Musical theater students and instructors from area high schools gathered at Starlight Theatre for the Tenth Annual Blue Star Awards. The ceremony included productions by six of the nominated high schools with presentations by local celebrity presenters and a Brian d’Arcy James, a twice Tony®-nominated Broadway actor who also appears on NBC’s television series SMASH.
Modeled after Broadway’s Tony® Awards, the Blue Star Awards recognize achievement and excellence in high school musical theater 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 close to 5,000 area students who contribute either on the stage or behind the scenes to their schools’ musical theatre productions. This year, 46 area high schools producing 48 musicals participated for a total of 120 nominees.
“In our tenth anniversary, Starlight can proudly say that many thousands of young lives have been touched, often times changed, by this program,” said Denton Yockey, Starlight Theatre president and executive producer. “Young men and women that have gone on to achieve promising careers in many walks of life – including the theater, education, even achieving dreams of performing on Broadway.”
Highlights of the Awards Ceremony included the presentation of the Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Lead Role: Tyler Eisenreich from Blue Springs High School won for his role as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie; Brooke Myers from Lee’s Summit High School won for her role as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Eisenreich and Myers will go on to compete on a national level at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City in June.
Alex Peterson of Blue Valley High School and Savannah Bell of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School each received Rising Scholarship Awards. The $2,500 college scholarships are presented to one male and one female high school senior who 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 Blue Valley High School for Crazy For You.
“What is very apparent is the sense of community and the way these students are supported in the community by the Blue Star Awards,” James said. “And it really is a good combination of the individuals who are pursuing their dreams and the community that supports them.”
A panel of 18 judges attended the musical productions of each participating school during the fall 2011 and spring 2012 semesters. These judges provided performance and production critiques to Starlight’s Education Department. Additionally, their comments were compiled and shared with each school’s theatre teacher and students.
2011-12 Blue Star Award RECIPIENTS
Outstanding Artistic Contribution by a Student; Direction, Music Direction, Choreography: Abigail Karnes; Kearney High School, Mame
Outstanding Orchestra: Olathe East High School, The Who’s Tommy
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier I: Winnetonka High School, Seussical
Outstanding Scenic Design, Tier II: Liberty North High School, Oliver!
Outstanding Lighting Design: Winnetonka High School, Seussical
Outstanding Technical Crew: Lighting Crew; Olathe East High School, The Who’s Tommy
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier I: Winnetonka High School, Seussical
Outstanding Costume Design, Tier II: Lee’s Summit West High School, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Outstanding Hair and Makeup Design: Winnetonka High School, Seussical
Outstanding Technical Achievement, Puppet Design and Creation: Cedwan Hooks; Shawnee Mission North High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Outstanding Overall Production: Blue Valley High School, Crazy for You
Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role: Tyler Eisenreich as Jimmy Smith; Blue Springs High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role: Brooke Myers as Miss Adelaide; Lee’s Summit High School, Guys and Dolls
Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role: Ben Johnson as Orin Scrivello; Shawnee Mission North High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role: Haley Crane as Paulette Buonufonte; Raymore-Peculiar High School, Legally Blonde the Musical
Outstanding Male Ensemble Member: Bobby Turnbough as Nikos Argitakos; Raymore-Peculiar High School, Legally Blonde the Musical
Outstanding Female Ensemble Member: Kelly Phelan as Miss Krumholtz; Lee’s Summit North High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Outstanding Ensemble: Blue Valley High School, Crazy for You
