Playhouse Square Presents the Dazzle Award Nominees; Winners to Be Announced, 5/21

With the aim of inspiring performance and recognizing the importance of musical theater and arts education in Northeast Ohio high schools, Playhouse Square proudly introduces the Dazzle Awards, affiliated with theNational High School Musical Theatre Awards ("The Jimmy Awards") presented by The Broadway League Foundation.

This regional program offers arts education opportunities throughout the school year and culminates with an awards showcase staged by Tony-nominated director/choreographer Dan Knechtges and hosted by Natalie Herbick and David Moss of Cleveland's Own Fox 8 on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. Dazzle Awards will be presented to outstanding musical theater productions and students in 13 categories. The winners of The John and Patricia Chapman Best Actor and Actress categories will represent Northeast Ohio at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards at the Minskoff Theatre in New York in June.

"Every single student engaged in this program, as well as their teachers, directors, families, friends and supporters, deserves a standing ovation for all they have achieved," said Daniel Hahn, vice president of community engagement and education at Playhouse Square, "We are thrilled to showcase the regional talent represented by the 19 participating high schools."

The 2016 Dazzle Award Nominees are:

Best Student Orchestra

Akron School for the Arts, The Little Mermaid
Marion L. Steele High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Rocky River High School, Catch Me If You Can
Solon High School, Shrek the Musical
Willoughby South High School, The Addams Family

Best Scenic Design

Hawken Upper School, Into the Woods
Marion L. Steele High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Open Door Christian School, Cinderella
Solon High School, Shrek the Musical
Willoughby South High School, The Addams Family

Best Technical Execution

Hawken Upper School, Into the Woods
Lake Ridge Academy, The Addams Family
Marion L. Steele High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Solon High School, Shrek the Musical
Willoughby South High School, The Addams Family

Best Costume Design

Lake Ridge Academy, The Addams Family
Marion L. Steele High School, Little Shop of Horrors
North Royalton High School, Big Fish
Open Door Christian School, Cinderella
Willoughby South High School, The Addams Family

Best Choreography Execution

CMSD All-City Arts Program, Kiss Me Kate
Euclid High School, West Side Story
Rocky River High School, Catch Me If You Can
Solon High School, Shrek the Musical
Willoughby South High School, The Addams Family

Best Ensemble/Chorus

CMSD All-City Arts Program, Kiss Me Kate
Marion L. Steele High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Solon High School, Shrek the Musical
Wadsworth High School, Footloose
Willoughby South High School, The Addams Family

The John and Patricia Chapman Best Featured Performer

Joe Antal, Akron School for the Arts ('Chef Louis' in The Little Mermaid)
Wyatt Daulbaugh, Akron School for the Arts ('Grimsby' in The Little Mermaid)
Adriana Figueroa, Marion L. Steele High School ('Ronnette' in Little Shop of Horrors)
Bridget Miozzi, Solon High School ('Dragon' in Shrek the Musical)
John Suwarna, Marion L. Steele High School ('Audrey 2' in Little Shop of Horrors)

The John and Patricia Chapman Best Supporting Actress

Karyn Bellush, Marion L. Steele High School ('Chiffon' in Little Shop of Horrors)
Sara Phillips, Marion L. Steele High School ('Crystal' in Little Shop of Horrors)
Larissa Richards, Wadsworth High School ('V. Moore' in Footloose)
Da'Jzhanae Smith, CMSD All-City Arts Program ('Lois/Bianca' in Kiss Me Kate)
Gracie Thanasiu, Akron School for the Arts ('Flounder' in The Little Mermaid)

The John and Patricia Chapman Best Supporting Actor

Ken Ernst, Saint Joseph Academy ('Mr. Mushnik' in Little Shop of Horrors)
Corbin Gray, Euclid High School ('Action' in West Side Story)
Stephan Halk, CMSD All-City Arts Program ('1st Man' in Kiss Me Kate)
Shawn Hammel, Marion L. Steele High School ('Orin DDS' in Little Shop of Horrors)
Erik Taylor, Marion L. Steele High School ('Mr. Mushnik' in Little Shop of Horrors)

The Connor Family Best Musical (Tier 1)

Lake Ridge Academy, The Addams Family
Rocky River High School, Catch Me If You Can
Willoughby South High School, The Addams Family

The Connor Family Best Musical (Tier 2)

CMSD All-City Arts Program, Kiss Me Kate
Marion L. Steele High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Solon High School, Shrek the Musical

The John and Patricia Chapman Best Actress

Ashley Johnson, Euclid High School ('Maria' in West Side Story)
Kate Klika, Akron School for the Arts ('Ariel' in The Little Mermaid)
Danielle Stanek, Solon High School ('Fiona' in Shrek the Musical)
Danielle Vivcharenko, North Royalton High School ('Young Sandra' in Big Fish)
Clairissa Walker, CMSD All-City Arts Program ('Lilli/Katherine' in Kiss Me Kate)

The John and Patricia Chapman Best Actor

Dylan Grosh-Hoy, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School ('Callahan' in Legally Blonde)
J.R. Heckman, Solon High School ('Donkey' in Shrek the Musical)
Steven Huynh, Marion L. Steele High School ('Seymour' in Little Shop of Horrors)
Logan Sword, Parma Senior High School ('Leo Frank' in Parade)
Colin Trudell, Rocky River High School ('Frank Abagnale Jr.' in Catch Me If You Can)

Public, private and charter high schools located in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Summit Counties were invited to apply for participation in the inaugural Dazzle Awards. Information and applications for the 2017 Dazzle Awards will be available online at playhousesquare.org/dazzleawards in late summer.

Tickets for the Dazzle Awards are available online at playhousesquare.org or by calling 216-241-6000.

The largest performing arts center in the country outside of New York, the not-for-profit Playhouse Square is Northeast Ohio's destination for Broadway and more great entertainment. Playhouse Square is a champion of arts education and downtown Cleveland, and proud to be the home of Cleveland Play House, Cleveland State University Department of Theatre and Dance, DANCECleveland, Great Lakes Theater and Tri-C JazzFest.

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) impacts more than 50,000 students who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of Touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions is sent to New York for a week-long 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 pbs.org. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the eighth annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards will take place on Monday, June 27, 2016 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Coaching and rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event will be held Sunday, June 19, 2016 through Monday, June 27, 2016 in New York City. For more information, please visitNHSMTA.com.

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