MARQUEE June 12, 2021
M U E H P R O 2021 AL C I S U M L OO HIGH SCH ATRE AWARD S THE
Dear HSMTA Friends and Supporters, I am pleased to welcome you to the 2021 Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards! These annual awards are always a highlight of the year for those of us at the Orpheum. Tonight’s celebration is no exception. However, getting to this year’s award ceremony required a lot of hard work on the part of the participating students, teachers, schools, judges, and Orpheum staff members. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the efforts all these people have expended to reach tonight’s performance. Their passion for musical theatre and their drive to achieve their goals are superlative. I salute their hard work. Due to COVID-19, high schools across the country faced the difficult decision whether to stage productions this past year or not. The Mid-South was no different. While the number of participants in this year’s HSMTAs is therefore less than in a normal year, the Orpheum remains grateful to all of those who kept the arts alive in our schools. We look forward to a full slate of productions lighting up our high school stages in the upcoming academic year. I want to recognize the work of the Orpheum’s Education and Community Engagement Department. This has been a difficult year for everyone, but these staff members have persevered through hard work and diligence. Despite a lack of in-person opportunities, the Orpheum’s virtual workshops, camps and classes were top notch and impactful. My deepest appreciation to this team of talented individuals. I hope you enjoy tonight’s show. These students worked hard to make this happen. They are all to be commended. I wish each of them tremendous success in their future endeavors. With gratitude for all and hope for the future,
Brett Batterson President & CEO Orpheum Theatre Group
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Brett & Veronica Batterson Lisa & John Bobango Jennifer McGrath Cheryl & Bill Stegbauer Lura Elliott Turner Honoring her mother, Helen Elliott, a music teacher
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
Welcome to the 2021 Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards! After over a year of never-ending challenges and dark moments, it has been a joy to put together a ceremony filled with light and hope. While this evening may look different than performances of the past, the passion, dedication, energy, talent, and spirit of resilience that went into producing this year’s show was unmatched. Students and schools were invited to participate in a variety of ways so that we could truly meet them where they were during this tumultuous time. Schools were invited to share photos, videos, and memories of how they innovated in this year like none another. Students from any school within a 100 mile radius of the Orpheum were invited to join in the virtual opening number and, while scheduling and Zoom fatigue kept our numbers small, our spirit was larger than we ever could have imagined. Seniors were eligible to audition for Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress via video and the original group of submissions were culled down through a preliminary adjudication process to the 12 finalists that you see featured in our film tonight. Our two awardees will go on to represent the Orpheum at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards – the Jimmy Awards, being held virtually this year. An additional touchpoint for students was nominating outstanding educators for our Inspiring Teacher Award. With all of these elements combined, we continue to celebrate, honor, and uplift the outstanding talents and programs of musical theatre among young people and schools in the Mid-South. It is a joy and honor to share this work with you and we hope it brings you much hope as we finally begin to emerge from the darkness, return to the light, and move forward into a new future.
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
EUM H P R O 1 2 20 ICAL S U M L O O HIGH SCH ATRE AWARD S THE
Opening & Leads Director...............................................................Taylor St. John Hosting & Behind-the-Scenes Director..................................Jenita Nakamura Choreographer...............................................................................Santyria Johnson Leads Musical Director................................................................Jason Eschhofen Opening Number Musical Director................................................Tamatha Holt Stage Manager...........................................................................................Alex Kesner Rehearsal Accompanist and Music Associate...........................Angelo Rapan Hosting and Behind-the-Scenes Cinematographer....................Allen Austin Program Designer................................................................................Nathan Ashby Education Review Video.......................................................................Allen Austin Executive Producer.....................................................................Jennifer McGrath
All Virtual Celebration film services provided by DEAN HD
We salute all those who kept the spirit of high school musical theatre alive through this difficult year! See you on stage in the new academic year. —Veronica & Brett Batterson
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
OPENING NUMBER "It’s Time To Dance" from the musical The Prom performed by Steele Bowers Bartlett High School
Alyssa Roy Crockett County High School
Havannah Colter Memphis Business Academy High School
Christiana Rowan New Albany High School
Cayla Green Bolton High School
Georgia Sink Briarcrest Christian School
THE SPIRIT OF THE HSMTAs AWARD The Jalen Award
CELEBRATION OF SCHOOLS: ONSTAGE
THE INSPIRING TEACHER AWARD
CELEBRATION OF SCHOOLS: STORIES & MEMORIES
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
ORPHEUM EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT YEAR IN REVIEW
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR & LEAD ACTRESS AWARDS CLOSING NUMBER "Light" from the musical Next To Normal performed by all 12 lead nominee finalists Shy’Kira Allen Bartlett High School
Marvin Holt Briarcrest Christian School
RJ Barboza Chester County High School
Isabelle Johnson Briarcrest Christian School
Jada Bunch Northpoint Christian School
Robert Kuntzman Houston High School
Kasey Davis Jackson Christian School
Joshua Rickard Tipton-Rosemark Academy
Jasmine Gillenwaters Collierville High School
Deven Sims Olive Branch High School
Ben Gray Evangelical Christian School
Alexis Steelman Collierville High School
ENTERTAIN. EDUCATE. ENLIGHTEN. The mission of the Orpheum Theatre Group is to enhance the communities we serve by utilizing the performing arts to entertain, educate, and enlighten while preserving the historic Orpheum Theatre and the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education.
Learn more at Orpheum-Memphis.com/Give
LEAD ACTOR NOMINEES
RJ Barboza
Ben Gray
Chester County High School
Evangelical Christian School
Marvin Holt
Robert Kuntzman
Briarcrest Christian School
Joshua Rickard
Tipton-Rosemark Academy
Houston High School
Deven Sims
Olive Branch High School
LEAD ACTRESS NOMINEES
Shy’Kira Allen
Jada Bunch
Bartlett High School
Northpoint Christian School
Kasey Davis
Jasmine Gillenwaters
Jackson Christian School
Isabelle Johnson
Briarcrest Christian School
Collierville High School
Alexis Steelman
Collierville High School
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES Jason Eschhofen is very excited to be back working with the High School Musical Theatre Awards! He has been a music director and arranger for the awards since 2017 and has loved every minute of it! Jason is currently the Resident Sound Designer at Playhouse on the Square, and works as a freelance music director, sound designer, pianist, copyist, and synth programmer for many theatres in the greater Mid-South. Some of his favorite shows he has worked on include The Fantasticks (The Link Theatre in Jonesboro, Music Director), Ruthless (Theatre Memphis, Music Director/Sound Designer), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Theatre Memphis, Music Director/Sound Designer), Beauty and the Beast (Theatre Memphis, Le Fou), Murder for Two (Playhouse on the Square, Marcus Moscowicz/ Sound Designer) Cabaret (Playhouse on the Square, Music Director), Matilda (Harrell Theatre, Music Director/Sound Designer/Doctor), Next to Normal (Germantown Community Theatre, Music Director), Così fan tutte (Opera Memphis, Stage Manager), Newsies (Desoto Family Theatre, Jack Kelly/Spot Conlin), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Flute/Thisby). Jason received a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Memphis, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Technology from Bowling Green State University. Tamatha Holt is Briarcrest Christian School’s Elementary Orff Music Specialist, Chorus and Musical Theatre Director. Mrs. Holt received formal training in music starting at the age of five on violin, eventually adding viola and piano. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Louisiana State University, and a Master’s of Music from Rutgers University. She is currently a professional musician and performs regularly in the Memphis community and surrounding regions. Mrs. Holt has performed with the Jackson, Tupelo, Paducah, and Corinth Symphonies, and appears frequently in the orchestra for musicals at Playhouse on the
Square, Circuit Playhouse, Theater Memphis, and Hattiloo Theater. She has been an instructor and musical director for New Day Children’s Theater in Collierville, Germantown Community Theater, and the Summer Youth Conservatory through Playhouse on the Square. Mrs. Holt has toured with the Jeunesses Musicale World Orchestra throughout Europe and Asia. She has also performed with such artists as Ray Charles, Yo-Yo Ma, and Bobby McFerrin. Alex Kesner is an alum of University of Memphis and of Briarcrest Christian School. She is a long time member of the HSMTA Production Team and thrilled to be back another year! Some credits include- TV: Health and Safety Manager- Russian Doll S2 (Netflix), Search Party S5 (HBO). Broadway: title of show (The Actors Fund reunion), They’re Playing Our Song (The Actors Fund reunion). Tour: A Night with Janis Joplin. Off-Broadway: Play On! Shakespeare Festival. Regional: Oklahoma! (Weston Playhouse) A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum (Gulfshore Playhouse), Million Dollar Quartet (Weston Playhouse), Gypsy (Riverside Theatre), Mamma Mia (Riverside Theatre), Once (Weston Playhouse), Buyer & Cellar (Weston Playhouse). Santyria Johnson is a Memphis native and military veteran who began singing at age 7, and dancing competitively at age 9. She has spent over 20 years honing her discipline and passion for the performing arts. From singing in her first ever live concert on stage at the historic Orpheum Theatre at age 11, to performing the Nation’s Anthem at the FedExForum at age 13, Santyria has never wandered far from the stage. Through her younger years, West African dance found her. Santyria performs movements based upon traditional and contemporary African dance forms. Her artistic background includes training with the Watoto Academy of the Performing Arts, the Bantaba Dance company of Memphis, and the Sankofa African Drum and Dance company of Nashville.
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES continued
Santyria is dedicated to the continuous development of her craft as a performer and Teaching Artist. She is a graduate of the Orpheum Theatre Group’s Teaching Artist Training Program. Her work as a choreographer and TA for the Orpheum includes facilitating creative movement, script writing, and storytelling workshops for its various programs. Santyria’s purpose is to share her gifts in ways that best serve herself and her community. Her teaching style and regime are designed to encourage and support youth in the discovery, exploration, and nurturing of their artistic and creative gifts; her students form a new consciousness about themselves and their personal identities. Jenita Nakamura is a storyteller with a background in social work and arts education. Upon returning to Memphis in 2018, Jenita began serving as Manager of Education Engagement for Orpheum Theatre Group, where she directs programs such as LISTEN UP - a series of filmmaking sessions that make space for young people to tell their stories. As a graduate of Tennessee State University, Jenita is grateful for the social work education that allowed her to serve for 9 years as an in-home crisis counselor. Having seen tremendous amounts of suffering and loss firsthand, Jenita has made it her mission to “unlock hearts thru the arts”. Possessing the ability to create music, movement, and written works, Jenita offers her artistic talents as a vehicle to help those on the journey toward wellness. As a way of enhancing these transformative encounters, Jenita often couples artistic experiences with guided meditation stories that she writes under her moniker Nak Jently (pronounced knock gently). In addition, her other writing passions include creating original musical theatre pieces as a way to uplift communities and propel social justice movements. Recent fellowship opportunities with ArtUp and Center For Transforming Communities have strengthened her entrepreneurial spirit and intensified her desire to provide virtual engagement for live
theatre experiences to extend the reach of the work. These fellowships have empowered Jenita to forge collaborative alliances with local artists and share original art that is relevant to her community. Taylor St. John is a theatre maker and educator and is excited to be directing the High School Musical Awards again this year! At the Orpheum he directs the Teaching Artist Training Program where he collaborates and coaches Mid-South artists to educate and engage with youth and communities. As a teaching artist, he has developed and led programs for the nationally recognized Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, the award-winning Barrington Stage Company, Florida Studio Theatre, and the Bloomington Playwright’s Project . As a theatre director, he works at the intersection of theatre, community, and education. Recent directing credits include: Pericles (Tennessee Shakespeare Co.), Stories of Home (Orpheum Theatre Group), Shaming Jane Doe, She Kills Monsters (University of Memphis), and Elephant’s Graveyard (Voices of the South). He holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Memphis and degrees in Theatre and Education from Indiana University.
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
JUDGES BIOGRAPHIES Karen Shepherd Canty’s love for the performing arts began when she played Nancy in a middle school production of Oliver! At The College of William & Mary, she focused on lighting design and technical theater. After college, she worked in various capacities for regional theaters before discovering a passion for stage management. Karen worked for theatres including Playwrights’ Horizons, CenterStage, Berkeley Rep, Long Wharf Theatre, New York City Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera. Karen and her husband Ned moved to Memphis in 2011 when he was hired as General Director of Opera Memphis. They share their home with 3 rescue mutts named PJ, Shorty, and Fiona. Karen has stage managed many of New Ballet Ensemble & School’s major productions for the past 9 years. She now works for NBE full-time. Marcus Cox is the Director of Community Relations and Arts Marketer for Playhouse on the Square, a professional regional theatre company in Memphis’ Overton Square. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre Performance from The University of Memphis, and has performed and traveled as a professional actor across the United States. Marcus serves as Vice President of the Metro Memphis Attractions Association, maintains memberships with the Young Professionals Council for the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Lee Harris Professional Council, The Miss America Organization, and Americans for the Arts. A product of the Memphis Arts community, Marcus has performed in productions at the Hattiloo Theatre, Theatre Memphis, and with Playhouse on the Square. He is a multi-time Ostrander winner with awards for Best Supporting Actor, Best Play, and ensemble. He was recently honored in the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Class of 2021, a 2019 Kindle Awards Recipient and Who’s Who Among American Marketing Professionals. Married to his wife Tasha for
18 years they have one daughter, Kelsey, 13. Marcus and his family are members of Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova and serve in the Marriage and Family ministry. Sandy Kozik earned a BFA in Theatre and Journalism from U of M (before you were born) and attended Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College which led to ten years of touring with various circuses in the 70’s and 80’s. He returned to Memphis in 1988 and worked in arts integration programming for 30+ years using the aesthetic education techniques of Wolf Trap and Lincoln Center Institute. Before retiring in 2018, he was the Artistic Director of DeltaARTS. He continues to perform and direct with local theatre groups including Voices of the South, Friends of George’s, and Cazateatro. He still works as a teaching artist and designer. Sandy has been part of HSMTA since the beginning and strongly believes in the power of the arts to transform the lives of children of ALL ages. Elizabeth Shelly Perkins currently serves as the Director of Admission and Marketing for Westminster Academy in Memphis, TN, but started her career as the Production Stage Manager at Theatre Memphis. In the twenty years since, she has been involved in over 90 productions in Memphis, both on and off stage, including stage managing 31 of those. Elizabeth also routinely leads workshops for those interested in stage management. In her spare time, Elizabeth serves as the Director for the Memphis Ostrander awards (Memphis’ theatre awards for collegiate, community, and professional theatre) and serves on the board of directors at Theatre Memphis. Melissa VanPelt was born and raised in Memphis TN, singing in the church choir, and performing in various talent shows and pageants. Her first professional performing
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
JUDGES BIOGRAPHIES continued
job was at Libertyland Amusement park. She is a proud graduate of Overton Performing Arts High School where she was a member of the Concert, Chamber, Women’s, Jazz and Show choirs. After high school, Melissa went to AMDA (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in New York City. Credits include Hairspray on Broadway as Inez, Hairspray National Tour, Ain’t Misbehavin, Once On This Island, Dreamgirls, Fame, and Purlie. She also performed in the 25th Anniversary of Hairspray with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra featuring John Waters. Melissa joined the USO Show troupe, traveling the country performing for the military and their
families. Some notable performances include New Year’s Eve in Times Square, opening for Katie Perry, and singing the national anthem with Kiss Front man Gene Simmons at Dodger Stadium. Melissa has been a featured vocalist at various amusement parks and cruise ships, winning the IAAP award for female vocalist of the year. Most recently she worked as a guest entertainer on cruise ships. After 12 years in NYC she returned to Memphis to be closer to family and continues to work in commercials, film, and as a choreographer. Melissa currently sings with Emerald Empire Wedding band and can be seen in a national ad campaign for Ampro Hair products.
Congrats to all nominees. Break a leg! —Lisa & John Bobango
Thank you to all of the students, teachers, educators, families, and supporters who made it possible to light up the virtual stage in this challenging year! Your talent, passion, dedication, and resilience gives hope to all of us and we are grateful. In community, Jennifer McGrath
Cheryl & Bill Stegbauer are proud to sponsor this year’s Awards!
Thank you to our sponsor Lura Elliott Turner who is honoring her mother, Helen Elliott, a music teacher.
SPECIAL THANKS Thank you to all of the schools, students, families, and teachers whose spirit of resilience helped keep the arts alive during this incredibly challenging time. Thank you to the extraordinary team at Dean Film and Video for going above and beyond to make our program shine! Thank you to our dedicated team of adjudicators: Karen Shepherd Canty, Marcus Cox, Sandy Kozik, Elizabeth Perkins, and Melissa VanPelt. Thank you to Pastor Keith Norman and Dr. Neal Beckford for arranging our necessary COVID-19 tests that allowed students to gather together safely. Thank you to the Orpheum Theatre Group Board, Orpheum Theatre Group Staff, HSMTA Creative and Production team, donors, sponsors, and countless others who make this program possible.
2021 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
The Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards are a program of the Orpheum Theatre Group Education & Community Engagement Department. Vice President of Education & Community Engagement....................Jennifer McGrath Manager of Education Engagement..............................................................Jenita Nakamura Manager of Education Administration....................................................................Shasta Blue Education & Engagement Specialist...................................................................Taylor St. John Education & Engagement Administrator................................................Sheree Stubblefield Education & Engagement Administrator.................................................Lena Wallace Black ORPHEUM EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DECLARATION OF ACTION We commit to engaging and collaborating with the people of the Mid-South through the transformative power of the arts.
For more information or to register for future programs please visit orpheum-memphis.com/learn
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This performing arts day camp is for children who have experienced the death of one or both parents. Surrounded by a community of peers who have experienced a similar loss, campers explore their creativity through acting, music, movement, and design classes.
Camps return in person at the Halloran Centre:
Grades 3-5 July 5-9
Grades 6-8
July 12-16 + July 19-23
$50 per family. Scholarships are available. No child will be turned away due to financial hardship.
MUSIC SERIES
OTIS REDDING III August 7, 2021
WILLIAM BELL August 27, 2021
GARRY GOIN PRESENTS
A.J. CROCE December 10, 2021
MAX WEINBERG’S JUKEBOX September 18, 2021
MIKE FARRIS October 22, 2021
Photo by Michael Childers
A TRIBUTE TO RAY PARKER JR. November 20, 2021
GARRY GOIN PRESENTS
A TRIBUTE TO GOSPEL MUSIC feat. DANNY COSBY & EPHIE JOHNSON
March 5, 2022
WENDY MOTEN April 2, 2022
LUCIE ARNAZ January 15, 2022
LARRY RASPBERRY & THE HIGHSTEPPERS February 5, 2022
RESCHEDULED WITH A NEW PERFORMANCE ADDED! November 5-7, 2021
ILLUSIONS SERIES
MIKE SUPER MAGIC & ILLUSION January 21, 2022
JASON BISHOP February 25, 2022
VITALY AN EVENING OF WONDERS March 19, 2022
September 23, 2021 • November 11, 2021 • February 17, 2022 March 17, 2022 • April 14, 2022
January 27-28, 2022 • April 7-8, 2022 • May 5-6, 2022
ORPHEUM-MEMPHIS.COM/ONSTAGE T H ANK YO U TO O UR S P O N SO R S