EAST LANSING, Mich. — Sarah Nelson, from Milford High School in Highland, Michigan and Eric Liu, from Rockford High School in Rockford, Michigan, competed in and won the Best Actress and Best Actor prizes in the 8th annual Sutton Foster Ovation Awards at Wharton Center on Sunday, May 12, 2019. These awards celebrate actors’ outstanding artistic achievement from a musical theatre production. Evaluated on vocals, dance and acting skills, these two students were the top contestants out of total of 46 nominated drama students. This award is named in honor of Michigan’s own Broadway star, Sutton Foster (two-time Tony Award® winner).
Sarah Nelson & Eric Liu were given free tuition to TAKE IT FROM THE TOP (Wharton Center’s summer Broadway performance workshop), an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, and a $1,000 prize. They will compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards (the Jimmy Awards) being held on Monday June 24, 2019, hosted by Ben Platt (Tony Awards®, Grammy Awards® and Emmy Awards winner).
In addition, the following awards were given:
- 2019 Excellence in Musical Theatre Education Award Brad Garnaat, Homeschool Performing Arts, Lansing, MI
- 2019 Spirit of Ovation Award Eric Liu, Rockford High School, Rockford, MI
- 2019 Best Choreography Award Rhonda Van Buren and Sarah Nicklowiz, Rockford High School, Rockford, MI
- 2019 Best Costuming Award Brenna Sackett, Portage Central High School, Portage, MI
- 2019 Best Direction Award Ashley Bowen, Portage Central High School, Portage, MI
- 2019 Best Featured Actor Award Chiron Finn, Mount Pleasant High School, Mount Pleasant, MI
- 2019 Best Featured Actress Award Madison Fairman, Dakota High School, Macomb, MI
- 2019 Best Featured Dancer Award Emilia Divergilio, Bloomfield Hills High School, Bloomfield Hills, MI
- 2019 Best Hair and Makeup Design Award Becky Klose, Portage Central High School, Portage, MI
- 2019 Best Lighting Design Award Jason Frink, Portage Central High School, Portage, MI
- 2019 Best Set Design Award Sam Snow, Portage Central High School, Portage, MI
- 2019 Best Musical Award Big Fish!, Portage Central High School, Portage, MI
- 2019 Best Musical Direction Award Cindy Hunter, Portage Central High School, Portage, MI
For more information on the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, visit jimmyawards.com.
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