Fredonia, Jamestown, Pine Valley, Randolph, Lake Shore and Maple Grove high schools were among area schools nominated for this year’s Shea’s High School Musical Theatre Awards program.

The awards recognize the outstanding achievement of high school ensembles in various areas of musical production and performance. Leading up to the nomination announcement on April 23 and 24, Shea’s High School Musical Awards Program students were invited to Shea’s Buffalo Theatre for free events featuring an on-stage choreography lesson, education tours, a musical theatre relay race, trivia, prizes, and a local theatre and college fair.

“Involvement in musical theatre provides young people with valuable life skills, boosting confidence, inspiring creativity, and encouraging collaboration,” said Brian Higgins, President & CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center. “We are thrilled to expand this educational opportunity to more Western New York students this year and we continue to be inspired by the incredible talent and hard work they’ve all put into each of the outstanding performances.”

This year Shea’s Performing Arts Center has expanded the high school musical theatre awards allowing participation to double from 10 to 20 schools. In total 1,379 students from Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties are taking part in the program. Schools participating include: Amherst, Belfast, Brocton, Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, Cleveland Hill, Dunkirk, Eden, Fredonia, Jamestown, John F. Kennedy, Lake Shore, Maple Grove, Nardin Academy, Pine Valley, Randolph, Royalton Hartland, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, St. Mary’s High School, Sweet Home, and West Seneca West high schools.

Twenty-five local theatre educators, professional performers, directors, and designers served as judges and provided feedback. Nomination categories looked at show direction, choreography, scenic design, lighting, hair and makeup, costume, dance, vocal performance, orchestral performance, ensemble performance, and lead/supporting performances.

In addition to the nominations, sixteen participating students were selected as semifinalists for a week-long intensive workshop at Shea’s called “The Student Talent and Growth Experience” (STAGE) Program. During this program, led by Creative Director and award-winning director and choreographer Michael Oliver Walline, students take part in workshops and intensive audition experiences with feedback from judges. The group is narrowed to eight finalists who will be invited to perform a one to two-minute solo performance on the Shea’s Buffalo stage during the awards ceremony. Two winners are then selected to represent Shea’s Performing Arts Center at The Jimmy Awards, a national high school musical theatre awards competition in New York City. The Jimmy Awards are presented by The Broadway League Foundation. The Broadway League is The National Trade Association for the Broadway Theatre Industry. Jimmy Awards participants take part in workshops, dance rehearsals, auditions, and panels led by Broadway professionals. Winners of the national competition receive college scholarships.

Winners of the Shea’s High School Musical Theatre Awards program will be announced at an event held on Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m. at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. Presenting sponsors of the program are Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC and Rachael Small. Additional event sponsors include: Wegmans, Mr. & Mr. Joseph Curatolo, WPS Management Company, The Eastman Foundation, Pfalzgraf Beinhauer Grear Harris Schuller LLP, The Mosey Family Foundation, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., Univera, and Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers.

There are 15 categories. Fredonia received 11 nominations, Jamestown received six nominations, Pine Valley received six nominations, Randolph received four nominations, Lake Shore received two nominations, and Maple Grove received one nomination.