The Nominees Are...
Excitement builds for the Seventh Annual 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards
Sponsored by Wells Fargo
Awards Ceremony: Monday, June 9, 7:00 p.m.
SEATTLE - The 5th Avenue Theatre is pleased to announce the nominees for its seventh annual 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the acclaimed program sponsored by Wells Fargo and supported by scores of schools throughout Washington State. A high school version of the Tony Awards, this program allows drama students from across Washington to meet, celebrate and honor the exceptional musical theater productions presented during the 2008-2009 school year. These awards are 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 in size and scope, from 31 productions and 3,100 students in 2003 to 82 productions and 8,200 students participating this year. 159 nominations were given to 54 schools in various categories and 87 students will receive honorable mentions. Schools from as far as Spokane, Lynden, Sequim and Lacey are reporting back to The 5th Avenue that their involvement in this awards program has significantly helped their individual efforts to secure funding, improve curriculum and increase student participation.
During the past school year, The 5th Avenue sent a team of theater professionals to evaluate each school's production. Nominations are made in 21 categories, from overall musical production to lobby display.
The 5th Avenue Awards will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 8, at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Nominated students and schools will perform numbers from their shows and get a taste of what it's like to perform in front of a packed house. Dozens of high-profile elected officials and arts and media personalities will present awards and show their support for school arts programs. An estimated 2,200 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 for the fifth year in a row.
For a full list of our nominees, visit our 2009 High School Musical Theatre Awards Nominees page. Tickets for the Awards Ceremony are $27.50 for adults, $16.50 for students, and are available through participating schools
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 nearly 24,000 and an annual attendance of more than 287,000. It ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies. The Theatre is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theater Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, 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 4,800 team members and 240 banking, mortgage and financial stores. Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through more than 10,400 stores, over 12,000 ATMs and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally.
Please contact John Longenbaugh, Public Relations Manager at (206) 625-1418 with questions or to schedule individual interviews. Photos available upon request.