The future is bright for a new crop of high school actors currently performing their hearts out on stages all across New Jersey. What’s their motivation? How about winning the High School equivalent of a ‘Tony’ Award at a statewide competition? Enter The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards.
Musical Madness - Thoroughly Modern Millie Rehearsals
Part of a statewide initiative to encourage and reward exceptional accomplishments in the production of high school musical theatre, the awards can mean everything to budding-Broadway stars.
“One hundred high schools across New Jersey compete in the Rising Star Awards, considered by some to be the Tony Awards for high schools,” The New York Times recently reported in the multimedia article, High School Musical Actors Envision Being Rising Stars. For 13 years, the Rising Star program has recognized outstanding achievement by students and educators win the areas of performance, design, direction, choreography, technical production and overall production excellence.
“It’s thrilling to see these incredibly talented and dedicated students get a chance to shine,” remarks Jason Cocovinis, MTI’s Director of Marketing. “Now more than ever, it’s crucial that these avenues of aspiration exist for the next generation of artists. As I watched the video of these students rehearsing two of MTI’s show titles, Guys and Dolls and Thoroughly Modern Millie, I felt a great sense of pride
and excitement to know I could be seeing the next wave of Broadway stars honing their craft.”
The 2009 Rising Star Awards Gala Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 16th at The Paper Mill Playhouse.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
How does one get into the Rising Star Competition? Is it only in New York. One of our high schools in Michigan has 2 outstanding leads in West Side Story that is opening tonite. Thanks.
Cindy
How do children get nominated for these awards? I work with a local Highschool in south Jersey and also run a summer theater camp and this is my first time reading about this. I would love to know more about the nomination process.
Papermill has its instructions on how to include your high school here. It seems as if the registration program is over for this year’s program, but keep an eye out for next year’s awards program. The Rising Star program is currently only for High Schools in New Jersey.
Is this programne or something similar available in Canada.
I am presently working with a High School in Canada in a Musical and have a very talented case. Thanks