Spring SpotLight Musical Theatre Awards Announced

Hennepin Theatre Trust today announced the spring 2010 honorees from among 39 Minnesota high schools participating in its 2009-10 SpotLight MusicalTheatre Program. These SpotLight honors recognize students and schools for their accomplishments in performance, production and community engagement. The SpotLight program supports the work of Minnesota high schools that present musical theatre-from classics including Fiddler on the Roof to the adaptation of Dickens' The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

The new spring honorees, recognized by school and category, are from Andover High School, Blaine High School, The Blake School, Minneapolis; Chanhassen High School, Columbia Heights High School, Concordia Academy, Roseville; Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul; Eagan High School, Hill Murray High School, Maplewood; Lakeville South High School, Park High School, Cottage Grove; St. Francis High School, Southwest High School, Minneapolis; Visitation School and Saint Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights and Washburn High School, Minneapolis. Additional honors to schools presenting musicals in fall 2009 were announced previously. A complete list of honorees by category and by schools with musicals in spring 2010 is attached and also available with a list of the fall awards at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

These high school musicals are made possible by the collaboration of more than 3,300 students and are seen by an estimated 97,000 audience members annually. Hennepin Theatre Trust, the non-profit owner of the historic State, Orpheum and Pantages Theatres, presents performing arts events in downtown Minneapolis and a range of educational programs. The Trust established the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program after recognizing that none existed in Minnesota to honor excellence in high school musical theatre. SpotLight is now in its fifth successful year encouraging and celebrating students who participate and excel in their high school musical. Minnesota high schools annually apply to participate.

The experience culminates in the SpotLight Musical Theatre Awards, a gala event open to the public that brings together teachers, students and parents from diverse backgrounds to honor the entire artistic outpouring that makes the high school musical an invaluable component of the school year. The SpotLight Awards honor high school musical theatre accomplishments in much the same way that the Tony Awards® acknowledge Broadway excellence. This non-competitive celebration with student performances and award presentations will be held at the Orpheum Theatre at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2010. The names of the two students selected to represent Minnesota at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York will also be announced that night. Tickets are available for $15 at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

SpotLight, however, is much more than an honors program. Hennepin Theatre Trust has developed an effective combination of elements to extend students' learning and artistic growth and assist schools. The SpotLight Program's benefits include the opportunity to work with theatre educators and musical theatre professionals who offer training, insight through critical feedback, on-site school workshops and a collaborative conference.

A group of evaluators is retained by the Trust to assess each production with constructive written commentary and nominate honorees. Categories include outstanding performance in leading, supporting and featured roles, outstanding performance by a chorus, dance ensemble and student orchestra, outstanding overall production of a musical, technical achievement and community engagement. Shows are not compared or ranked against each other, so categories may have multiple honorees.

"SpotLight offers a much-needed opportunity to support and recognize the amazing talent and dedication found in Minnesota high school performing arts programs," said Tom Hoch, President/CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust. "With SpotLight, the Trust seeks to recognize students and underscore the importance of including theatre arts as part of a young person's education. High school musical theatre programs enhance skills such as critical thinking, self-expression and collaboration that may not be as fully realized in standard academics or competitive sports."

School Participants in the 2009-10 SpotLight Program:
Andover High School, Andover - Kiss Me, Kate
Bemidji High School, Bemidji - Camelot
Blaine High School, Blaine - Godspell
The Blake School, Minneapolis - Seussical
Centennial High School, Circle Pines - Zombie Prom
Champlin Park High School, Champlin - Sweeney Todd
Chanhassen High School, Chanhassen - Hello Dolly
Chaska High School, Chaska - The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Columbia Heights High School, Columbia Heights - Little Shop of Horrors
Concordia Academy, Roseville - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul - Seussical
Dassel-Cokato High School, Cokato - Little Women
Eagan High School, Eagan - Pippin
East Ridge High School, Woodbury - Seussical
Eastview High School, Apple Valley - Annie
Edina High School, Edina - Curtains
Forest Lake Area High School, Forest Lake - Honk!
Fridley High School, Fridley - Guys and Dolls
Hill Murray High School, Maplewood - Dracula
Hopkins High School, Minnetonka - The Wizard of Oz
Irondale High School, Mounds View - Honk!
Kennedy High School, Bloomington - The Wizard of Oz
Lakeville North High School, Lakeville - Hello, Dolly
Lakeville South High School, Lakeville - Seussical
Maple Grove High School, Maple Grove - Little Shop of Horrors
Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka - The Scarlet Pimpernel
Moorhead High School, Moorhead - Peter Pan
Mound Westonka High School, Mound - South Pacific
Park High School, Cottage Grove - The Wizard of Oz

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