Local Students to Attend Gene Kelly Awards Tonight

Students at Riverview and Plum high schools are attending the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s 21st annual Gene Kelly Awards tonight in hopes of bringing some awards home.

The Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater recognize and encourage musical theater and arts education, according to the CLO website.  The organization gives out the annual awards in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh.

Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards and held at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh, the award ceremony features live performances from the best actor and best actress nominees, as well as those up for best musical. Nominees are from schools in Allegheny County. About 30 schools participate.

This year, Riverview High School is up for three awards—best choreography, best ensemble and best costume design in budget category III—for its performance of "Beauty and the Beast."

Plum High School junior Jonathan Andrew is nominated in the best actor category for the role of "Ren" in "Footloose."

Both schools will have several students representing them at the ceremony tonight, and Andrew will perform on the Benedum stage.

"We have a big group of students and parents going to the Kelly Awards tomorrow to cheer on our nominees," said Janet Zegar, director of Plum's musical. "It is a wonderful opportunity for Jonathan Andrew, our best actor nominee, to be able to perform on the Benedum stage as part of this program. We wish him and the orchestra the best of luck."

Michele Bartos, assistant director and dramatics coach of Riverview's musical, said the program is a great opportunity for students to be recognized and to be motivated to perform their best.

"We have found that the spirit of competition and having the chance to see the performances of nine different schools is enlightening and educational," she said. "Our students know we participate, but it is not the focus of Riverview's musical program. 

"Our wish, as the creative team, is to raise the bar of excellence every year, teaching our students all we have to share about musical theater.  Their reward is the love from the audience that flows up to the stage with every laugh, gasp and clap.  When we have Kelly nominations it is the whipped cream on that sundae.  No matter where our students lives may go, these experiences are part of their memories."

For more:

Follow the "Road to the Kellys" on Facebook. Check out pictures of nominees and finale particiapnts as they prepare for the awards.

For more information about the Gene Kelly Awards, call 412-281-2234 or email CLOAcademy@pittsburghCLO.org.