Broadway in Chicago Sets Deadlines for 2017 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to invite high schools across the state of Illinois to participate in the Sixth Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards celebrate excellence in high school theatre throughout the State of Illinois.

Beginning Wednesday, August 24 at 10 AM, high school educators may fill out a School Application form. Application details can be found at www.BroadwayInChicago.com/IHSMTA. Broadway In Chicago encourages all Illinois Public and Private High Schools to apply, however the deadline to submit school applications for the 2017 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards is Wednesday, September 21, 2016. School Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, and only the first 100 School Applications will be accepted.

Eligible schools must adhere to the following: the High School must be located in the State of Illinois; Musical productions must take place betweenOctober 1, 2016 and April 30, 2017; to be adjudicated, a musical production qualifies if it is a full-length musical listed on the National High School Musical Theatre Awards Qualifying Show List.

The categories include Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Production. Twenty-four finalists (12 actors and 12 actresses) will receive tickets to a Broadway In Chicago show, perform on stage at the Broadway Playhouse and compete in front of Chicago casting agents and theater professionals. From the twenty-four finalists, two Illinois winners (one lead actor, one lead actress) will go to New York for an all-expense paid trip to represent the state of Illinois at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards on Broadway in the summer of 2017.

Important Dates:

School Applications Available: Wednesday, August 24 at 10 AM

School Applications Due: Wednesday, September 21, 2016

IHSMTA Program: June 2017 (exact date to be announced)

NHSMTA Program: Summer 2017 (exact date to be announced)

The 2016 Illinois High School Musical Theatre recipients were Jack Cahill-Lemme of Park Ridge, IL (Best Actor), Cecilia Trippiedi of Orland Park, IL (Best Actress), Cary-Grove High School for their production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA (Best Production) and Coal City High School for their production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Best Scenic Design).

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) impacts more than 50,000 students annually who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by top professional theatres throughout the United States. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions is sent to New York for a weeklong theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway, where a panel of judges crowns the nation's top performers. Also known as The Jimmy™ Awards, named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $1,000,000 in educational scholarships. In 2012, the program inspired preeminent broadcaster WGBH Boston to produce a 3-part documentary series called "Broadway or Bust," which follows students on a journey from their hometown competitions to their debut on Broadway. The series remains popular viewing at www.nhsmta.com. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the ninth annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards will take place in Summer 2017 in New York City. For more information, visit www.nhsmta.com.

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Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 16 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including The PrivateBank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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