John's Creek, Heritage, and More Take Home Shuler Hensley Awards 2017!
By: Sally Henry Apr. 20, 2017
The winners are in! BroadwayWorld was on the scene at the Cobb Energy Center bringing you up-to-the-minute updates on Georgia's 9th annual high school musical theatre awards, The Shuler Hensleys. Be sure to stop by our Instagram (@bww_atlanta) and Twitter (@bww_atlanta) for pictures, videos, and more right from the red carpet.
Check out the ALL the winners below!
The awards show is the culmination of a year-long professional development program, and showcases the next generation of Georgia's musical theatre talent. Presented by the Georgia Lottery and produced by ArtsBridge Foundation, the awards show aired on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) over its nine-station statewide television network live from Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on March 20 from 7-9 pm.
The Shuler Awards, fashioned after Broadway's Tony Awards, celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre. The evening kicks off with red carpet arrivals, followed by a dazzling opening number when the 120 member Shuler Student Ensemble joins Shuler Hensley on stage. Performances by the six schools nominated for Best Overall Production, winner of the Showstopper Award, and the Leading Actor and Actress nominees are also featured during the show. 35 public and private schools from throughout the state were nominated in 17 categories this year. To determine the nominees, a team of more than 60 Georgia-based arts professionals evaluated the productions of 75 participating high schools.
The accounting firm Bennett Thrasher tabulated the results for the 2017 Shuler Hensley Awards Nominees.
DIRECTION
Nominees:
Julie Leggett, Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
***WINNER! Dr. Kim Watters, Mike Earnest, & Richard Bristow, Gordon Central High School, The Spitfire Grill***
Debbie Prost, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
Melissa Casavant, King's Ridge Christian School, Guys and Dolls
Cece Conrath, Lakeview Academy, Big Fish
Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
Honorable Mentions:
Pam Ware, Gainesville High School, Fame the Musical
Carly Ann Berg, Lambert High School, James and the Giant Peach
Cassandra Scott, Northgate High School, Nunsense
Katie Arjona, The Walker School, Bells Are Ringing
MUSIC DIRECTION
Nominees:
Dr. Kim Watters, Gordon Central High School, The Spitfire Grill
Terrance Green, Heritage High School, Les Misérables
***WINNER! Shannan O'Dowd, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella***
Drew Bowers, Milton High School, 9 to 5
Susan Griffin, Walton High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
Honorable Mentions:
Elise Eskew Sparks, Decatur High School, Beauty and the Beast
Jenny Piacente, King's Ridge Christian School, Guys and Dolls
John-Alan Gourdine, Lowndes High School, South Pacific
LaMurl Morris, Prince Avenue Christian School, Into the Woods
Daniel Holder, South Forsyth High School, Leap of Faith
ORCHESTRA
Nominees:
Catherine Willingham, Chamblee Charter High School, The Pajama Game
***WINNER! Brennan Blotner, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella***
Michael Huebner, Kennesaw Mountain High School, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Chris Shumick, Milton High School, 9 to 5
Matthew Baggarly, Stilwell School of the Arts, The Who's Tommy
Todd Motter, The Walker School, Bells Are Ringing
Honorable Mentions:
Joseph Taylor, Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Elise Eskew Sparks, Decatur High School, Beauty and the Beast
Daniel MacNamara, Lakeside High School, Hairspray
Carlos Rodriguez, Riverwood International Charter School, School of Rock
Michael Nestor, Savannah Arts Academy for Visual & Performing Arts, The Drowsy Chaperone
CHOREOGRAPHY
Nominees:
Alyssa Berhend, Molly White, & Grace Canas, Greenbrier High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie
***WINNER! Carly Ann Berg, Lambert High School, James and the Giant Peach***
Lynne Brague, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Denise Kent & James Landreau, North Springs Charter School, Sister Act
Anna Bragg, Providence Christian Academy, Mary Poppins
Emily Bodony, Veterans High School, The Addams Family
Honorable Mentions:
Amy Rawlins, Decatur High School, Beauty and the Beast
Emily Budd, Landmark Christian School, Legally Blonde
Morgan Miller, Sammy Morrison, Lily Robles, Izzi Robles & Ashley Stephens, Northgate High School, Nunsense
Avery McGee, Savannah Arts Academy for Visual & Performing Arts, The Drowsy Chaperone
ENSEMBLE
Nominees:
Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Gainesville High School, Fame the Musical
***WINNER! Gordon Central High School, The Spitfire Grill***
Heritage High School, Les Misérables
Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Honorable Mentions:
Allatoona High School, Legally Blonde
Lambert High School, James and the Giant Peach
Landmark Christian School, Legally Blonde
Riverwood International Charter School, School of Rock
West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
TECHNICAL EXECUTION
Nominees:
Linsy Gomez, Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Emily Stark, The Lovett School, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
***WINNER! Abby Yake, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast***
Tyler Crow & Jake Pitts, Walton High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Maguire Wilder, Wesleyan School, Kiss Me Kate
Rhonda Butler, Whitewater High School, Sister Act
Honorable Mentions:
Connor Albright & Sydney Leffler, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
Alden Kennedy, Lambert High School, James and the Giant Peach
Haley McCurry, Northgate High School, Nunsense
Sarah Bell, West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
Sophie Golden, Woodland High School, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
LIGHTING DESIGN
Nominees:
Kimberly Staples, Buford High School, Parade
Julie Leggett, Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Lydia Butler, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
***WINNER! Welsley Forlines, The Lovett School, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum***
Catherine Pyle, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Leah Lindvall, West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
Honorable Mentions:
Sara Cook, Gainesville High School, Fame the Musical
Fenna Henderson, Heritage High School, Les Misérables
Matthew Hendrix, North Cobb Christian School, Seussical
Preston Evans & William Thomas, Whitefield Academy, Into the Woods
SOUND
Nominees:
David Gay & Ben Spells, Dunwoody High School, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Dr. Kim Watters, Gordon Central High School, The Spitfire Grill
***WINNER! Kellen Blotner, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella***
BrIan Patterson, The Lovett School, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Jered Schuerman, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Robby Tohar, Pope High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Honorable Mentions:
Kyle Duvall, Pace Academy, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Peyton Duncan & Hayes Zierden, The Walker School, Bells Are Ringing
Kenneth Grant, Woodland High School, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
SCENIC DESIGN
Nominees:
Julie Leggett, Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Richard Bristow & Mike Earnest, Gordon Central High School, The Spitfire Grill
Debbie Prost & Marty Jelleme, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
Cece Conrath, Lakeview Academy, Big Fish
***WINNER! Sim Jones, Milton High School, 9 to 5***
David Morgan, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Honorable Mentions:
Chris Davis, Decatur High School, Beauty and the Beast
Stephen Hansen, Greenbrier High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Lucy Biemiller, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Cinderella
The Drafting & Drawing Class, Wheeler High School, Disney's High School Musical
COSTUMES
Nominees:
Debbie Prost, Laura Ross, Lee Kidney & Rosemary Albright, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
Cece Conrath & Debbie Hendrix, Lakeview Academy, Big Fish
Jenn Fitzpatrick, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
***WINNER! Anna Bragg, Providence Christian School, Mary Poppins***
Donna Stembridge, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Cinderella
Laura Pavelec, Wesleyan School, Kiss Me Kate
Honorable Mentions:
Louisa Gille, Gainesville High School, Fame the Musical
Beth Loveland & Jack Zhou, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, The Wizard of Oz
LuCy Howard, Riverwood International Charter School, School of Rock
Michelle Baumann, Walton High School, Little Shop of Horrors
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS
Nominees:
***WINNER! Parker Jennings as Dorothy Brock, Greater Atlanta Christian School, 42nd Street***
Elizabeth Dutch as Percy Talbott, Gordon Central High School, The Spitfire Grill
Alison Roth as Ella, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
Leah Merritt as Belle, Mill Creek High School, Beauty and the Beast
Natalee Castro as Belle, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Cailyn Rushin as Wednesday Addams, Veterans High School, The Addams Family
Honorable Mentions:
Kylie Knox as Fiona, Glynn Academy, Shrek the Musical
Ella Welch as Sarah Brown, King's Ridge Christian School, Guys and Dolls
Owen Claire Smith as Judy, Milton High School, 9 to 5
Kodi McDearmont as Narrator, North Forsyth High School, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Jessie Kuehne as Dorothy, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, The Wizard of Oz
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR
Nominees:
***WINNER! Ramone Nelson as Jean Valjean, Heritage High School, Les Misérables***
Jackson Pratt as Edward Bloom, Lakeview Academy, Big Fish
Brody Grant as Joseph, North Forsyth High School, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Geoffrey Finn Repella as Robert Martin, Savannah Arts Academy of Visual & Performing Arts, The Drowsy Chaperone
JD Flynn as Seymour, Walton High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Evan Calatayud as Charlie Chaplin, West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
Honorable Mentions:
Scott Johnson as Beast, Decatur High School, Beauty and the Beast
Jackson Miller as Jasper/Clive Paget, Mountain View High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Austin Geter as Horton the Elephant, North Cobb Christian School, Seussical
Thompson Sewell as Jack, Prince Avenue Christian School, Into the Woods
Greg Lloyd as Jeffery Moss, The Walker School, Bells Are Ringing
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Nominees:
Jazmine Ellison as Miss Sherman, Gainesville High School, Fame the Musical
***WINNER! Emma Grace Crumbley as Madame, Johns Creek High School, Cinderella***
Lucy Martin as Miss Adelaide, King's Ridge Christian School, Guys and Dolls
Mary Grace Bridges as Paulette Buonofuonte, Landmark Christian School, Legally Blonde the Musical
Lexi Mellott as Lois Lane/Bianca, Wesleyan School, Kiss Me Kate
Colette Caspari as Hannah Chaplin, West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
Honorable Mentions:
Emma Svitil as Mother Superior, Alpharetta High School, Sister Act
Sarah Green as Salome, Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Kate Berg as Penny Pingleton, Lakeside High School, Hairspray
Emilie David as Little Red, Prince Avenue Christian School, Into the Woods
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nominees:
Anderson McKiernan as Gaston, Decatur High School, Beauty and the Beast
Ramiro Salinas as Joe, Gainesville High School, Fame the Musical
Christian King as Rueben, Kennesaw Mountain High School, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
***WINNER! Matthew Schwartz as Man in Chair, Pope High School, The Drowsy Chaperone***
Alex Harding as Cinderella's Prince, Prince Avenue Christian School, Into The Woods
Chase Colson as Sydney Chaplin, West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
Honorable Mentions:
Adam Leyburn as Hines, Chamblee Charter High School, The Pajama Game
Luke Brown as Donkey, Glynn Academy, Shrek the Musical
Tomas De La Rosa as Nathan Detroit, King's Ridge Christian School, Guys and Dolls
Bryce Mixon as Lt. Joe Cable, Lowndes High School, South Pacific
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED PERFORMER
Nominees:
Kayla Wren as Muzzy Van Hossmere, Greenbrier High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Mekhi Hamm as Marius, Heritage High School, Les Misérables
Jerrod Abee as Karl the Giant, Lakeview Academy, Big Fish
Laura Sidwell as Roz Keith, Milton High School, 9 to 5
Emma Perry as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
***WINNER! Jelani Winston as Audrey II, Walton High School, Little Shop of Horrors***
Honorable Mentions:
Bryson Parker as Goat, Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Joe Sear as Erronius, The Lovett School, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Gabe Gonzales as Aldolpho, Pope High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Alexis Trammell as Miss Andrew, Providence Christian Academy, Mary Poppins
OVERALL PRODUCTION
Nominees:
Calhoun High School, The Robber Bridegroom
Gordon Central High School, The Spitfire Grill
***WINNER! Heritage High School, Les Misérables***
Johns Creek High School, Cinderella
King's Ridge Christian School, Guys and Dolls
Lakeview Academy, Big Fish
Honorable Mentions:
Gainesville High School, Fame the Musical
Lambert High School, James and the Giant Peach
Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Walton High School, Little Shop of Horrors
West Forsyth High School, Chaplin the Musical
SHOWSTOPPER
Recipient:
Milton High School, 9 to 5
Nominees:
Milton High School, 9 to 5
Mount Paran Christian School, Beauty and the Beast
Northgate High School, Nunsense
Providence Christian Academy, Mary Poppins
The Walker School, Bells Are Ringing
Wesleyan School, Kiss Me Kate
SCHOLARSHIPS
Broadway Dreams Foundation Summer Intensive Scholarship
Dean McKenzie, Lambert High School
Owen Smith, Milton High School
ALLIANCE THEATRE Summer Intensive Scholarship
Abigail Wright, Calhoun High School
Hayden Kerzie, Milton High School
The Performers Warehouse Summer Intensive Scholarship
Arianna Hardaway, Heritage High School
Morrell Memorial Music Education Scholarship
Mary Christine, Greenbrier High School
James Carlos Family Musical Theatre Performance Scholarship
Brody Grant, North Forsyth High School
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