ArtsBridge Foundation, the producer of the 8th Annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards - Shuler Hensley Awards, last night announced the winners of the 2016 awards during a ceremony at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Scroll down for photos from the ceremony!
Award highlights include: Overall Production - Milton High School for Young Frankenstein; Direction - Calhoun High School's Julie Leggett for Oklahoma!; Best Performance by a Leading Actor - Buford High School's Will Davis for his role as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde; and Best Performance by a Leading Actress - Marietta High School's Shelbea Owens for her role as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. Additionally, recipients of five scholarships and one grant were announced. For a complete list of 2016 Shuler Award recipients, click here.
The recipients of the leading actor and actress awards will travel to New York City to participate in the 8th Annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards that will take place at the Minskoff Theater on Broadway on June 27, 2016. They will compete with young performers from across the country for the coveted Jimmy Award as well as merit scholarships and professional opportunities.
The 91 member Shuler Student Ensemble performed an opening number from Motown the Musical and closing number from Memphis. The ceremony also featured cameo appearances from Marietta-native and Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley; performances by the six schools nominated for overall production; a performance of Murder, Murder from Jekyll & Hyde by Buford High School, winner of the Show Stopper award; and leading actor and actress nominee medleys.
A team of more than 60 Atlanta-based arts professionals evaluated the productions of the 50 participating high schools. Twenty-eight (28) public and private schools from throughout the state were nominated in the 17 categories for the 8th annual Shuler Awards. The accounting firm Bennett Thrasher tabulated the results.
Photo Credit: Ben Rose Photography
Students walk the red carpet at the Shuler Awards
Accounting firm Bennett Thrasher arrives at the Shuler Awards
Students walk the red carpet at the Shuler Awards
Students walk the red carpet at the Shuler Awards
Students walk the red carpet at the Shuler Awards
Shuler Hensley arrives at the awards show
Shuler Hensley arrives at the awards show
Shuler Hensley arrives at the awards show
Students walk the red carpet at the Shuler Awards
Students walk the red carpet at the Shuler Awards
Wesleyan School, nominated for overall production for Hot Mikado, performs at the Shuler Awards
Milton High School, winner of the overall production award for Young Frankenstein, performs at the Shuler Awards
Calhoun High School, nominated for overall production for Oklahoma!, performs at the Shuler Awards
Johns Creek High School, nominated for overall production for The Addams Family, performs at the Shuler Awards
The Shuler Student Ensemble pictured with Shuler Hensley
The S.T.A.R. Council pictured with Shuler Hensley
The S.T.A.R. Council pictured with Shuler Hensley
Leading actress nominees pictured with Shuler Hensley
Leading actress nominees pictured with Shuler Hensley
Leading actor nominees pictured with Shuler Hensley
Leading actor nominees pictured with Shuler Hensley
The Shuler Student Ensemble performs Dancing in the Streets to open the 2016 Shuler Awards
The Shuler Student Ensemble and Shuler Hensley open the evening with a performance of Dancing in the Streets
Wesleyan School, nominated for overall production for Hot Mikado, performs at the Shuler Awards
Milton High School, winner of the overall production award for Young Frankenstein, performs at the Shuler Awards
Milton High School, winner of the overall production award for Young Frankenstein, performs at the Shuler Awards
Milton High School, winner of the overall production award for Young Frankenstein, performs at the Shuler Awards
South Forsyth High School, nominated for overall production for Ghost the Musical, performs at the Shuler Awards
Calhoun High School, nominated for overall production for Oklahoma!, performs at the Shuler Awards
Calhoun High School, nominated for overall production for Oklahoma!, performs at the Shuler Awards
Leading actor nominees perform a medley at the Shuler Awards
West Forsyth High School, nominated for overall production for The Little Mermaid, performs at the Shuler Awards
The Shuler Student Ensemble performs the finale Steal Your Rock 'N' Roll
The Shuler Student Ensemble performs the finale Steal Your Rock 'N' Roll
The Shuler Student Ensemble performs the finale Steal Your Rock 'N' Roll
Leading actor winner Will Davis of Buford High School performs at the Shuler Awards
Leading Actor winner Will Davis of Buford High School performs during the leading actor medley at the Shuler Awards
Leading Actor winner Will Davis of Buford High School performs during the leading actor medley at the Shuler Awards
Leading Actor winner Will Davis of Buford High School performs during the leading actor medley at the Shuler Awards
Emily Simes of Chattahoochee High School leads the lead actress nominees during a medley at the Shuler Awards
Leading Actress Winner Shelbea Owen of Marietta High School performs during the leading actress medley
Leading Actress Winner Shelbea Owen of Marietta High School performs during the leading actress medley
Leading Actress Winner Shelbea Owen of Marietta High School performs during the leading actress medley
Leading Actress Winner Shelbea Owen of Marietta High School performs during the leading actress medley
Ella Welch of King’s Ridge Christian School performs during the leading actress medley at the Shuler Awards
Owen Smith of Milton High School performs during the leading actress medley at the Shuler Awards
Milton High School, winner of the overall production award for Young Frankenstein, performs at the Shuler Awards
Christen Owen of South Forsyth High School performs during the leading actress medley at the Shuler Awards
Peyton Smith of West Forsyth High School performs during the leading actress medley at the Shuler Awards
Peyton Smith of West Forsyth High School performs during the leading actress medley at the Shuler Awards
Leading actor nominees perform a medley at the Shuler Awards
Connor Tarpley of Greater Atlanta Christian School performs during the leading actor medley at the Shuler Awards
Nominee Brody Grant of North Forsyth High School performs in the leading actor medley at the Shuler Awards
Leading actor nominees Brennen Blotner of Johns Creek High School and Brody Grant of North Forsyth High School perform in the medley at the Shuler Awards
Brennan Blotner of Johns Creek High School performs during the leading actor medley at the Shuler Awards
Evan Calatayud of West Forsyth High School performs during the leading actor medley at the Shuler Awards
Milton High School’s Lauren Kenner won the Best Performance by a Featured Performer Shuler Award
Teya Ryan, CEO and president of GPB, presents the award for costumes
Kimberly Staples of Buford High School accepts the Shuler Award for costumes for Jekyll & Hyde
Kimberly Staples of Buford High School accepts the Shuler Award for costumes for Jekyll & Hyde
Kimberly Staples of Buford High School accepts the Shuler Award for costumes for Jekyll & Hyde
South Forsyth High School's Kirk Grizzle accepts the Shuler Award for Lighting Design
Wesleyan School's Steven Broyles accepts the Shuler Award for Scenic Design
South Forsyth High School's Olivia Morris accepts the Shuler Award for Technical Execution
Kennesaw Mountain High School's Michael Huebner accepts the Shuler Award for Orchestra
Johns Creek High School's Tara Mitra accepts the Shuler Award for Sound
West Forsyth High School's Eric Gray accepts the Shuler Award for Musical Direction
Andy Turner of Forsyth Central High School receives the Morrell Memorial Music Scholarship at the Shuler Awards
Greater Atlanta Christian School's Parker Jennings accepts the Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins
Johns Creek High School's Koosha Kermani accepts the Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor for his role as Fester in The Addams Family
Shelbea Owen of Marietta High School accepts the Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress for her role as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray
Shelbea Owen of Marietta High School accepts the Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress for her role as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray
Will Davis of Buford High School accepts the Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor for his role as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Evan Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde
Will Davis of Buford High School accepts the Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor for his role as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Evan Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde
Lynne Brague and Laurel Henson of Mount Paran Christian School accept the Shuler Award for Choreography
Lynne Brague and Laurel Henson of Mount Paran Christian School accept the Shuler Award for Choreography
Milton High School students accept the Shuler Award for Ensemble
Milton High School students accept the Shuler Award for Ensemble
First Lady of Georgia Mrs. Sandra Deal presents the Shuler Award for Direction
Calhoun High School's Julie Leggett accepts the Shuler Award for Direction from Georgia's First Lady Mrs. Sandra Deal
Calhoun High School's Julie Leggett accepts the Shuler Award for Direction from Georgia's First Lady Mrs. Sandra Deal
Milton High School's Renee Denney accepts the Shuler Award for Overall Production
Milton High School's Renee Denney accepts the Shuler Award for Overall Production
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