High school students from across Washington packed Benaroya Hall on June 10 for the annual 5th Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theater, a high school version of the Tony Awards. The house was packed with 2,000 teenagers, dressed in costume representing their schools' musical theater productions, who cheered for their peers as they performed musical excerpts and accepted awards honoring top student achievements in musical theater.
Awards were handed out in 21 categories. Edmonds Heights K-12 took home top honors at with the award for Outstanding Overall Musical Production for their hit show, Pippin. The show that received the greatest number of awards was University High School's Jekyll & Hyde, with three awards.
Skyline High School student Madison Willis received the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Pippin) and Kentridge High School student Eli Wills received the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (The Wedding Singer). This year, for the first time, the recipients of these awards have the opportunity to go to the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City at the end of June.
University High School took home the award for Outstanding Direction (Jekyll & Hyde), Kamiak High School received the award for Outstanding Music Direction (Kiss Me Kate), and AC Davis High School brought home the award for Outstanding Choreography (Grease). Kamiak High School's Kiss Me Kate and University High School's Jekyll & Hyde tied for Outstanding Scenic Design.
The Special Honor for Outstanding Educator was given to longtime Theatre Arts Director at Richland High School, Ellicia Mertens Elliott.
Congratulations to these award winners:
Outstanding Overall Musical
Edmonds Heights K-12, Pippin
Outstanding Direction
University High School, Jekyll & Hyde
Outstanding Music Direction
Kamiak High School, Kiss Me Kate
Outstanding Choreography
AC Davis High School, Grease
Outstanding Orchestra
Hanford High School, 42nd Street
Outstanding Scenic Design
Kamiak High School, Kiss Me Kate
University High School, Jekyll & Hyd
Outstanding Lighting Design
Aberdeen High School, Aida
Outstanding Costume Design
Ballard High School, Urinetown
Outstanding Hair and Makeup Design
Wenatchee High School, Shrek the Musical
Outstanding Stage Crew
University High School, Jekyll & Hyde
Outstanding Lobby Display
Prairie High School, Oliver!
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Madison Willis as Leading Player, Skyline High School, Pippin
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Eli Wills as Robbie Hart, Kentridge High School, The Wedding Singer
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Anna Hansen as Dorothy Brock, Hanford High School, 42nd Street
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Jones as Riff, Eisenhower High School, West Side Story
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Featured Ensemble Role
Mariah Lotz as Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy, Edmonds Heights K-12, Shrek the Musical
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Featured Ensemble Role
Tyler Good as Pinocchio, Edmonds Heights K-12, Shrek the Musical
Outstanding Performance by an Actor or Actress in a Non-Singing Role
Alex Gossard as R.F. Simpson, Redmond High School, Singin' in the Rain
Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
Bellarmine Preparatory School, Fiddler on the Roof
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Group
The Stepsisters, Snohomish High School, Cinderella
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast
Redmond High School, Forever Plaid
Special Honors: Outstanding Educator:
Ellicia Mertens Elliott, Richland High School
Special Honors: Educational Impact
Bonney Lake High School, Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Cashmere High School, Crazy For You
Evergreen High School, Urinetown
Grandview High School, Into the Woods
Lewis and Clark High School, Seussical Jr.
Stanwood High School, Shrek the Musical
Sunnyside High School and Sunnyside Christian High School, Peter Pan; Sunnyside High School, Bye Bye Birdie
Union High School, Fiddler on the Roof
Special Honors: Student Achievement
AC Davis High School, Cloey Lantrip
Auburn Mountainview High School, Christina Chatman and Emily Wallace
Decatur High School, Emma Ambacher and Jennie Foraker
Eatonville High School, Cindy Johnson and Jim Carey
Edmonds Heights K-12, Amelia Burnett
Evergreen High School, Logan Rombach
Hoquiam High School, Adam Cooper
Kamiak High School, Darian Clogston
Kentridge High School, Amanda Harris
Lewis and Clark High School, Siobhan Flanagan
Mercer Island High School, Nate Copley
The Overlake School, Stephen Hitchcock
Ridgefield High School, Emily Bevard
Tahoma Junior High School, Rachel Bridges
Thomas Jefferson High School, Kasey Byquist
Union High School, Ashlee Loubey
University High School, Kacey George
Wenatchee High School, Amy Veteto
For the full list of nominees and winners, visit The 5th Avenue Theatre website.
