5TH ANNUAL BLUMEY AWARDS: Recognizes Excellence in High School Theater

Eighteen high schools in the greater Charlotte region were nominated in this year's Fifth Annual Blumey Awards at Belk Theater on May 22, 2016. Presented by Wells Fargo, with additional support from The Doctor Family Foundation and the Leon Levine Foundation. The Blumey Awards, created to honor outstanding student achievement in musical theater was conceived by Tom Gabbard, President of Blumenthal Performing Arts, and modeled after the Jimmy Awards [National High School Musical Theater Awards], named for legendary theater owner and producer, James Nederlander.

In the early years of the Academy Awards, it faltered and tanked, because the Academy sent letters to the winners before the event, allowing all the nominees to know who won and who wasn't so lucky. Attendance to the ceremony decreased drastically as nominees realized that there was no true reason to show up; they could just pick up the award at a later and more convenient time. The Academy Awards went from a respectful and highly esteemed hopeful ceremony in its first years to an afterthought. The Academy needed a solution; they decided to not release the winners until the actual ceremony. The Academy Awards became an important entertainment industry event. Attendance went up as did media anticipation. When looking at how successful the Academy Award ceremony is today, the Blumey Awards ceremony, just in its fifth year, is destined for great, great things.

Upon entering the theater, rising above the entire orchestra section, was a jib arm, starting from a mezzanine and reaching out to the middle of the house. As people mingled, eyes would flash up towards the jib from time to time. Lights dimmed and the music started, the anticipation was brewing for a great awards show. Energy and excitement flooded the stage as the curtain came up on over 100 actors performing the opening number, We're on Air, a slightly humorous number focusing on actors who are less than ten minutes from call to go onstage was choreographed by Linda Booth. The stage was buzzing with energy from everyone on it. The number ended with the group split down the center of the stage allowing for co-emcees Maureen O'Doyle (WBTV) and Amy Burkett (WTVI, PBS member station) to enter through the clearing. Although, this was a small difference compared to years past when they would enter after the number, it added a cohesive quality to the beginning of this show. O'Doyle and Burkett spoke about how the ceremony is being televised this year, giving reason for the cameraperson and the jib arm moving steadily. O'Doyle added that she looks forward to the Blumeys and that it's her favorite night of the year.

Nations Ford High School was the first to perform, Under the Sea from THE LITTLE MERMAID, a great first number for the show, Sebastian's accent and calm energy shined through and left the audience smiling. As the curtain rose on Ardrey Kell High School's Step in Time from MARY POPPINS, there was a high level of professionalism of everyone onstage. That professionalism continued with refined tap-dancing, acrobatics, and chimneysweep tosses. It is hard to find a performance better than, or even equal to that on Broadway today. Ardrey Kell did a great job. If you read my review of RAGTIME, you know that I loved the show, so seeing that Central Academy of Technology and Arts (CATA) High School was going to perform the Prologue from RAGTIME, got me very excited. Despite the length of this six-minute song, they were great, I wanted more.

Every year, the Blumey Awards Music Director/Conductor, David Dabbon, writes a new opening number and medley for both the best actor and actress nominees. This year he ran into something interesting, two of the six best actor nominees were nominated performing the same musical but from different schools. Dabbon wrote the beginning of the male's medley and switched back and forth between the two actors playing the same character. As the song came to a close and the drum roll started in anticipation of who was going to win as best actor, the young men huddled, with strong camaraderie. As Justin Rivers' (CATA High School, role of "Coalhouse Walker, Jr." Ragtime) name was called the remaining five nominees onstage applauded him and hugged. Rivers was speechless and crying, as he came up to the microphone to say a few words. As he stood looking out, the appreciation he held within him was beyond the words he was speaking. He exited stage in a sea of applause and woos from the audience. Every single person was proud of him and happy he won. As the instruments began with the medley for the best actress, the audience quickly focused on the young women singing. Dabbon again, crafted a great medley, stitching songs from completely different genres together, going from emotion to emotion like a switch, doing it elegantly. He generated the emotion of wanting from THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE to the despair of RAGTIME to the happiness in THE LITTLE MERMAID. The audience loved each performer and by the end they wanted every single nominee to win. Again, as the drum roll began, the young women huddled. Amina Faye (CATA High School, role of "Sarah" Ragtime) won, she too began crying and the other nominees responded in applause and hugs. Both winners were so ecstatic, yet what is more important was how fellow nominees reacted-hugging and laughing. If you look at how nominees react at the Oscars®, Emmys® or Tonys®, they will applaud as the winner approaches the stage, yet at the Blumeys, they jump with the winner, they all shared in the happiness. This camaraderie, friendship and appreciation is something you don't see in this world often. Winners, Rivers and Faye will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City where they will train and compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards.

Although there weren't any presenters who stood out having a spark about the arts, it didn't matter, the level of love, friendship, energy, passion, and talent that was exuded onstage peaked any awards show/ceremony I have ever seen. Don't just go to the Blumey Awards to watch high school students win some awards, go to be entertained, go to watch love and friendship shine onstage, go to see real passion, because you won't be let down. Although these performers are still in high school, they entertain as well as Broadway. I look forward to next year's awards. If you missed the Blumey Awards, or attended, but want to watch it again, it will air on Tuesday, June 14th at 8PM on WTVI.

Other categories awarded included: CFA Academy won Tier 1 Wells Fargo Best Musical Award, Mary Poppins. CATA High School won Tier 2 Wells Fargo Best Musical Award, Ragtime. Technical Achievement award was presented to Connor Bright from Providence Day School. The Charlotte Observer Student Critic Award was awarded to Sarah Dahlberge from Covenant Day, Best Supporting Actor/Actress was Awarded to Ethan Holtzman, Pirate King, the Pirates of Penzance, Arborbrook Christian Academy and Libby Hatfield, Sally Brown, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Best Featured Performer Rickey-Levon Burch II of Butler High School as Mr. Twimble, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Best Overall Direction CATA High School Ragtime Best Ensemble/Chorus Ardrey Kell High School, Mary Poppins, Best Choreography Execution cfa Academy, Mary Poppins Best Student Orchestra Ardrey Kell High School, Mary Poppins, Best Costume Creation Hickory Ridge High School, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Best Set Construction cfa Academy, Mary Poppins, The Mary Doctor Performing Arts Scholarship awarded to Sawyer Newsome, CATA High School, and Sean Mason, Phillip O'Berry Academy of Technology.

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