2011 FREDDY Participating Schools Announced

The State Theatre Center for the Arts announces the 2011 FREDDY© Awards program, recognizing and rewarding exceptional accomplishments in the production and performance of musical theater in high schools in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania, and Warren County, New Jersey.

The 2011 program will feature 29 schools, including a first time appearance by Pen Argyl High School who will Quixote in March, their first musical in 14 years. Ticket information for all school performances is available at www.freddyawards.org and can also now be accessed through the FREDDY© Awards iPhone application, available for free at iTunes.

A complete list of the 2011 FREDDY© Awards participating schools, along with their productions and performance dates, is attached.

PDF versions of the attached files are available by request for uploading to websites, or download from www.freddyawards.org. Please do not upload word/excel documents to websites.

The 2011 FREDDY© Awards program will culminate in a 3-hour television awards ceremony on Thursday, May 26 from the State Theatre. Produced in partnership with WFMZ Channel 69, the show will be broadcast live from 7 PM - 10 PM on WFMZ and on the web at www.wfmz.com.

Ed Hanna of WFMZ and Shelley Brown of the State Theatre will host the ceremony.

Now in its 9th year, the FREDDY© Awards broadcast has been honored with a 2005 EMMY Award for Outstanding Performing Arts Program, and has also received 2 additional EMMY Nominations, 6 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Awards, including the 2008 Award for Outstanding Television Program Designed for Children, and 2 Associated Press Award for Public Affairs. The 2008 FREDDY© program is the subject of a feature-length film documentary, Most Valuable Players, by Canyon Back Films, Los Angeles. Released in 2010, the documentary has been selected to be part of Oprah Winfrey Network's (OWN) documentary film club which premiers in 2011.

Support for the FREDDY Awards Program
Earlier this season, the State Theatre Center for the Arts announces a brand new mobile giving campaign to benefit the FREDDY© Awards program. Anyone with a cell phone can now send a $5 donation to the FREDDY© Awards by texting FREDDY to 20222. Donors can give up to $30 per month, depending on the carrier, donations are tax deductible, and pledges are billed through their monthly cell phone bill. Messaging and data rates may apply.

The State Theatre FREDDY© Award's text giving program is certified by the Mobile Giving Foundation and is administered through Give by Cell. More detailed information can be accessed through www.statetheatre.org and www.freddyawards.org

2011 Sponsors confirmed at this time are WFMZ Channel 69, The Morning Call, The Express-Times, Air Products, Senator Lisa Boscola, Dept. of Community and Economic Development, Easton Hospital, Enter.net, lehighvalleylive.com, Lehigh Valley Magazine, 99.9 The Hawk, Viamedia, B104, The Century Fund, Holt Family Foundation, Lafayette Ambassador Bank, RCN, Team Capital Bank and Select Sales, Inc. with additional support from Kaplan Awnings, Wilson Black Photography and Thomas Kosa Photography.

The State Theatre invites the Lehigh Valley and Warren County communities to become involved by becoming corporate sponsors, through media or promotional support, or by volunteering their time and expertise.

Corporations, regardless of size, are encouraged to participate, and corporate sponsorships will be available on many levels. For sponsorship information, contact Denise Smith, Vice President, Development, at 610-258-7766 x223 dsmith@statetheatre.org or visit www.freddyawards.org