Is this common in American high school musical theatre (Award ceremonies--link)

[EricMontreal22]

While looking for a TOmmy Tune clip, I stumbled upon these videos of the Tommy Tune Awards done in Houston for musical theatre and even televised there. I admit it seems kinda over the top for high school--I went to a school here in Canada that specialized in musical theatre, but we had nothing similar.

Here's one of many videos (they also do full performances from each nominated show, etc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68IJxnlCg9o

[dramamama611]

There are a couple of them -- but I've never experienced them personally. I don't believe the are the "norm".

[EricMontreal22]

Maybe I'm just jealous that we had nothing similar, but for some reason it just seems bizarre to me. Many fo the performers are good especially for high school, but it seems like watching a trainwreck, which I know is an overeaction.

[Gaveston2]

Personally, I'm not crazy about "competitive" theater (yeah, I know the Ancient Greeks, Persians and Romans did it) and we certainly had nothing of the kind when I was in school.

But here's a documentary about the state competitions in Florida. They are huge!

http://www.thespiansthemovie.com/press/

[EricMontreal22]

Thanks! I'll check it out. I guess the winners, of the Houston one anyway compete in New York? I dunno, I guess I feel like it places a weird precedent when high schoolers worry about it, though people still compete for scholarships but it's not so public (the fact that everyone runs up gleefully to hug the winner, who then gives a tearful acceptance speech just all seems a bit much).

[Matt2]

You mean you haven't heard of the High School Tony awards?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o5y-7WyNk4

[dramamama611]

I use to be aghast at the idea of theater as competition -- until I became involved. It's AMAZING how competition is a driving force -- rather the difference between playing a sport in season v. playoffs. It's become my favorite production of the year. (Ours is not musical, though, but a one act play festival.)

Then of course, there's the rationalization that ALL theater is competitive -- to get the part, to get the audience, to get the reviews, to make money....etc, etc.

[EricMontreal22]

Ha the high school Tonys look brilliant! :)

DramaMama--I get that point. I guess what, again perhaps unreasonably, bugs me is the whole pageant aspect of it--with the audience giving winners standing ovations etc. But I guess for most contestants it's fun and harmlaess.

[dramamama611]

Oh, I totally agree. In the festival my student get recognized for outstanding work -- but there might be 12 actors that receive that award (the number is unimportant). it's about doing outstanding work, not the ONE to reap the glory.

[EricMontreal22]

Exactly. I think it is very important to be recognized for the job you do. I'm not sure it's similarly important to stage a mock Tony awards--in fact I think it probably doesn't help students. God I sound like an old grump. (And per the clip, I have no idea how you would judge some poor guy who had to play Spacepunk because his school chose Starmites, over someone who has to play Harold Hill, though I guess that could be teaching them about the Tonys)

[inlovewithjerryherman]

In Pittsburgh, the Gene Kelly awards are a VERY big deal.

[beagle]

There are also the Cappies, which started in the Washington, DC area but now have programs around the country and in Canada:

http://www.cappies.com/

[madbrian]

I live in northern NJ, and I know our HS productions are 'reviewed' by organization(s) and have earned various awards over the years. I think the Papermill may be involved here in northern NJ. The awards can range from performance to costumes to sets, etc.

[henrikegerman]

Part of me thinks awards for the arts are idiotic.

Another part enjoys them (of course) and also thinks that given that in high school, competitive sports are a mania, why should competition in the arts be spared.

[madbrian]

While I'm not closely aware of what goes on, I think these awards in NJ are recognition more than competition. In other words, several productions can be acknowledged for sets. I think it's similar to the way HS bands, choirs, and orchestra are recognized.

[doodlenyc]

Papermill does have awards for High Schools and they encompass a large part of the northern part of the state, I believe.

There is also the Basies, named after the Count Basie theater in Red Bank, for central NJ performing arts High Schools. A friend's daughter was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical last year, and could be nom'd this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNPCozV2Lko

[Ftworthguy]

We've actually started a new awards program here in Dallas this year and I'm happy to say I sit on the judging panel. There is also another documentary called "Most Valuable Player" that was shown on OWN a few months back, it's AMAZING. So much fun!!

[sondhead]

There's also the High School Tony Awards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o5y-7WyNk4

[The Distinctive Baritone]

There's also the Helen Hayes High School Theater awards in the NYC suburbs (I was a two-time nominee, thank you very much...well over a decade ago). I think they've since bern renamed the Most Watchable High School Theater Awards, lol.

[madbrian]

To their credit, our local HS acknowledges their theater awards on the electronic bulletin board outside the school, right alongside the various athletic and academic achievements.

[EricMontreal22]

I admit I do wish the Tonys had the noimnated actors perform a cheesy medley...

[trentsketch]

There's one particular awards group in NJ that I'm not a fan of. They criticize high school theater like they're reviewing a Broadway play. It's not uncommon to get feedback that some of your students should never sing, dance, or act again. They said that about one of our kids who was the highest ranked Bass I in the all state chorus. One judge just sent a school I work for feedback that the show was terrible because they didn't have a directional sound system and a body mic for every student. It's insanity. They favor schools who rent all their sets and costumes and have the budget to hire professionals for every technical and creative job.

That said, they aren't the only awards show in the area. Montclair State University does a wonderful competition for HS plays. They have no limit on the number of nominees in any category and put on a lovely ceremony. They add in extra categories if a number of schools have special effects or original music in their productions (or other elements, those were the add ons this year). They also break up comedy, drama, and classics for their overall categories. They even recognize outstanding middle school productions with guaranteed awards. It's a very positive experience for the students.

The Helen Hayes/Metros/HS Theater Awards/whatever they're called also do a nice job. They started getting professional actors, music directors, and choreographers to give out the awards a few years ago. It's really a treat for the kids to have their name announced by a performer they recognize. This group also puts together a nice montage video of all the productions that entered, even if they weren't nominated.

[NJBway]

i'm from central jersey my school competed in teen arts & basie awards they're the big thing for central new jersey it's highly competitive i'm the only person from my school to ever win a basie, it was such a huge ordeal in high school for them when it doesn't really matter but our director thought they were like the tonies if you don't impress them you obviously didn't do well...if i do HS teaching i def don't wanna do competitive theater because all that matters now with the students is nominations for the Basies,not that the basies are terrible i respect the people who do them just the pressure to be perfect is just huge

[Wynbish]

Georgia has the Shuler Hensley awards.