Lyric Stage presented the 16th annual Schmidt & Jones Awards on May 6 at Moody Performance Hall with students giving riveting performances.
Scott Guenther, Lyric Stage’s managing and co-artistic director, said, “Developed in 2010, this award is named after renowned composer Harvey Schmidt and lyricist Tom Jones to honor excellence in high school musical theatre across Dallas-Fort Worth. These students are exceptionally talented.”
The winners:
Best Actor in Lead Role
Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd – Maxwell Nelson as Sweeney Todd
Best Actress in a Lead Role
Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd – Roslyn Ackermann as Mrs. Lovett
Supporting Actor
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Matthew Grand as Fester Addams
Supporting Actress
Grapevine Faith Christian School, Newsies – Sienna Dudding as Medda Larkin
Actor in a Minor Role
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Brett Martin as Lurch
Actress in a Minor Role
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Kimora Caldwell as Grandma Addams
Male Ensemble Performer
Lakeview Centennial High School, Little Shop – Manny Gonzalez as Multiple Characters
Female Ensemble Performer
Liberty Christian School, Oliver – Avery Graham as Rose Seller, Orphan, Dancer
Best Stage Manager
Denton Guyer High School – Hadestown – Emmerson Biddick
Best Choreography
Liberty Christian School – Oliver – Presley Anderson & Gigi Plisga
Best Lighting Design
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Olivia Assay, Anissa Campos
Parish Episcopal School, Chicago – Cooper Hardeman
Best Scenic Design
Coppell High School, Matilda – Ashrrita Sathish, Tsering Sherpa
Best Costume Design
Cedar Hill High School, Something Rotten – Morgan Akins, Nyilah McDaniel, Jaden Devezin
Best Orchestra
Rockwall Heath High School, Les Miserables
Best Ensemble
Denton Guyer High School – Hadestown
Best Show
Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd
A panel of judges, consisting of theatre educators and professional theatre artists, viewed dozens of productions of the accepted applicants from schools in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties. The panel made nominations and then voted to determine winners. The directors of participating schools also received written production evaluations.
The judging panel, adjudicating and awards are organized and led by the director of the Schmidt and Jones Awards, Amy Stevenson, who is well-known in Dallas-Fort Worth as both an artist and educator.
source: press release
