A.L. Brown High School nominated for theater awards

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 4, 2017

CHARLOTTE – A.L. Brown High School of Kannapolis has been nominated for several awards in the Blumenthal Performing Arts Sixth High School Musical Theater Awards.

Blumenthal Performing Arts announced the 72 nominees – six each in 12 categories — that will compete for the awards, known as the Blumey Awards. They will be presented May 21 in Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

The Blumey Awards recognize the best in high school musical theater and promotes greater achievements in the future.

A.L. Brown was nominated for best costume creation for “Anything Goes.” Brown student Matthew Byrd was nominated for best actor for his portrayal of Billy Crocker in “Anything Goes.”

Maureen O’Boyle, news anchor for WBTV, and Amy Burkett of WTVI will emcee the black-tie awards show. It will be broadcast on WTVI at 8 p.m. May 30.

“While competition and awards are part of the process, getting to the Blumey Awards is really about working together to create a musical,” said Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard. “Everyone there that night can feel the collective pride for what these students, teachers and parents have achieved in working hard to put their shows together.”

The Blumey Awards ceremony will feature a performance by each of the six nominated schools in the best musical category, a medley of performances by the six finalists for best actor and best actress, and an opening and closing number that features two students from each of the 46 participating schools.

Blumenthal Performing Arts will again participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards. The national show and ceremony will be in New York on June 26. The two students named best actor and best actress at the Blumey Awards will receive an all-expenses-paid trip and weeklong stay in New York City, where they will train and compete with other regional winners in a national competition known as the Jimmy Awards — named after famed Broadway producer James M. Nederlander.

Nominees in the best actor and best actress categories will be invited to audition before a panel on Saturday. The six nominees for both of these categories will be chosen after the auditions and announced on Monday.

Winners will be announced at the Blumey Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. May 21 in Belk Theater. Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. May 4. Tickets range from $45 to $100. Tickets will be available at BlumenthalArts.org, 704-372-1000 or from the box office in the Belk Theater lobby, 130 N. Tryon St.