The third annual Blumenthal Performing Arts High School Musical Theater Awards culminated Sunday, May 18, at a gala award celebration where winners in 12 categories were announced and nominees for Best Actor, Best Actress and Wells Fargo Best Musical performed live on stage at the Belk Theater. The Blumey Awards were presented by Wells Fargo.
Northwest School of the Arts from Mecklenburg County won the Wells Fargo Best Musical Award for their production of Shrek the Musical. Abby Corrigan of Northwest School of the Arts won Best Actress for her portrayal of “Princess Fiona” in Shrek the Musical. Mekhai Lee of Northwest School of the Arts won Best Actor for his portrayal of “Shrek” in Shrek the Musical. Maureen O’Boyle, anchor for WBTV, emceed the black-tie celebration.
Corrigan and Lee, the students named Best Actress and Best Actor 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 the National High School Musical Theater Awards. The national show and ceremony, known as The Jimmy Awards, takes place in New York on June 30, 2014.
Twenty-four different high schools within the Charlotte region were nominated for Blumey Awards for at least one of the 12 categories. Counties represented by the nominees included Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Union and York.
Twelve student critics also participated in the Student Critic Program in association with the 3rd Annual Blumey Awards presented by Wells Fargo. The Student Critic Program is a part of The Blumey Awards with support from The Charlotte Observer. Of these twelve Student Critics, Mary Alex Staude from Weddington High School was awarded “The Charlotte Observer Student Critic Award” at The Blumey Awards, chosen by the editors at The Charlotte Observer.
Along with The Blumey Awards themselves, The Mary Doctor Performing Arts Scholarship, an annually renewable $10,000 scholarship, was awarded to Mekhai Lee of Northwest School of the Arts and Jessica Braun of South Mecklenburg High School during The Blumey Awards Ceremony. A special scholarship committee selected these winners.
The gala celebration was the highlight of the competition, which started in January when local schools began presenting their annual musical theater productions. Each school’s musical was viewed and evaluated by a panel of four judges, who awarded points according to detailed guidelines. The six highest scoring nominees in each of 12 categories were the finalists.
