ORPHEUM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS:
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

The Orpheum's High School Musical Theatre Awards celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019! Save the date — Thursday, May 23, 2019 — for an exciting, not-to-be-missed awards ceremony commemorating 10 years of achievement and camaraderie in Mid-South high school theatre.

The HSMTA program supports, promotes, and enhances high school musical theatre throughout the Mid-South. Modeled after the Tony Awards®, the High School Musical Theatre Awards recognizes achievements in all areas of high school musical theatre and brings together hundreds of students from all over the region to share their talents and collaborate with one another.

This program is part of the Jimmy Awards®, the national high school musical theatre awards program produced by The Broadway League that includes 40 programs from across the country. High schools within a 200-mile radius that meet the eligibility requirements are welcome to participate.

Each submitted musical goes through an adjudication process where community judges attend the high school productions. The HSMTAs judges are arts professionals within the Memphis community specializing in performance, directing, sound and lighting design, costume design, and music orchestration and direction.

The year of high school musicals concludes in a Tony Awards®-style celebration of the passion, dedication, and energy of all students and teachers involved in producing musical theatre. Participants gather at the historic Orpheum Theatre for an unforgettable night of performance and awards presentation, and two leading actors are sent to New York City to perform on Broadway as part of the culminating Jimmy Awards®.

Student Technical and Creative Achievement Awards

Technical and Creative Achievement Awards will be given for individual contributions by students. In order to evaluate the specific contributions made by students in technical and creative capacities, awards in these areas utilize a student-created portfolio in addition to production feedback from a submitted HSMTA musical.

Areas

Students whose work or contributions fit in any of the following areas may submit a portfolio to be considered for a technical or creative achievement nomination:

Creative Achievement: (Up to 7 nominees) this category honors students who were part of the creative team for their production. Areas of nomination include:

• Lighting Design, Sound Design, Set Design, Props Design, Costume Design, Hair/Makeup Design, and Choreography

Apply for a Creative Achievement Award

Technical Achievement: (Up to 7 nominees) this category honors students who were a part of the technical execution of their production. Areas of nomination include:

• Technical Direction, Sound Mixing, Light Operation, and Video Production (used as part of the show).

Apply for a Technical Achievement Award

Achievement in Stage Management: (Up to 7 nominees) this category honors students who were primary stage managers for their high school production.

Apply for a Achievement in Stage Management Award

Application Process

There are three components to be considered for a technical, creative achievement or stage management award.

1. Fill out the online application by March 29, 2019.

2. Submit a Portfolio by April 15, 2019 (digitally or delivered to Orpheum). Portfolio Requirements:

• 1-2 page personal essay about your experience
• Résumé 
• Director letter of recommendation

3. At least two supplemental pieces or artifacts that demonstrate the student work. The amount of supplemental materials provided in the portfolio is at the discretion of the applicant. Please note that the more information included in the portfolio allows for a stronger evaluation. Supplemental materials can include but are not limited to: Prompt book, Crew lists, Shift lists, Lighting plots, Sound plots, Design renderings or sketches, Cue scripts, Rehearsal materials, Video support or a highlight reel of a student’s process or work, Production photos.

Nominees will be announced on April 22, 2019. Nominees will meet with judges panel at a TBD time between May 5-11, 2019.

Inspiring Teacher Award

The Orpheum Theatre Group recognizes that the wealth of talent and dedication to musical theatre in our Mid-South high schools is the result of the many passionate and dedicated Theatre teachers who educate, encourage and inspire students on a daily basis. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards, we announce the inaugural Inspiring Teacher Award.

Eligibility

Candidates must be currently teaching at a school that participates in the Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards. Candidates must be teachers whose positions are dedicated to, or include aspects of theatre arts education. Candidates must have held this position for a minimum of 2 academic years.

To be considered, candidates must be nominated by a student(s) currently in grades 9-12 of participating Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards schools.

The following materials are required:

• A completed online, electronic submission form, including name and contact information for the candidate and the name and contact information of the nominating student(s)
• A 2-3 page essay, written by the student nominator, that describes the impact that the educator has had on them and what they have learned from them. The student should include how long they have known the educator.
• 1 letter of recommendation from a former student
• 1 letter of recommendation from a current peer or administrator of the Teacher

Nominate a Teacher

All materials should be submitted electronically beginning February 22 and no later than April 1, 2019.