High school drama students await awards ceremony
Published 3:30 pm Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Kamiak High School in Mukilteo and Stanwood High School are contenders for the top award for high school theater productions in the state.
The 2008 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards will be held Monday night in Seattle.
This Tony-award style program shines the spotlight on high school students across the state to give them the same recognition that accomplished high school athletes have received for decades.
Kamiak produced “Guys and Dolls” and Stanwood put on “Fiddler on the Roof” to make them both eligible for the Outstanding Overall Production award.
Students from Marysville-Pilchuck High School, Edmonds Home School Resource Center, Arlington High School and Lake Stevens High School are also in contention for awards.
During this past school year, Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre sent a team of professionals to evaluate each school’s production. Nominations are made in 21 categories, from overall musical production to lobby display. A complete list of the nominees can be seen at www.5thavenue.org/education/highschoolawards-2008.aspx.
The 5th Avenue Awards will be held at 7 p.m. Mondayat Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. The ceremony is at Benaroya Hall this year because the 5th Avenue’s stage is under construction for the upcoming world premiere of “Shrek The Musical.”
Similar to the Tony awards program, which recognizes the best of Broadway theater, the nominees perform numbers from their shows.
The students will perform in front of a packed house of thousands of students and their families along with dozens of high-profile politicians, and arts and media personalities who will be on hand to help present awards.
The musical theater awards program began in 2003 with 31 schools and 3,100 students participating. This year there are 73 schools and 7,900 students among the nominees.
Reporter Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com
You can go
What: The 2008 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards
Where: Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle.
When: 7 p.m., Monday
Who: Kamiak and Stanwood high schools are contenders for Outstanding Overall Production
How much: Tickets are $22 and can be purchased only by phone at 206-625-1900 or at the 5th Avenue Theatre box office, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle.
