Theatre Under The Stars Announces 10th Annual Tommy Tune Award Nominees

John C. Breckenridge, President and CEO of Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), announced today the nominations and presenters for TUTS' tenth annual Tommy Tune Awards which will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.  Developed by TUTS, the Tommy Tune Awards honor musical theatre excellence at the high school level.  Co-hosts for the award ceremony include Jim Bernhard and Ayana Mack.  Bernhard has written several original productions that have debuted at TUTS and authored the theatrical history Stars in Your Eyes.  Mack is the midday host on KHMX MIX 96.5 FM.

Presenters this year will include the first ever Tommy Tune Award Best Leading Actress Stephanie Gibson, who was last seen on Broadway in The Addams Family.  To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the award ceremony, the program's namesake, Tommy Tune, will serve as a presenter.

After reviewing and evaluating the 44 participating Houston-area high school productions during the 2011-2012 school year, a team of 32 Houston-based theatre professionals made 154 nominations in 15 categories. An additional committee considered 44 potential scholarship recipients. 

The following high schools and individuals were nominated:

Best Musical (8)
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Episcopal High School, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
Kingwood High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
St. John's School, Chicago
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies

Best Leading Actor (9)
Clear Springs High School:  Mark Mendell (Man in Chair) The Drowsy Chaperone    
Episcopal High School:  Billy Cohen (Freddy Benson) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels    
Episcopal High School:  Forrest Surles (Lawrence Jameson) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Friendswood High School:  Tommy Stuart (Sid Sorokin) The Pajama Game    
Kingwood High School:  Robert Terry (Man in Chair) The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein High School:  Connor Jones (Prince Dauntless) Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School:  Ryne Nardecchia (J. Pierrepont Finch) How to Succeed…
St. John's School:  Sterling Burdine (Billy Flynn) Chicago
Stratford High School:  Will Lynde (Will Rogers) Will Rogers Follies

Best Leading Actress (9)
Clear Springs High School:  Grace Hutchings (Janet Van De Graaff) The Drowsy Chaperone
Episcopal High School:  Jennifer Laporte (Christine Colgate) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Friendswood High School:  Elisabeth Del Toro (Babe) The Pajama Game
John Cooper School:  Caitlin Finnie (Belle) Beauty and the Beast
Klein High School:  Allie Reed (Princess Winnifred) Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School:  Aubrey Reece (Rosemary Pilkington) How to Succeed…    
Spring Woods High School:  Ayana Gaither (Ti Moune) Once on this Island
St. John's School:  Paxton Tanner (Roxie Hart) Chicago
Stratford High School:  KaTy Wilson (Betty Blake) Will Rogers Follies

Best Supporting Actor (9)
Clear Springs High School:  Max Bailey (Robert Martin) The Drowsy Chaperone
Clements High School:  Carter Shults (Caldwell B Cladwell) Urinetown
Cypress Ranch High School:  Mason Diaz (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh) Anything Goes
Foster High School:  John Wilson (Marryin' Sam) Li'l Abner
Friendswood High School:  Mason Patterson (Vernon Hines) The Pajama Game
Klein Collins High School:  Matt Buzonas (Scarecrow) The Wizard of Oz
Klein High School:  Kyle Fisher (Sir Harry) Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School:  Alex Shrode (J. B. Biggley) How to Succeed…
Pasadena Memorial High School:  Armando Rodriguez (Bill Sykes) Oliver!

Best Supporting Actress (9)
Clear Springs High School:  Laurel Smalley (Drowsy Chaperone) The Drowsy Chaperone
Episcopal High School:  Mia Gerachis (Muriel) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Foster High School:  Emily DeForest (Mammy Yokum) Li'l Abner
Klein High School:  Emily Berensohn (Lady Larken) Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School:  Morgan Starr (Smitty) How to Succeed…
Morton Ranch High School    :  Kiirah Washington ("Motormouth" Maybelle) Hairspray
Pearland High School:  Laura Melinder (Mrs. Potts) Beauty and the Beast
St. John's School:  Monique Groen (Velma Kelly) Chicago
Woodlands High School:  Cecily Breaux (Lina Lamont) Singin in the Rain

Best Featured Performer (9)
Clear Springs High School:  Max Torrez (Adolpho) The Drowsy Chaperone
Cypress Falls High School:  Nekia Harris (Henry) The Fantasticks
Foster High School:  Joey DeAngelis (Pappy Yokum) Li'l Abner
Klein High School:  Chelsi Jump (Queen Aggravain) Once Upon A Mattress
Memorial High School:  David Comer (Jud Fry) Oklahoma!
Morton Ranch High School:  Cheryl Cedillo (Penny Pingleton) Hairspray
St. Agnes Academy:  Madeline Garvis (Mabel) The Pajama Game
St. John's School:  Marisa Onanian (Matron "Mama" Morton) Chicago
Woodlands High School:  Rachel Ricks (Miss Dinsmore) Singin in the Rain

Best Direction (12)
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Episcopal High School, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Foster High School, Li'l Abner
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
George Ranch High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Houston Christian High School, Joseph….Dreamcoat
Kingwood High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
Memorial High School, Oklahoma!
St. John's School, Chicago
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies

Best Choreography (12)
Clements High School, Urinetown
Episcopal High School, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
G. W. Carver Magnet High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Houston Christian High School, Joseph….Dreamcoat
Klein Forest High School, Seussical
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
Second Baptist School, The Sound Of Music
St. Agnes Academy, The Pajama Game
St. John's School, Chicago
Woodlands High School, Singin in the Rain

Best Musical Direction (9)
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Episcopal High School, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
Kingwood High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
St. Agnes Academy, The Pajama Game
St. John's School, Chicago
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies

Best Orchestra (13)
Clear Falls High School, Footloose
Clear Lake High School, Sleeping Beauty: The Dream
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Clements High School, Urinetown
Foster High School, Li'l Abner
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
Klein Forest High School, Seussical
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
Memorial High School, Oklahoma!
Morton Ranch High School, Hairspray
Pasadena Memorial High School, Oliver!
Woodlands High School, Singin in the Rain

Best Scenic Design (10)
Cinco Ranch High School, Oklahoma!
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Foster High School, Li'l Abner
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
Klein Forest High School, Seussical
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
Mayde Creek High School, My Fair Lady
St. John's School, Chicago
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies

Best Costume Design (12)
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Foster High School, Li'l Abner
Houston Christian High School, Joseph….Dreamcoat
Kingwood High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Forest High School, Seussical
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
Memorial High School, Oklahoma!
Pasadena Memorial High School, Oliver!
St. John's School, Chicago
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies
Woodlands High School, Singin in the Rain

Best Lighting Design (12)
Cinco Ranch High School, Oklahoma!
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Clements High School, Urinetown
Foster High School, Li'l Abner
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
Kingwood High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Forest High School, Seussical
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
Magnolia West High School, Little Women
Santa Fe High School, The Wizard of Oz
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies

Best Crew & Technical Execution (11)
Cinco Ranch High School, Oklahoma!
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
Kingwood High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Forest High School, Seussical
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Magnolia High School, Beauty and the Beast
Santa Fe High School, The Wizard of Oz
St. Agnes Academy, The Pajama Game
St. John's School, Chicago
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies

Best Ensemble/Chorus (10)
Clear Springs High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Foster High School, Li'l Abner
Friendswood High School, The Pajama Game
G. W. Carver Magnet High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Klein High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Klein Oak High School, How to Succeed…
Lamar High School, 25th Annual….Spelling Bee
St. Agnes Academy, The Pajama Game
St. John's School, Chicago
Stratford High School, Will Rogers Follies

TUTS' Tommy Tune Awards are designed not only to acknowledge remarkable musical theatre talent at the high school level, but also to encourage future development.  TUTS will present eight scholarships to outstanding participating students of the Tommy Tune Awards. This includes the Ruth Denney Scholarship, named in honor of Tune's mentor and legendary Lamar High School drama teacher. Ruth Denney was the founder and first director of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, and then Professor of Drama Education at the University of Texas at Austin.  She died in 2007, just a few days before her 93rd birthday. Students under consideration were required to meet specific criteria set out by the Scholarship Committee, as well as submit an application and essay.  The scholarship committee, composed of TUTS board members and community leaders, has carefully reviewed all of the applications and will announce scholarship recipients during the awards ceremony.

In addition to the Tony-awards-style ceremony, the evening will feature performances from nominees in the Best Musical category, a musical medley with this year's Best Leading Actor and Best Leading Actress nominees, and a grand finale including two students from each participating school.  
    
The Best Leading Actor and Actress will go on to compete at the national level for the Jimmy Award at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City. Established in 2009, the Jimmy Awards are named after Broadway theater owner and producer, James M. Nederlander.  This year, the program will bring the country's best high school performers together to compete on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre on Monday, June 25, 2012. 

Theatre Under The Stars will cover all expenses for this year's Best Actor and Best Actress to represent TUTS in this week-long national event. While in New York, Jimmy™ Award participants will have the opportunity to participate in rehearsals and master classes; receive one-on-one coaching from theater professionals; be seen by casting agents; meet and converse with Broadway actors; and compete for scholarships and other prizes.  The week's events will culminate in a live awards show where the Jimmy™ Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress will be presented.

The Theatre Under The Stars Tommy Tune Awards are named for Houston native and Lamar High School alumnus, Tommy Tune.  A performer, director, and choreographer with more than 50 years of stage experience, Tune received nine Tony Awards for his work in the following productions: Seesaw, My One and Only, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Nine, Grand Hotel, and The Will Rogers Follies.  He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2003 by President Bush.

The Tommy Tune Awards ceremony is open to the general public, and tickets will be available for purchase beginning on April 3, 2012.  For information on tickets to the 2012 Tommy Tune Awards ceremony, call (713) 558-2600.

VIP tickets, which grant access to a pre-event reception and ensure prime, center orchestra seating, are available for $150.  To purchase VIP tickets, call Development Director Gina Sullivan at 713-558-2655.

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