Pittsburgh CLO Announces 2009 Gene Kelly Award Winners

A near capacity crowd gathered at the Benedum Center as Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh honored Allegheny County's finest high school performers at the 19th Annual Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater on Saturday, May 23, 2009.

Named for legendary performer and Pittsburgh native Gene Kelly, this annual celebration emphasizes the importance of arts education and recognizes the time, energy and dedication that local high schools devote to their musical productions each spring.

Patterned after Broadway's Tony® Awards, the ceremony included live performances by the Best Musical nominees along with the Best Actor/Actress nominees. Each nominated school performed a five-minute selection from their respective shows. Special guest presenters included local television personalities and Gene Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly.

Pittsburgh CLO congratulates the 2009 Gene Kelly Awards winners, nominees and the following 28 participating Allegheny County high schools: Avonworth, Baldwin-Whitehall, Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Central Catholic, Chartiers Valley, Deer Lakes, Hampton, Keystone Oaks, McKeesport, North Catholic, North Hills, Northgate, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, Pittsburgh Allderdice, Pittsburgh CAPA, Pittsburgh Perry, Pittsburgh Schenley, Plum, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale, Vincentian Academy, West Mifflin, Winchester Thurston and Woodland Hills.

The Charles Gray Award for Special Achievement in Arts Education was also presented during the festivities. Propel Montour Charter School was commended for integrating creative arts classes as an essential and required part of its curriculum. All Propel Montour Charter School students participate in an hour of arts-related coursework each day. There is also daily collaboration between the full-time certified music and art teachers and the resident teaching artists that enables a sequential learning environment. At the end of every six week creative arts residency, parents and family members can watch children demonstrate what they have learned in the "Celebration of Learning."

Again this year, Pittsburgh CLO awarded the Gene Kelly Scholarships. These cash awards totaling $5,000 were presented to two high school seniors who have applied and been accepted to a school for the performing or technical arts. This year's recipients are Shannon Knox from the Avonworth High School and Joseph Paulina from Pine-Richland High School. These merit-based scholarships are made possible through the generous donations of Donald Arnheim, Sandra and Seymour Baskin, Paul E. Block and Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Williams.

This year, the CLO Ambassadors awarded $3,000 in scholarships to two college-bound students who will be pursuing a major outside of the arts. The 2009 Ambassadors' Scholarship winners are Sean Thomas from Pittsburgh Schenley High School and Andrew Gentilore of Riverview High School.

In addition, Dr. Paul Hennigan, President of Point Park University, presented Chris Williams from Central Catholic High School with a $20,000 four-year scholarship to attend Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts as a dance major.

During the ceremony a Kelly Critics Award was also presented. Now in its seventh year, The Kelly Critics program is a unique partnership between the Pittsburgh CLO and Dr. Christopher Rawson and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Dr. Rawson presented the Kelly Critics Award. The Award was given to Winchester Thurston's Nico Satryan for excellence in writing theatrical critiques.

The overall winners in the "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" categories will represent the Gene Kelly Awards in the first-ever National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City on Monday, June 29, 2009. Two grand prize winners will be selected following five days of musical theater rehearsals, master classes, private coaching and interviews with theater professionals. Based on their skill level and professional goals, participating students will be eligible for college scholarships, professional internships, career coaching and opportunities for auditions. For more information on the National High School Musical Theater Awards, please visit www.nhsmta.com.

The Recipients of the 2009 Gene Kelly Awards are:

Best Scenic Design

Woodland Hills

Best Costume Design

Pittsburgh CAPA

 

Best Lighting Design

Woodland Hills

 

Best All-Student Orchestra

Pittsburgh Schenley

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Teddy McKenna of Pittsburgh CAPA

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Arielle Katcher of Pine-Richland

 

Best Ensemble

Pittsburgh Schenley

 

Best Crew/Technical Execution

Woodland Hills

 

Best Choreography

Pine-Richland

 

Best Direction

Woodland Hills

 

Best Actor

Kian McCollum of Chartiers Valley

 

Best Actress

Elizabeth Bailey of Pittsburgh CAPA

 

Best Musical

Budget Level I:

Pittsburgh Schenley

Budget Level II:

Chartiers Valley

Budget Level III:

Woodland Hills

 

Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards are co-presented by the University of Pittsburgh with additional support provided by American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, Virginia S. Nicklas and the CLO Ambassadors.

The Charles Gray Award is made possible by the Roy A. Hunt Foundation.

The Pittsburgh CLO would also like to thank The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for the use of the Benedum Center and Deloitte for acting as the official auditor for the Gene Kelly Awards.

 

 

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