Two SpotLight Winners to Represent MN at Nat'l HS Musical Theatre Awards 6/28

Nathaniel Irvin of Minnetonka High School and Haley Kurr of Wayzata High School, both Hennepin Theatre Trust SpotLight Musical Theatre students, were selected to represent Minnesota at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York on June 28.

Nathaniel Irvin just graduated from Minnetonka High School where he is an award-winning musical theatre performer. He has also worked with Twin Cities' theatres including the Guthrie and Theater Latte´ Da. He was the Minnesota recipient of the $10,000 AXA Achievement Scholarship from AXA Equitable and World News and Report for the creation of NDI Backyard Productions. Irvin will be attending Boston Conservatory next year.

Haley Kurr is a junior at Wayzata High School who has received Hennepin Theatre Trust's SpotLight honors for her work in musical theatre, including an award for her leading role as Nellie Forbush in Wayzata's 2009 production of "South Pacific." Kurr began been performing and dancing at a young age and has continued developing her theater talents in school and community productions throughout the last seven years.

Irvin and Kurr, students who participate as part of their high schools in Hennepin Theatre Trust's SpotLight Musical Theatre Program, will compete in the June 28 National High School Musical Theatre Awards at Broadway's Marquis Theatre in New York. They were chosen through a vigorous audition process, starting with a group of twenty SpotLight students, then narrowed to six finalists before the final selection of the two winners. Irvin and Kurr will travel to New York, courtesy of the Trust and Sun Country Airlines, to participate in master classes, receive professional coaching and compete further for the opportunity to earn a four-year academic scholarship starting in fall 2011 to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Irvin and Kurr were chosen from this group of six finalists: Caleb Craig, Andover High School, Javier Ferreira, Eagan High School, Nathaniel Irvin, Minnetonka High School, Haley Kurr, Wayzata High School, Emily Picardi, Andover High School and Kelsey Schroeder, Moorhead High School

The final results were announced during the SpotLight Awards on June 14, a ceremony honoring students from 39 Minnesota high schools for excellence in musical theatre which is the year-end culmination of SpotLight Musical Theatre Program, Hennepin Theatre Trust's flagship educational initiative.