Every year, high schools in the Houston area that are active in musical theater, vie for a chance to be selected for and then prosper in the Tommy Tunes competition culminating in a special program.
Well, we all know what’s happening to live theater right now thanks to the coronavirus, but Theatre Under the Stars didn’t want to just completely miss these students’ moments of glory which was to have been performed at the Hobby Center.
Tuesday night, the awards show will be livestreamed at 7:30 on TUTS’ Facebook page and the YouTube Channel. The production will come complete with celebrity drop-ins including: “Glee alum and Broadway star Alex Newell, stars of the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Joe Serafini and Frankie Rodriguez, Tony Award®-winning choreographer of Hamilton and In The Heights, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Jeanine Tesori, the Tony Award-winning composer of Fun Home, four-time Tony® nominee, and composer of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek the Musical.”
“The Tommy Tune Awards is the ultimate celebration of high school musical theater in our city, with typically over 2,600 young people from across Houston in attendance,” said Israel Jimenez, Director of Community Engagement for TUTS. “We knew we had to find a creative way to give these kids a very special evening during this difficult time.”
During the online event college scholarships will be awarded to a selected group of seniors who plan to make the arts their career, as well as naming the winners of this year’s competition.
“We’ll be featuring at-home performances from local high school students, clips of the productions nominated for Best Musical, and some very special Broadway guests. There will be many surprises during the show,” said Olson Scott Kelly, TUTS Artistic Associate and Director of the Tommy Tune Awards show.
Among the Broadway professionals making an appearance during the awards show are Glee alum and Broadway star Alex Newell, stars of the Disney+ series “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” Joe Serafini and Frankie Rodriguez, Tony Award®-winning choreographer of Hamilton and In The Heights, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Jeanine Tesori, the Tony Award-winning composer of Fun Home, four-time Tony® nominee, and composer of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek the Musical.
A sample from one of the contenders:
“The Tommy Tune Awards offers an opportunity for students and educators to share their creative accomplishments,” says Jimenez. “We also hope to instill in young people the value of engaging in the performing arts as a lifelong pursuit.”
After evaluating the 46 participating Houston-area high school productions during the 2019-2020 school year, a team of 36 Houston-based theater professionals nominated students in 15 award categories. A complete list of the nominees for the 2020 Tommy Tune Awards, visit tuts.com/tta.
So pop some popcorn, sit back in the comfort of your home, and get ready to cheer on some amazing kids and programs.
The following high schools and individuals were nominated:
Best Musical:
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
G.W. Carver Magnet School Sister Act
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Spring High School Aida
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Leading Actress:
Jocelyn Dorsey from G.W. Carver Magnet High School as “Deloris Van Cartier” in Sister Act
Atara Romero-Wilson from George Bush High School as “Aida” in Aida
Taylor Greny from Friendswood High School as “Matilda” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Isabelle Olson from Klein High School as “Janet Van De Graaff” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Starlee Brown from Klein Cain High School as “Olive” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Emily Cagle from Second Baptist School as “Belle” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Makaila Heath from Spring High School as “Aida” in Aida
Lindsay Bates from Stratford High School as “Janet Van De Graaff” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Leading Actor:
Jackson Cook from Concordia Lutheran High School as “Jesus” in Godspell
Eric Jensen from Friendswood High School as “Miss Trunchbull” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Thomas Massey from Friendswood High School as “Mr. Wormwood” in Ronald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Cade Eller from Klein High School as “Robert Martin” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Xavier Smith from Klein High School as “Man in Chair” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Charles Sexton from Klein Cain High School as “William Barfee” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Cooper George from Klein Cain High School as “Leaf” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Will Larabee from Stratford High School as “Man in Chair” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Supporting Actress:
Ashlynn McCutcheon from Eisenhower High School as “Evilene / Glinda” in The Wiz
Katherine Lunam from Houston Christian High School as “Irene” in Crazy for You
Cami Moses from Kinder HSPVA as “Sofia” in The Color Purple
Helene Rosborough from Klein Cain High School as “Logainne” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Sara Rodriguez from Pearland High School as “Erma” in Anything Goes
Lauren Beaman from Ridge Point High School as “Little Sally” in Urinetown: The Musical
Evers McCormack from Spring Woods High School as “Rosie” in Mamma Mia!
Catherine Piskurich from Stratford High School as “Kitty” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Naomi Adams from George Bush High School as “Nehebka” in Aida
Supporting Actor:
Ashton Deverka from Houston Christian High School as “Lank” in Crazy for You
Andrew Linart from The Kinkaid School as “Pitkin W. Bridgework” in On The Town
Martin Ibarra from The Kinkaid School as “Ozzie” in On The Town
Keagan Greer from Pearland High School as “Moonface Martin” in Anything Goes
Evan Blackwell from Ridge Point High School as “Caldwell Cladwell” in Urinetown: The Musical
Zac Decker from Second Baptist School as “Lumiere” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Jordyn Wardsworth from Spring High School as “Mereb” in Aida
Christopher Aviles from Spring High School as “Zozer” in Aida
Luke Centanni from Stratford High School as “Aldolpho” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Featured Performer:
Dovid Adler, Matthew Alter, Casey Markowitz, and Jack Paransky from The Emery/Weiner School as “The Sheep” in Head Over Heels
Taylor Campbell from Friendswood High School as “Mrs. Wormwood” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Carver and Aldine Dance Company from G.W. Carver Magnet High School as the Carver and Aldine Dance Company in Sister Act
Eva Adickes from Houston Christian High School as “Patsy” in Crazy for You
Mia Nguyen from James E. Taylor High School as “Featured Dancer” in Mamma Mia!
Tomi Akinwande, Alexandria Collins, and Keri Palmer from Kinder HSPVA as “The Trio” (“Doris,” “Darlene,” and “Jarene”) in The Color Purple
Jackson Luikens from Klein Collins High School as “Cuban Dancer” in Guys and Dolls
Davian Raggio from Pearland High School as “Ship’s Captain” in Anything Goes
Kevin Mendez from Second Baptist School as “LeFou” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Connor Padron and Matthew Prudhomme from Stratford High School as “Gangster #1 and Gangster #2” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Ensemble:
Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Dickinson High School Disney’s Newsies
The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Spring High School Aida
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Lighting Design:
Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde
The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
George Ranch High School Mamma Mia!
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Spring High School Aida
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Scenic Design:
Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
George Ranch High School Mamma Mia!
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Pearland High School Anything Goes
Spring High School Aida
Spring Woods High School Mamma Mia!
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Costume Design:
Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
Concordia Lutheran High School Godspell
Dickinson High School Disney’s Newsies
Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Pearland High School Anything Goes
Spring High School Aida
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Stage Crew & Technical Execution:
Dickinson High School Disney’s Newsies
Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde
The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
George Ranch High School Mamma Mia!
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Pearland High School Anything Goes
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Orchestra:
Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Cypress Woods High School Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Klein Forest High School The Addams Family
Memorial High School Singing in the Rain
Porter High School Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Musical Direction:
Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
James E. Taylor High School Mamma Mia!
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Spring High School Aida
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Choreography:
Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Fulshear High School Chicago
G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Klein Collins High School Guys and Dolls
Pearland High School Anything Goes
Direction:
Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
James E. Taylor High School Mamma Mia!
Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Pearland High School Anything Goes
Spring High School Aida
Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2020.
