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Finalists for 'Scholarship for the Arts' Announced

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Jo Schuman Silver, producer of Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon, announced today the selection of nine Bay Area finalists for the Steve Silver Foundation and Beach Blanket Babylon "Scholarship for the Arts." One winner in each category will be presented with a check for $10,000 towards their college education. The high school seniors that will perform live on Monday, June 9th are:

Acting:
SAIRUS GRAHAM-THILLE - San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco
SHAYLIN HOYE - Novato High School, Novato
KEELIN WOODELL - St. Ignatius College Prep, San Francisco

Dancing:
CHELSEA McLAUGHLIN - Eastside College Preparatory, East Palo Alto
TAL OPPENHEIMER - Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco
ERIN STAHMER - Homestead High School, Cupertino

Singing:
ALEXANDRA AKIN - School of the Arts, San Francisco
SARA LEMESH - Terra Linda High School, San Rafael
ERIN SUTH - Redwood Christian Junior/Senior High School, San Lorenzo

"I'm really impressed by the quality of the performances that we've received and the dedication of the students to their craft" said Producer Jo Schuman Silver. "It wasn't an easy task to narrow down the field to just nine finalists."

Master of Ceremonies for the evening is Star 101.3's Don Bleu. The celebrity panel of judges scheduled to appear includes: San Francisco's Mr. Nightlife Harry Denton, Composer Gordon Getty, San Francisco Opera's General Director David Gockley, KMEL's Chuy Gomez, Alice Radio's Hooman, Actress Rita Moreno, California Shakespeare Theater's Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone, American Conservatory Theater's Artistic Director Carey Perloff, ABC7's Don Sanchez, Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director Tony Taccone, KRON4/KCBS Radio's Jan Wahl and ODC/Dance's Artistic & Executive Dance Director Brenda Way.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Off-Broadway Musical - Top 3
1. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - New World Stages
22.5% of votes
2. Mexodus - Minetta Lane Theatre
11.3% of votes
3. Bat Boy - City Center
8.2% of votes

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