Senior nominated for best lead actor

brooke ECK

Recently, Adriano Robins, senior, learned he was once again nominated for the Best Lead Actor award for the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards (SLHSMTA).

Put on by The Fabulous Fox, The Muny and Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, SLHSMTA is a regional chapter of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (Jimmy Awards), which recognizes high school theater companies and their actors for their outstanding theater accomplishments.

The awards ceremony will be held tonight.

“A bunch of schools get recognized for their theater achievement,” Robins said. “There’s Outstanding Production, Best Lead Actress and Actor, which is what I’m nominated for, Best Supporting, and a ton of other awards.”

The winners of Best Actor and Best Actress will get to go to the Jimmy Awards in New York and compete against other students who won their regional awards.

Robins is the only MHS student nominated this year, along with a choreography award recognizing Kyle and Victoria Rudolph, who are both MHS graduates.

“It was truly an honor because it just made me feel like we’re getting on the map with theaters around St. Louis," Robins said.

Robins won the Best Lead Actor award last year.

“Last year I was just riding the high of being seen and having people like my performance,” Robins said. “This year I definitely feel more grounded and focused, thinking about what I can do to prepare again.”

Robins will attend the Ithaca College theater program, looking forward to further his theater career.

Rebecca Blindauer, theater teacher, said she expected Robins would be nominated again this year.

“I think there was maybe, at least on my part, some expectation that he might get nominated again, but I also knew that he was nominated last year, so we weren’t sure and it’s really super cool,” Blindauer said.

Blindauer praises Robins not only for his talent but for who he is as a person.

“He’s crazy good at what he does, and it makes me feel even better that he’s a really great person too," Blindauer said.

Isa Oliver, senior, said she views Robins as both a role model and a friend.

Oliver said Robins is memorable not only due to his talent but also the way he carries himself on and off the stage.

“Not only is he a great singer and actor, but I think the way he carries himself and the confidence he has onstage is pretty unmatched,” Oliver said. “He has a kind of charisma that I think a lot of people are drawn to, and I think that translates onto the stage, which makes his performances very notable.”

1. Adriano Robins, senior, belts out "Morning Glow" during the MTC production of "Pippin," alongside the ensemble. Robins starred as the lead male role, Pippin, and has starred in other MTC productions such as this year's play "Clue" and last year's musical "Legally Blonde."

2. Sophia Chirco, freshman, and Adriano Robins, senior, face the audience during "Pippin." Chirco and Robins went on to sing the duet "No Time At All" with the ensemble accompanying them in the background.

3. Adriano Robins, senior, and Stephan Bosnjak, sophomore, rehearse last year's spring play "Puffs." Robins and Bosnjak danced alongside many of their crew members in preparation for opening night.