Simone Gundy has starred in several Theatre Under the Stars shows (Memphis, The Wiz, Elf, Sister Act, Rent and Little Shop of Horrors). On Friday night she and fellow actor Mark Ivy (Little Shop of Horrors, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) will team up once again to emcee the TUTS production of the Tommy Tune Awards.
This year, 65 schools from the Houston area entered the high school musical theater competition and the program will feature performances from those selected as finalists.
Gundy, who was on The Voice in 2016 said competitions like this besides recognizing excellence in these young performers, also gives them a chance to see what working in the acting profession and behind the scenes is really like.
She knows this firsthand. “I participated in awards similar to this before I moved to Houston when I was an adolescent, so I just want to be a part of that. I think it’s cool.” Originally from the Dallas Fort Worth area. “We had the Betty Buckley’s,” named after the Tony Award-winning actress and singer who went to TCU.
Since the Tommy Tune Awards began in 2002, TUTS has awarded over $600,000 in scholarships through the Tommy Tune Awards, said Lisa Holmes, TUTS Communications Manager.
Named after Tune, the famous actor, dancer and choreographer, the regional awards are part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®). Two Outstanding Performer winners are sent to New York City each summer where they get to train with Broadway professionals.
“The Tommy Tune Awards are like the Tonys for high school theater students, a night all about celebrating the incredible artistry displayed by them throughout the year. Part of giving it an authentic feel is having really fun and engaging co-hosts, like Mark and Simone, who work in the industry and understand how special this night is,” Holmes said.
Asked what benefits kids get from going through the Tommy Tune competition, whether a student wins or not, Gundy responded:
“One thing I was taught very early on is sometimes you just go to auditions for the practice. It’s an etiquette class in some ways. It teaches you how to be inside that culture. This is exactly that for them.
“These are your peers. Our world is so big but it’s so small at the same time. They’re going to see these faces over and over. It’s a network you’re starting to build.”
Ask Gundy why these kids are so interested in musical theater, Gundy responded:
“I think that they are choosing to do this because acting, the stage, is an art form that is so real, you cannot go back and redo it. It is a thrill that can only be attained by fully giving yourself over to the idea it’s not going to be perfect. You’re going to get what you get that day and you’re going to work for it.
“I think kids want to feel that. They want to feel they worked for something other than getting on a camera, smiling and saying: ‘Buy this mascara.’ They want to impress somebody with their knowledge of Phantom of the Opera, a show that was out before they were even born. They want to fill their minds with lyrics and subject matter that actually moves them, that makes sense.”
“if you’re a donor, if you are a theater goer, an avid participant in the arts here you want to see these kids. If you love the arts you want to come see these kids. This is important. You want these kids to be emersed in what’s becoming historical work. “
The Tommy Tune Awards are scheduled for Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby. For more information, call 713-558-8887 or visit tuts.org. $41-$111.
