And the winner is…
Three Kent School District high school students have been nominated for outstanding performance honors as part of the 2010 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards June 7 in Seattle.
Natalie Lawrence, a Kentridge High senior, is one of eight nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, for her part as Maria Rainer in “The Sound of Music.”
Jacob Axelson, a Kentlake senior, is one of eight nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, for his part as Emile in “South Pacific.”
Saxton Walker, of Kentwood, is one of nine nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, for his part as Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz.”
As finalists for the outstanding leading actors and actresses, Lawrence and Axelson will get to sing up to 45 seconds of a song from their production on the 5th Avenue stage during the awards show.
“It’s really nice,” said Kentridge drama director Jennifer Grajewski about the show modeled after the Tony Awards. “They sell it out. There are some adults but it’s mostly about 2,500 to 3,000 kids. It’s kind of like going to a state championship football or basketball game.”
Officials at the 5th Avenue Theatre sent professionals to more than 100 high school productions across the state to pick the top nominees for the annual awards show.
“The evaluations are turned in and they compare and talk about the shows and pick the winners,” Grajewski said.
The winners, to be announced the night of the show, are invited to give an acceptance speech.
Overall, Kentridge received seven nominations, Kentlake two and Kentwood one nomination.
“The Sound of Music” production by Kentridge has been nominated for Outstanding Music Direction, Orchestra, Costume Design, Performance by an Ensemble Group (the Nuns), Stage Crew and Lobby Display.
“We were very happy and excited,” Grajewski said about the Kentridge nominations. “We felt it was a great show but it’s nice to have others recognize that. They send out three evaluators to each show and they come on different nights. The kids do not know when they are coming.”
Kentlake received a nomination for Outstanding Lighting Design for “South Pacific.”
Two Kent schools will receive honorable mention awards at the show. The honorable mention awards already have been released.
Kentridge received honorable mention for “The Sound of Music” for Outstanding Overall Musical Production. Kaled Brusnon, of Kentridge, will receive honorable mention for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his part as Max Detweiler.
Caelan Creaser, of Kentridge, will receive honorable mention for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her role as Beth March in “Little Women.”
Kentlake will receive honorable mention in Outstanding Hair and Make-Up Design for “South Pacific.”
The theater gives out special honors for student achievement to those who work behind the scenes in the technical part of the productions. Kentridge senior Andrew Swan will receive recognition for his work as the theater’s sound designer for “The Sound of Music.”
For more information and a list of all nominees, go to www.5thavenue.org.
What: 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards
When: 7 p.m. June 7
Where: 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle
Show is sold out, but TVW, hopes to do a live webcast at www.tvw.org as well as broadcast the show tape delayed on Comcast Channel 23 in Kent at a date to be determined the week of June 7.
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