Theatre Under The Stars Announces The Nominations For The 2020 Tommy Tune Awards

Due To Canceled Awards Show, Online Event Planned For April 28 At 7:30pm

HOUSTON — Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) announced the nominations for the 2020 Tommy Tune Awards as well as changes to the awards show today.

As previously announced, the Tommy Tune Awards show, originally scheduled for April 28 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts has been canceled, due to the nationwide health crisis.

“As we follow the lead of state and city health officials to keep our city’s students safe, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Tommy Tune Awards show this year,” said TUTS Community Engagement Director Israel Jimenez.

The winners will be announced via a specially-created video on the Tommy Tune Awards Facebook page and the TUTS YouTube channel on April 28 at 7:30pm.

The Tommy Tune Awards Program celebrates the educational value, artistry, and community of high school musical theatre in the Greater Houston area. After evaluating the 46 participating Houston-area high school productions during the 2019-2020 school year, a team of 36 Houston-based theatre professionals nominated students in 15 award categories.

The following high schools and individuals were nominated:

Best Musical:

Friendswood High School              Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

G.W. Carver Magnet School          Sister Act

Houston Christian High School     Crazy for You

Kinder HSPVA                               The Color Purple

Klein High School                          The Drowsy Chaperone

Klein Cain High School                 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Spring High School                       Aida

Stratford High School                   The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Leading Actress:

Jocelyn Dorsey from G.W. Carver Magnet High School as “Deloris Van Cartier” in Sister Act

Atara Romero-Wilson from George Bush High School as “Aida” in Aida

Taylor Greny from Friendswood High School as “Matilda” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Isabelle Olson from Klein High School as “Janet Van De Graaff” in The Drowsy Chaperone

Starlee Brown from Klein Cain High School as “Olive” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Emily Cagle from Second Baptist School as “Belle” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Makaila Heath from Spring High School as “Aida” in Aida

Lindsay Bates from Stratford High School as “Janet Van De Graaff” in The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Leading Actor:

Jackson Cook from Concordia Lutheran High School as “Jesus” in Godspell

Eric Jensen from Friendswood High School as “Miss Trunchbull” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Thomas Massey from Friendswood High School as “Mr. Wormwood” in Ronald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Cade Eller from Klein High School as “Robert Martin” in The Drowsy Chaperone

Xavier Smith from Klein High School as “Man in Chair” in The Drowsy Chaperone

Charles Sexton from Klein Cain High School as “William Barfee” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Cooper George from Klein Cain High School as “Leaf” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Will Larabee from Stratford High School as “Man in Chair” in The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Supporting Actress:

Ashlynn McCutcheon from Eisenhower High School as “Evilene / Glinda” in The Wiz

Katherine Lunam from Houston Christian High School as “Irene” in Crazy for You

Cami Moses from Kinder HSPVA as “Sofia” in The Color Purple

Helene Rosborough from Klein Cain High School as “Logainne” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Sara Rodriguez from Pearland High School as “Erma” in Anything Goes

Lauren Beaman from Ridge Point High School as “Little Sally” in Urinetown: The Musical

Evers McCormack from Spring Woods High School as “Rosie” in Mamma Mia!

Catherine Piskurich from Stratford High School as “Kitty” in The Drowsy Chaperone

Naomi Adams from George Bush High School as “Nehebka” in Aida

 

Supporting Actor:

Ashton Deverka from Houston Christian High School as “Lank” in Crazy for You

Andrew Linart from The Kinkaid School as “Pitkin W. Bridgework” in On The Town

Martin Ibarra from The Kinkaid School as “Ozzie” in On The Town

Keagan Greer from Pearland High School as “Moonface Martin” in Anything Goes

Evan Blackwell from Ridge Point High School as “Caldwell Cladwell” in Urinetown: The Musical

Zac Decker from Second Baptist School as “Lumiere” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Jordyn Wardsworth from Spring High School as “Mereb” in Aida

Christopher Aviles from Spring High School as “Zozer” in Aida

Luke Centanni from Stratford High School as “Aldolpho” in The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Featured Performer:

Dovid AdlerMatthew AlterCasey Markowitz, and Jack Paransky from The Emery/Weiner School as “The Sheep” in Head Over Heels

Taylor Campbell from Friendswood High School as “Mrs. Wormwood” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Carver and Aldine Dance Company from G.W. Carver Magnet High School as the Carver and Aldine Dance Company in Sister Act

Eva Adickes from Houston Christian High School as “Patsy” in Crazy for You

Mia Nguyen from James E. Taylor High School as “Featured Dancer” in Mamma Mia!

Tomi AkinwandeAlexandria Collins, and Keri Palmer from Kinder HSPVA as “The Trio” (“Doris,” “Darlene,” and “Jarene”) in The Color Purple

Jackson Luikens from Klein Collins High School as “Cuban Dancer” in Guys and Dolls

Davian Raggio from Pearland High School as “Ship’s Captain” in Anything Goes

Kevin Mendez from Second Baptist School as “LeFou” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Connor Padron and Matthew Prudhomme from Stratford High School as “Gangster #1 and Gangster #2” in The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Ensemble:

Cypress Ranch High School                    Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Dickinson High School                             Disney’s Newsies

The Emery/Weiner School                       Head Over Heels

Friendswood High School                        Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

G.W. Carver Magnet High School            Sister Act

Houston Christian High School                Crazy for You

Kinder HSPVA                                          The Color Purple

Klein Cain High School                            The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Spring High School                                  Aida

Stratford High School                              The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Lighting Design:

Clements High School                           Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)

Cypress Ranch High School                 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Dulles High School                               Bonnie & Clyde

The Emery/Weiner School                   Head Over Heels

Friendswood High School                    Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

George Ranch High School                 Mamma Mia!

Houston Christian High School            Crazy for You

Kinder HSPVA                                     The Color Purple

Spring High School                             Aida

Stratford High School                         The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Scenic Design:

Clements High School                        Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)

Dulles High School                             Bonnie & Clyde

Friendswood High School                  Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical 

George Ranch High School               Mamma Mia!

Houston Christian High School         Crazy for You

Kinder HSPVA                                  The Color Purple

Klein Cain High School                    The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Pearland High School                      Anything Goes

Spring High School                          Aida

Spring Woods High School              Mamma Mia!

Stratford High School                      The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Costume Design:

Clements High School                      Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)

Concordia Lutheran High School      Godspell

Dickinson High School                       Disney’s Newsies

Dulles High School                            Bonnie & Clyde

Kinder HSPVA                                   The Color Purple

Klein High School                              The Drowsy Chaperone

Klein Cain High School                     The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Pearland High School                       Anything Goes

Spring High School                           Aida

Stratford High School                        The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Stage Crew & Technical Execution:

Dickinson High School                       Disney’s Newsies

Dulles High School                            Bonnie & Clyde

The Emery/Weiner School                Head Over Heels

Friendswood High School                 Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

George Ranch High School              Mamma Mia!

Houston Christian High School         Crazy for You

Klein High School                             The Drowsy Chaperone

Klein Cain High School                    The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Pearland High School                      Anything Goes

Stratford High School                      The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Orchestra:

Cypress Ranch High School             Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Cypress Woods High School             Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Friendswood High School                  Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

G.W. Carver Magnet High School      Sister Act

Kinder HSPVA                                    The Color Purple

Klein High School                               The Drowsy Chaperone

Klein Cain High School                       The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Klein Forest High School                    The Addams Family

Memorial High School                         Singing in the Rain

Porter High School                              Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

 

Musical Direction:

Cypress Ranch High School                Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Friendswood High School                    Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

G.W. Carver Magnet High School        Sister Act

Houston Christian High School            Crazy for You

James E. Taylor High School               Mamma Mia!

Klein Cain High School                       The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Spring High School                              Aida

Stratford High School                          The Drowsy Chaperone

 

Choreography:

Clements High School                        Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)

Cypress Ranch High School               Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

The Emery/Weiner School                  Head Over Heels

Friendswood High School                   Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Fulshear High School                         Chicago

G.W. Carver Magnet High School      Sister Act

Houston Christian High School          Crazy for You

Kinder HSPVA                                    The Color Purple

Klein High School                              The Drowsy Chaperone

Klein Cain High School                     The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Klein Collins High School                  Guys and Dolls

Pearland High School                       Anything Goes

 

Direction:

Friendswood High School                Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

G.W. Carver Magnet High School    Sister Act

Houston Christian High School        Crazy for You

James E. Taylor High School           Mamma Mia!

Kinder HSPVA                                 The Color Purple

Klein High School                            The Drowsy Chaperone

Klein Cain High School                   The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Pearland High School                     Anything Goes

Spring High School                         Aida

Stratford High School                      The Drowsy Chaperone

 

In addition to these awards, the Tommy Tune Awards Program awards scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to pursue a career in the arts.

The Tommy Tune Awards offers an opportunity for students and educators to share their creative accomplishments while instilling in young people the value of engaging in the performing arts as a lifelong pursuit.

Every year, Houston area High Schools produce a full-length musical in order to compete in 15 categories: Leading Actor, Leading Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Featured Performer, Ensemble, Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Costume Design, Stage Crew & Technical Execution, Orchestra, Musical Direction, Choreography, Direction, and Overall Best Musical. Throughout the 2019-20 school year, the adjudicators will evaluate each participating school’s show, focusing on each element of the production. The adjudicators are made up of a group of Houston-based theatre professionals who have backgrounds as performers, designers, directors, choreographers, and musicians; and who have years of experience working in arts education and administration.

The Tommy Tune Awards are named for Broadway legend, Houston native and Lamar High School alumnus Tommy Tune. A performer, director and choreographer with more than 50 years of stage experience, Tune received nine Tony Awards for his work in the following productions: SeesawMy One and OnlyA Day in Hollywood/A Night in the UkraineNineGrand Hotel and The Will Rogers Follies. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2003 by President Bush.

Jimmy Awards

Traditionally, the Best Leading Actor and Actress go on to compete at the national level for the Jimmy AwardsⓇ. However, due to COVID-19, The Jimmy Awards issued this statement regarding this year’s awards show:

“The Broadway League has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Jimmy Awards due to the ongoing crisis with COVID-19. We are heartbroken that so many of the 143,000 students who participate in high school musicals across the country will not have an opportunity to show off their hard work, and that the 92 nominees won’t be able to realize their Broadway dreams this year by performing live on a Broadway stage at the Jimmy Awards. We look forward to next year when we can welcome nominees and fans back to the big Apple and continue to celebrate the future of Broadway together at the 2021 Jimmy Awards.”

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS (“TUTS”) – (Dan KnechtgesArtistic DirectorHillary J HartExecutive Director) – Founded by Frank M. Young in 1968, Houston’s non-profit home for musical theatre, is dedicated to enriching lives through innovative musical theatre, inclusive educational curriculums and dynamic community engagement. For more information, visit tuts.com.