North Lamar High School is among 66 schools representing 33 school districts in North Texas participating in DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) program this spring.
The DSM HSMTA remains the largest program of its kind in the state and one of the largest programs in the country. DSM HSMTA has been recognized by the National High School Musical Theater Awards as their official affiliate program for North Texas.
Since DSM’s First Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards in 2012, this has truly developed into a regional program, accepting schools as far away as Denton and Allen to the north, Waco to the south, Abilene to the west and Paris, Texas to the east.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our students!” said NLHS Theatre Arts Director Cody Head.
The North Lamar Theatre Department is know for their large scale, amazing musicals. From Wizard of Oz, to Singing in the Rain, and this year’s highly anticipated “Beauty and the Beast” which will be running next weekend, Thursday, November 20th through Sunday, November 23rd.
The DSM awards show will be Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Music Hall at Fair Park with performances including separate medleys of the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, production numbers from Best Musical nominees and an opening number featuring all nominated performers accompanied by a live orchestra. The show is topped off with a finale of performers from each participating high school.
Based on Broadway’s Tony® Awards, the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre. Several cash scholarships of at least $1,000 each are awarded. In 2014 DSM awarded $35,000 in scholarships, including several $5,000 scholarships, to outstanding students.
A three judge panel of entertainment industry professionals and veteran educators will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Featured Performer.
Winners of “Best Performance by an Actor/Actress” receive an all -expense paid trip to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards.
