Melinda Doolittle Hosts Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards

Middle Tennessee's growing high school theater scene was in the spotlight over the weekend as Lipscomb University's Department of Theatre - under the direction of dance professor Kari Smith and dean of the College of Entertainment and the Arts Mike Fernandez - hosted the third annual Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Melinda Doolittle, Nashville's favorite American Idol alumna, once again hosted the Saturday night awards gala at Lipscomb's Collins Alumni Auditorium, which followed an action-packed day of worshops, master classes and discussions featuring a plethora of theater professionals and academics.

Hillsboro High School's production of Godspell, directed by Will Butler, was named winner of the awards for Best Show and Best Direction. Brianna Middleton, from Ensworth High School's production of Aida, was named Best Actress, while Hillsboro's Ashton Harris won Best Actor for his performance in Godspell.

Lipscomb NMTA Theatre Scholarship winners were Kelsey Sanders from Cookeville High School and Luke Carver of Pope John Paul II High School.

Fernandez introduced Doolittle at the beginning of the awards gala, teasingly calling her a Lipscomb alumna in an affectionate nod to the school's neighborhood rival Belmont University. Doolittle's popularity among the high school students was readily apparent by the thundering ovation which greeted her initial onstage entrance.

In addition to Doolittle, Smith and Fernandez, awards presenters for the evening included Nashville Shakespeare Festival actor/director and Lipscomb theatre faculty member Santiago Sosa; Dove Award-winning recording artist and Grammy nominee Bonnie Keen; Lipscomb University theatre faculty member and technical director Andy Bleiler; Nashville theatre director, senior contributing editor to BroadwayWorld.com Nashville and founder/executive producer of The First Night Honors Jeffrey Ellis; Lipscomb dance faculty member and co-founder/choreographer for Foundation Dance Theatre Leigh Anne Ervin; Nettie Kraft, artistic director of Verge Theatre; Greg Greene, co-founder and managing director of Nashville's Blackbird Theater Company; Lipscomb University theatre education major Ann Marie Bagge, a 2016 First Night Most Promising Actor; and Steve Bianchi, marketing director for Nashville Repertory Theatre.

Among the night's big winners:

• Best Vocals: White Christmas, Lipscomb Academy
• Best Chorus or Ensemble: My Fair Lady, Christ Presbyterian Academy
• Best Dancing: Mary Poppins, Cookeville High School
• Best Overall Design Concept: Godspell, Hillsboro High School
• Best Overall Tech: Big Fish, Father Ryan High School
• Best Costumes: Big Fish, Father Ryan High School
• Best Hair/Make-up: My Fair Lady, Christ Presbyterian Academy
• Best Lighting: Honk, Pope John Paul II High School
• Best Props: Tommy, Siegel High School
• Best Set: Aida, Ensworth High School
• Best Production Materials: The Sound of Music, Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
• Best Staging: Urinetown, Central Magnet School
• Best Student Orchestration: Urinetown, Central Magnet School
• Student Recognition for Original Musical: Rain Children by Adam LaPorte
• Best Choreography: My Fair Lady, Christ Presbyterian Academy
• Best Music Direction: White Christmas, Lipscomb Academy
• Best Direction: Godspell, Hillsboro High School
• Best Show: Godspell, Hillsboro High School
• Best Male Soloist: Jathan Gentry, Cookeville High School
• Best Female Soloist: Talon David, Davidson Academy
• Best Featured Male Dancer: Walt Chitwood, Siegel High School
• Best Featured Female Dancer: Sophie Scott, Ensworth High School
• Best Dramatic Actor: Thomas Wagner, Hillsboro High School
• Best Dramatic Actress: Michaela Ziparo, Wilson Central High School
• Best Comedic Actor: Raymond Cruz, Centennial High School
• Best Comedic Actress: Chloe Abrams, Ensworth High School
• Best Supporting Actor: Logan Dozier, Centennial High School
• Best Supporting Actress: Adelaide Leonard, Christ Presbyterian Academy
• Standout Ensemble Actor: Trent Jones, Ravenwood High School
• Standout Ensemble Actress: Kinsey Burchett, Davidson Academy
• Best Tech Student: Jack Dahms, Ravenwood High School
• Best Design Student: Ashley Phillips, Pope John Paul II High School
• Best Actor: Ashton Harris, Hillsboro High School
• Best Actress: Briana Middleton, Ensworth High School
• Lipscomb MTA Theatre Scholarship winners: Kelsey Sanders (Cookeville High School) and Luke Carver (Pope John Paul II High School)

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