre West's Executive Director/Producer attended the ceremony in New York City to cheer the young performers on and stated, "The excitement in the theater as the awards were announced was palpable and Kyle was clearly an audience favorite. The level of talent throughout the evening from across the country was just phenomenal. The state of American Musical Theater is in good hands with these rising Broadway stars." Musical Theatre West takes pride in its ability to send students to the NHSMTA event as part of its ongoing education and outreach mission to further the awareness and appreciation of the musical theatre art form.

More information about the National High School Musical Theatre Awards can be obtained by visiting their website at www.nhsmta.com.

ABOUT MUSICAL Theatre West

Now in its 58th season, Musical Theatre West is Southern California's premier musical theatre company. Under the leadership of Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman, the company has garnered numerous awards and accolades for its work presenting the entire spectrum of musical comedy (including 21 Ovation Award nominations over the past three seasons and the Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in the Theatre). More information about Musical Theatre West can be found by visiting their website at www.musical.org.

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