Posted on January 23rd, 2012
DSM Special Events and Community Outreach Media Contact:
Sharon Adams
972.773.9289
DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards
Director:Tracy Jordan
Direct: 214-413-3951
32 High Schools Participating in Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards presented by Comerica Bank for the 2011 – 2012 School Year
Finalists in 15 categories will perform and winners will be announced at the red carpet extravaganza on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at The Music Hall at Fair Park
(Dallas, TX –January 19, 2012) Tracy Jordan, director of Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards program (DSM HSMTA) presented by Comerica Bank has announced that 32 high schools have registered to participate for the 2011 – 2012 school year.
“We’re thrilled to have so many high schools participating in Dallas Summer Musicals’ first-ever musical theatre awards program,” Jordan said. “It’s a diverse list of high schools from as far away as Granbury, McKinney, Corsicana and all across the Metroplex. The musicals are a wonderful mix from classic, like Red Oak High School’s Singin’ in the Rain, and dramatic, like Denton High Schools’ Jekyll & Hyde to Highland Park High School’s Once Upon a Mattress, a comedy.” The complete listing is attached.
Carla Ford-Rich, Speech and Theater Coordinator with Plano ISD said, “The Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards program is such a wonderful opportunity for our students. They not only get to see examples from students’ work across the Metroplex, but they have a wonderful opportunity to perform on the Dallas Summer Musicals stage and have opportunities for scholarships. The students get critiqued by professionals in the area and their work is valued. We have so many wonderful theatre programs in the area and it is good to know that others see the credibility of the programs and are willing to devote time, money, and effort to acknowledge their hard work. This program acknowledges all areas of a production from the orchestra and choreography to the set design and costuming to the acting and singing. It acknowledges all the efforts of all the students. Thank you to the Dallas Summer Musicals, Tracy Jordan, and the multitude of volunteer judges for recognizing the validity of such great student work.”
Based on Broadway’s Tony® Awards, the DSM High School Musical Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre in 15 categories, listed below.
Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM said, “This program has been in research and development for the past four years and we are thrilled to bring it to Dallas. We believe it will encourage participation in the musical arts not only in the high schools, but throughout our community. All of this would not be possible without the generosity of the DSM High School Musical Awards founding donors, Leah and Jerry Fullinwider and presenting sponsor, Comerica Bank.”
Due to the kind generosity of the Fullinwiders and Comerica Bank, DSM will be awarding seven $3,000 cash scholarships to outstanding participating students of the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards.
Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Nederlander Award) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year.
Three judges will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories:
Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer.
Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton. Finalists in each category will be announced and invited to perform at the 1st Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Ceremony show at the Music Hall at Fair Park Saturday, May 5, 2012, when winners will be announced.
For more details about the Dallas program, visit the website at http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm
Link to the national program website here: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions
About Dallas Summer Musicals
Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit presenter of Broadway theatre in North Texas. DSM produces, presents and promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through community outreach and education and enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region. Dallas Summer Musicals season sponsors are American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA Channel 8, and Texas Instruments. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org