NSMT Announces Nominees For Spotlight Awards

North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) recently announced the nominees, including the top 10 productions nominated for Best Musical, for the 3rd annual North Shore Music Theatre Spotlight Awards. The Tony® Award style program is designed to honor the accomplishments of high school students and teachers as well as encourage them to achieve the highest levels of excellence in musical theater. This year's program involves 24 high schools and over 1000 students and will culminate in an awards ceremony on June 2, 2008 on the NSMT main stage. 
 
"North Shore Music Theatre is committed to education and to the art of musical theater and the Spotlight Awards program is a unique opportunity for us to reach into local communities and recognize the brightest stars of high school musical theater," said Barry Ivan, NSMT's Artistic Director and Executive Producer. Ivan continued, "The awards have become a wonderful and exciting tradition at NSMT and a perfect way to celebrate and showcase the immense talent and enthusiasm of all the students and teachers."
 
Fifteen awards will be presented during the awards ceremony on June 2, 2008 – including Best Leading Actor/Actress, Best Supporting Actor/Actress, Best Featured Performer, Best Ensemble/Chorus, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Technical Crew/Execution, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, and the prestigious award for Best Overall Musical.  Comcast, in addition to providing technical support for the event, will be donating 10 show tickets to each of the 10 schools nominated for Best Musical.  Generous donations from Target and Boston Acoustics will also help make the 3rd annual NSMT Spotlight Awards a reality for everyone involved.
 
"North Shore Music Theatre's Spotlight Awards are an inspiration for young performers," said Joyce Kulhawik, Arts and Entertainment Reporter and Emcee of the 2007 ceremony.  "It was an honor to be in the presence of all that young talent on one stage for one magical night."  Kulhawik, who will be returning as a presenter for this year's ceremony, will be joined by this year's hosts, David Nathan Perlow and Addi McDaniel, best known to NSMT audiences as Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez from NSMT's 2007 production of Disney's High School Musical.  In addition, NSMT has announced that NSMT's Artistic Director Emeritus Jon Kimbell, State Representative Mary Grant, Beverly Mayor William Scanlon, Boston Globe theater critic Terry Byrne, Massachusetts Film Office Executive Director Nick Paleologos, and cast members from NSMT's production of Contact will be among the presenters.  More presenters will be announced soon!
 
According to Ivan, the interest and participation in the NSMT Spotlight Awards program has made for a strong and lasting bond with local communities. "The awards are an opportunity to applaud students and high schools from all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire for their dedication, hard work, and passion.  These students are our future and as theater educators and enthusiasts, it is our privilege to honor them and encourage their growth." 
 
The ceremony will include a grand opening number featuring two students from each of the participating schools directed by NSMT Academy of Music Theater's Director of Dance Myvonwynn Hopton. Additionally, musical numbers from each of the 10 productions nominated for Best Musical will be performed throughout the ceremony.  Participating schools include Andover High School, Beverly High School, Bishop-Fenwick High School, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, Danvers High School, Dracut High School, Framingham High School, Ipswich High School, Lynnfield High School, Marblehead High School, Masconomet High School, Natick High School, Newburyport High School, Pembroke High School, Pentucket Regional High School, Pope John XXIII High School, Reading Memorial High School, Salem High School (MA), Salem High School (NH), Silver Lake Regional High School, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, The Governor's Academy, Tynsborough High School, and Westford Academy.
 
Doors open at 7pm for the 7:30pm ceremony on Monday, June 2nd. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students and can be purchased by calling the NSMT Box Office at (978) 232-7200, by visiting the website at www.nsmt.org or in person at 62 Dunham Road (Route128, exit 19), Beverly, MA.