Musical theatre students and instructors from area high schools gathered at Starlight Theatre last week for the Eleventh Annual Blue Star Awards. The ceremony included productions by six of the nominated high schools with presentations by local celebrity presenters and Taylor Louderman from the Broadway musical Bring It On.
Modeled after Broadway's Tony® Awards, the Blue Star Awards recognize achievement and excellence in high school musical theatre and is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. The program, sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City, annually serves approximately 5,000 area students who contribute either on the stage or behind the scenes to their schools' musical theatre productions. This year, 43 area high schools producing 50 musicals participated for a total of 116 nominees.
"It is evident that the theatrical accomplishments of all the student actors, singers, dancers, musicians, costumers, set designers, technicians and faculty involved in Starlight's Blue Star Awards continue to increase each year, " said Denton Yockey, Starlight Theatre president and executive producer. " The strength of Starlight's Blue Star Awards speaks volumes of the Kansas City community and especially of the participating high school administrators, teachers and parents. I'm proud to say that this program is one of the largest musical theatre education programs in the country."
Highlights of the Starlight's Blue Star Awards Ceremony included the presentation of the Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Lead Role: Patrick Graham from Lee's Summit North High School won for his role as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd; Lily Kaufmann from Shawnee Mission East High School won for her role as Janet Van De Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone. Graham and Kaufmann will go on to compete on a national level at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City later this month.
Jordan Malone of Paola High School and Kaelyn Kreicbergs of Olathe South High School each received Rising Scholarship Awards. The $2,500 college scholarships are presented to one male and one female high school senior that have contributed the most to his or her high school theatre department and demonstrated exceptional theatrical achievement. The award for Outstanding Overall Production was presented to Olathe South High School for 13.
A panel of 22 judges attended the musical productions of each participating school during the fall 2012 and spring 2013 semesters. These judges provided performance and production critiques to Starlight's Education Department. Additionally, their comments were compiled and shared with each school's musical theatre teacher and students.
During the ceremony, Starlight presented Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City with the 2013 Star of Touring Broadway Award . This prestigious national award was just announced in New York during The Broadway League's annual conference. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is the founding sponsor of Starlight's Blue Star Awards and is a longtime supporter of Starlight. The national Broadway League award honors those who have supported theatre and programs which help enrich the Broadway experience in their home towns.
"Starlight is grateful for the vision and financial support Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City has given to us and particularly to The Blue Star Awards program. This is a company that truly recognizes that the arts are a vital part of a healthy community," Yockey said.
2012-13 BLUE STAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
Outstanding Overall Production: Olathe South, 13
Outstanding Artistic Contribution by a Student; Direction and Choreography: Sarah Bronson; Central High School
Outstanding Orchestra: Blue Valley High School, The Music Man
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier I: Belton High School, Once Upon a Mattress
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier II: Liberty High School, A Christmas Carol
Outstanding Lighting Design: Park Hill High School, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Technical Crew; Hair and Makeup Crew: Winnetonka High School, Hairspray
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier I: Kearney High School, Wonderful Town
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier II: Raymore-Peculiar High School, Monty Python's Spamalot
Outstanding Hair and Makeup Design: Winnetonka High School, Hairspray
Outstanding Technical Achievement, Lighting Design: Justin Dudzik; Olathe South High School
Outstanding Ensemble: Blue Valley High School, The Music Man
Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role: Lily Kaufmann as Janet Van De Graaff; Shawnee Mission East High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role: Patrick Graham as Sweeny Todd; Lee's Summit North High School, Sweeny Todd
Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role: Abby Cramer as the Drowsy Chaperone; Shawnee Mission East High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role: Justin Armer as Gangster #1 and Alec Armer as Gangster #2; Shawnee Mission East High School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Outstanding Female Ensemble Member: Christina Cunningham as Hag/Troll; Raytown High School, Little Women
Outstanding Male Ensemble Member: Nathaniel Weber; Raymore-Peculiar High School, Monty Python's Spamalot
Rising Star Scholarship - Male: Jordan Malone; Paola High School
Rising Star Scholarship - Female: Kaelyn Kreicbergs; Olathe South High School
ABOUT STARLIGHT THEATRE
Starlight Theatre opened in 1951 and is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City and the second largest outdoor producing theatre in the country. In addition to presenting and producing Broadway musicals and concerts, the not-for-profit organization offers extensive community outreach and educational programming which includes classes, scholarships and Starlight's Blue Star Awards, the second largest musical theatre award program for local high schools and students in the country. Located on 16 acres, Starlight's venue includes rehearsal halls, gift store, club area for dining, concessions, gardens, fountains and a 10-story, climate-controlled stage.
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