Pittsburgh, PA • May 7, 2014– Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh are proud to announce the nominees for the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. The awards show will take place on Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
Over the past three months, a panel of 30 judges have attended the performances by the following 29 Allegheny County high schools: Avonworth, Baldwin, Bishop Canevin, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Central Catholic, Chartiers Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Hampton Township, Keystone Oaks, McKeesport, North Hills, Northgate, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy, Pittsburgh Brashear, Pittsburgh CAPA, Pittsburgh Perry, Plum, Quaker Valley, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale, St. Joseph, West Allegheny, West Mifflin, Winchester Thurston and Woodland Hills.
The judging panel was comprised of performing arts educators, arts administrators, entertainment professionals and performers. On May 2 these judges met and reviewed highlights from each high school performance. The scoring was then tabulated by Deloitte LLP.
The Nominees for the 2014 Gene Kelly Awards are:
| Best Scenic Design | |
| Budget Level I | |
| Our Lady of the Sacred Heart | The Wiz |
| Pittsburgh Perry | Seussical |
| St. Joseph | Shrek, the Musical |
| Budget Level II | |
| Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Riverview | Fiddler on the Roof |
| Budget Level III | |
| Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| West Allegheny | Catch Me If You Can |
| Woodland Hills | Sweeney Todd |
| Best Costume Design | |
| Budget Level I | |
| Our Lady of the Sacred Heart | The Wiz |
| Quaker Valley | Pirates of Penzance |
| St. Joseph | Shrek, the Musical |
| Budget Level II | |
| Bishop Canevin | The Drowsy Chaperone |
| Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Budget Level III | |
| Baldwin | Shrek, the Musical |
| Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Woodland Hills | Sweeney Todd |
| Best Lighting Design | |
| Budget Level I | |
| Our Lady of the Sacred Heart | The Wiz |
| Pittsburgh CAPA | Footloose |
| St. Joseph | Shrek, the Musical |
| Budget Level II | |
| Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Riverview | Fiddler on the Roof |
| Budget Level III | |
| Avonworth | Man of La Mancha |
| West Allegheny | Catch Me If You Can |
| Woodland Hills | Sweeney Todd |
| Best All-Student Orchestra | |
| Baldwin | Shrek, the Musical |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| North Hills | 42nd Street |
| Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy | The Wiz |
| Pittsburgh CAPA | Footloose |
| West Mifflin | Bye Bye Birdie |
| Best Supporting Actor | |||
| Rush Hodgin | Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie | “Trevor Graydon III” |
| Noah Baynes Lheureau | Bishop Canevin | The Drowsy Chaperone | “Robert Martin” |
| Drew Praskovich | Pittsburgh CAPA | Footloose | “Willard Hewitt” |
| Julius Ralph | Penn Hills | The Wiz | “The Wizard” |
| Quintin Reynolds | CW North Catholic | Children of Eden | “Cain/Japeth” |
| Michael Zak | Central Catholic | Spamalot | “Patsy” |
| Best Supporting Actress | |||
| Leah Prestogeorge | Woodland Hills | Sweeney Todd | “Joanna Barker” |
| Amanda Rulis | Hampton | Young Frankenstein | “Inga” |
| Jillian Schmidt | Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie | “Muzzy Van Hossmere” |
| Mara Singleton | Plum | My Favorite Year | “KC Downing” |
| Ashley Sitarik | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart | The Wiz | “Addaperle” |
| Brook Taylor | Woodland Hills | Sweeney Todd | “Beggar Woman/Lucy Barker” |
| Best Ensemble | |
| Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy | The Wiz |
| Quaker Valley | Pirates of Penzance |
| St. Joseph | Shrek, the Musical |
| West Allegheny | Catch Me If You Can |
| Best Crew/Technical Execution | |
| Baldwin | Shrek, the Musical |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy | The Wiz |
| Riverview | Fiddler on the Roof |
| Woodland Hills | Sweeney Todd |
| Best Choreography | |
| Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy | The Wiz |
| Pittsburgh CAPA | Footloose |
| West Allegheny | Catch Me If You Can |
| Best Direction | |
| Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy | The Wiz |
| Quaker Valley | Pirates of Penzance |
| St. Joseph | Shrek, the Musical |
| Best Actor | |||
| Ryan Borgo | West Allegheny | Catch Me If You Can | “Frank Abignale, Jr.” |
| Connor Cook | Plum | My Favorite Year | “Benjy Stone” |
| Tom Curry | West Allegheny | Catch Me If You Can | “Carl Hanratty” |
| Peter Heres | Quaker Valley | Pirates of Penzance | “Pirate King” |
| Adam Rayan | Penn Hills | The Wiz | “Tinman” |
| Nathanial Yost | Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot | “King Arthur” |
| Best Actress | |||
| Abby Dionise | Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie | “Miss Dorothy Brown” |
| Alexandra Illescas | Pittsburgh CAPA | Footloose | “Rusty” |
| Alexis Loiselle | Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie | “Millie Dillmount” |
| Mallory Milberger | St. Joseph | Shrek, the Musical | “Princess Fiona” |
| Marnie Quick | Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy | The Wiz | “Tinman” |
| Savannah Wiggins | Penn Hills | The Wiz | “Dorothy” |
| Best Musical | |
| Budget Level I | |
| Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy | The Wiz |
| Quaker Valley | Pirates of Penzance |
| St. Joseph | Shrek, the Musical |
| Budget Level II | |
| Bishop Canevin | The Drowsy Chaperone |
| Central Catholic | Monty Python’s Spamalot |
| Hampton | Young Frankenstein |
| Budget Level III | |
| Penn Hills | The Wiz |
| Pine-Richland | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| West Allegheny | Catch Me If You Can |
The nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress will be competing for the opportunity to represent Pittsburgh CLO’s Gene Kelly Awards in the sixth-annual National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City on Monday, June 30. For more information on the National High School Musical Theater Awards, please visit www.nhsmta.com.
In addition to the more than 20 Kelly Awards presented at the event, several cash and university scholarships will be awarded. These scholarships are made possible through the generous donations of Paul Block, Virginia S. Nicklas, the CLO Ambassadors, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and participating colleges. Winners will be announced at the ceremony on May 24. More information is available at pittsburghCLO.org.
The Gene Kelly Awards are co-presented by the University of Pittsburgh with additional support provided by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, PNC Bank, Virginia S. Nicklas and the CLO Ambassadors. Deloitte Consulting, LLP is the official auditor for the Gene Kelly Awards.
Pittsburgh CLO is also pleased to announce that Gene Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, will once again participate in the awards show.
What: 24th Annual Gene Kelly Awards
Where: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
When: Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: On sale May 13. Call 412-456-6666
