The Nominees Are...

Wells Fargo Sponsors Star-Studded Event Honoring Outstanding High School Musical Theater In Washington State

Awards Ceremony: Monday, June 4, 7:00 p.m.

SEATTLE - The 5th Avenue Theatre announces the nominees for its fifth annual 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, sponsored by Wells Fargo. The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards is similar to the Tony Awards; it allows high school drama students from around Washington state to meet, celebrate and honor the exceptional musical theater productions presented during the 2006-2007 school year.

The awards ceremony continues to grow and is now bigger than ever, with almost 5,000 participating students from 67 different Washington state public and private schools. This school year these students and teachers have mounted 78 different musical theater productions. Over the past few years, Washington state theater educators have reported back to The 5th Avenue that the development of this awards program has significantly helped their individual efforts to secure funding, improve curriculum and increase student participation. The program was originally designed to shine the spotlight on high school musical theater programs and offer drama students the same recognition that accomplished high school athletes have received for decades. Since its inception the program has grown steadily, and now schools from as far as Spokane, Lynden, Sequim and Lacey are participating and reporting back with success stories.

The 5th Avenue Awards is an important part of the Theatre’s ongoing educational outreach effort that nurtures future artists and audiences. Along with the Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, which brings original musicals to Washington state schools and the Student Matinee program, The 5th Avenue Awards demonstrates a firm commitment to arts education.

“The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards brings together talented students from across the state and showcases the ‘best of the best,’” says Rob Sexton, Wells Fargo Seattle Regional Commercial Banking Manager and 5th Avenue Theatre board member. “The evening is full of energy and top quality entertainment. Wells Fargo is proud to support The 5th Avenue Theatre and the dedicated students who deserve this recognition.”

The 5th Avenue Awards will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2006, at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Nominated students and productions will perform numbers from their shows and get a taste of what it’s like to perform in front of a packed house in one of the nation’s most beautiful historic theaters. Dozens of high-profile politicians, arts and media personalities will be in attendance to present awards and show their support for school arts programs, including: Former Mayor Norman B. Rice, Q13 weatherperson M.J. McDermott, KOMO TV Reporter John Sharify, Seattle Metropolitan Editor Steve Wiecking, and star of The 5th Avenue’s recent production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, local rockabilly favorite Billy Joe Huels. An estimated 2,000 high school students are expected to attend, along with their families and friends. Tickets are available by contacting the drama departments of the nominated schools. The 5th Avenue sincerely thanks Wells Fargo for its sponsorship of this important event.

Bellarmine Preparatory and Shorecrest High School are tied for the most nominations, Bellarmine with 11 nominations for their production of Urinetown, and Shorecrest with 11 nominations for their production of The Wizard of Oz. Auburn Riverside High School received 10 nominations for Seussical, while Kentridge High School received 9 nominations for their productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Thomas Jefferson High School also received 9 nominations for The Secret Garden.

For a full list of our nominees, visit our 2007 High School Musical Theater Awards Nominees page.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle’s premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of 24,000 and an annual attendance of more than 225,000. It ranks among the nation’s largest and most respected musical theater companies. The theater is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, First Friday Workshops, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org.

In Washington, Wells Fargo has more than 4,100 team members and 228 banking, mortgage and financial stores. Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $486 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through more than 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service, "Aaa," and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “AAA.”

Please contact Molly Fortin, Public Relations Manager, at (206) 625-1418 with questions or to schedule individual interviews. Photos available upon request.