High School in the Spotlight: Amity High School
By: BWW News Desk Mar. 12, 2012
Based on user demand, BWW is taking our commitment to arts education one step further with the launch of the BWW Student Center - High School Edition. This directory features upcoming show listings for more than 1500 high schools nationwide with more being added each week. Schools can register for 'enhanced' listings on the site - adding in photos, cast lists, videos, links and more. Productions that take advantage of this will receive highlights on our listing pages, extra editorial mentions and potential spotlight features. And just like we do with our College Center, each week BWW will be selecting a high-school program and featuring it as our 'School in the Spotlight: High-School Edition'.
Today, BroadwayWorld is thrilled to introduce you to the Performing Arts Department at Amity High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut. Under the direction of former actor and Amity alum, Rob Kennedy, the theater department at Amity is renowned for its student productions that easily rival those of professional companies. Each year, over 150 student actors and technicians are involved in the fall play and spring musical. Amity High prides itself in selecting works with current themes and strong social messages that appeal to the school's student population as well as the community at large. Past productions include 'The Laramie Project', 'The Boys Next Door', 'And Then They Came for me', 'Almost Maine', 'Rent', 'Les Miserables', and 'Chicago'. Click here to visit Amity's interactive photo gallery to see pictures of past productions!
The students' level of talent and dedication to the craft has garnered many accolades. The school was awarded two Moss Hart Awards from the New England Theater Conference for Best High School production in New England and five Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards. In addition, Amity High holds the honor of being one of the 40 schools selected (out of 2500 that applied) by The American High School Theater Festival to represent their region at the upcoming Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.
Graduates of Amity High have gone on to pursue higher education at prestigious performing arts institutions including New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, The Cincinnati Conservatory, Muhlenberg College, Point Park University, Pace, Marymount Manhattan, Boston University and Emerson.
The upcoming spring production of 'Legally Blonde, The Musical' runs from May 11 to 19. In the meantime, we invite you to sit back and enjoy videos of past productions to see these exceptionally talented students in action! And if you're interested in seeing more, click here to view Amity's YouTube account.
For more information on Amity High School, visit http://www.theatercms.com/amity/
Congratulations to all students and teachers involved with Amity High School's Department of Performing Arts on earning this week's BWW Spotlight mention!
'One Day More' from 'Les Miserables', 2010
John Jorge in the role of 'Jean Valjean' performing 'Who Am I?' from 'Les Misearables', 2010
'All That Jazz' from 'Chicago', April 2011
'All I Care About is Love' from 'Chicago', April 2011
'What You Own' from 'Rent', 2009
'Out Tonight' from 'Rent', 2009
If you would like to be considered for a School in the Spolight: High School Edition or have questions/concerns/suggestions related to BWW's student center, please contact studentcenter@broadwayworld.com.
Photo: 'Les Miserables', 2010. Courtesy of Amity High School
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