Hundreds of impeccably dressed teenagers packed into the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on April 18, buzzing with energy and excitement for the evening ahead. It might seem like a supersized prom, but the event is actually the 16th annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Shuler Awards.
Every year, the nonprofit arm of the performing art center, the ArtsBridge Foundation recognizes the best high school musical theater in the state. Among students its revered as the Tony Awards for Georgia high schoolers.
The ceremony is named after Marietta-born award-winning stage and screen actor Shuler Hensley. At the televised broadcast, a roster of winners are announced between performances from ensemble members, lead performer nominees and “Overall Production” nominated casts.
Named after Marietta-born award-winning stage and screen actor Shuler Hensley, the annual ceremony put on by the ArtsBridge Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the performing arts center recognizes the best high school musical theater in the state. Among students, it’s revered as the Tony Awards for Georgia students.
The televised broadcast announces the winners of several awards for schools and students from Atlanta to Brunswick while featuring performances from ensemble members, lead performer nominees and numbers from nominees for “Overall Production.”
But it’s not just an award show — the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards are a culmination of education, The Shuler Awards process begins in October when a group of professional adjudicators assesses the individual programs and productions that apply for consideration. After a thorough review, adjudicators provide comments and tally scores.
The top scores become a list of award nominees and honorable mentions. From there, the work on the actual program begins.
ArtsBridge Foundation arts education director Elizabeth Lenhart said the entire production is an educational opportunity for students. She approaches the students with a “teacher first” mentality, giving each a chance to learn something about performance and the industry.
Every year, the foundation creates a S.T.A.R Council, short for “Students Take a Role,” to bring tech students into the behind-the-scenes production aspects of the Southeast Emmy Award-winning program. Some students will shadow along with lighting, sets, filming and administration. Others will work as stage crews, sound crews and social media teams.
“We take them in through all kinds of forms,” Lenhart said.
Students who are part of Shuler-nominated ensemble casts are also eligible to participate in the broadcast’s opening and closing numbers. Two students from each school are chosen to join in the performances alongside lead performer nominees, with a chance for dance and vocal solos.
At an April 12 rehearsal, the chosen ensemble students join in auditions for vocal and dance solos in the medley of songs from musicals “The Prom” and “Bring it On.” Dozens of teenagers from across Georgia practice in a ballroom at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Many are decked out in t-shirts emblazoned with recent Broadway productions like “Beetlejuice” and “The Outsiders.”
The young performers chatter with excitement before diving into the number. Some show off improvised leaps and flips, while others shake off a missed step in the routine. It’s only the first in a series of grueling hours-long rehearsals, but the teens are serious about their performance.
From the top of the room, Lenhart shouts out encouragement and instructions for the giggling students. She encourages them to give her something that “grows into dynamic” and pushes them to sing while running through the dance.
“I treat them like professionals in a professional space,” Lenhart said.
For many of the participants, the Shuler Awards are their first time performing in a live broadcast of that caliber. Lenhart said it’s important for the teens to “have it in their belt” when they enter the professional world.
“It’s giving them the most opportunity they can have to reach their potential,” Lenhart said.
It’s a safe space for the kids to make mistakes and learn. Lenhart would rather they form a community now, identify their desires in the professional world, and have new experiences when there isn’t a paycheck on the line.
“You need to explore and lean into different opportunities that test you so you can identify non-negotiables in life,” Lenhart said.
The education director has worked on keeping the awards impact and purpose-oriented since she joined ArtsBridge in January 2022. She only had months to put on the first show, but in three years Lenhart has worked to make the Shuler awards mission-oriented while still being a celebration for the students.
Between performances at the April 18 ceremony, award winners were announced by major Atlanta arts figures, with Greenbrier High School and Ringgold High School tying for most awards at four each. The full list of winners includes:
- Overall Production — Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga. (Columbia Co.) for “Anything Goes”
- Direction — Derek Varney and Stephen Hansen, Greenbrier High School for “Anything Goes”
- Music Direction — Brayden Roach and Jadyn Hatch, Ringgold High School (Catoosa Co.) for “Peter Pan”
- Orchestra — Adam Brooks, North Atlanta High School in Lawrenceville, Ga. (Fulton Co.) for “Mean Girls High School Edition”
- Best Performance by a Leading Actress — Ivy O’Neal, Ringgold High School for “Peter Pan”
- Best Performance by a Leading Actor — Hayden Poe, Dalton High School (Whitfield Co.) for “Fiddler on the Roof”
- Best Performance by a Supporting Performer — Avry Bowman, Lakeside High School in Atlanta (DeKalb Co.) for “Mean Girls High School Edition” and Charlie Rosenberger, Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville (Fayette Co.) for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Broadway Version)
- Best Performance by a Featured Performer — Abi Bragg, Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Ga., for “Mean Girls High School Edition”
- Choreography — Sophia Thomas, Cherish Headrick and Luke Garverick, Ringgold High School in Ringgold, Ga. (Catoosa Co.) for “Peter Pan”
- Ensemble — Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga. (Glynn Co.) for “Chicago: Teen Edition”
- Costumes — Charlie Rosenberger and Emily Steele, Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville (Fayette Co.) for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Broadway Edition)
- Lighting Design — Madison Sprouse and Luke Dowdy, Greenbrier High School for “Anything Goes”
- Scenic Design — Sarah Martin and Rainey Miles, North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. (Forsyth Co.) for “Bright Star”
- Sound — Fiona Reggelin, Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga. (Columbia Co.) for “Anything Goes”
- Technical Execution — Kelly Schroder, Nehemiah Daves and Masey McCorkle, Ringgold High School in Ringgold, Ga. (Catoosa Co.) for “Peter Pan”
- Showstopper — North Hall High School in Gainesville, Ga. (Hall Co.) for “Land of Yesterday” from “Anastasia: The Musical”
- Spotlight Award (production design and execution) — Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Ga.) for “Where Do You Belong” from “Mean Girls High School Edition”
Lead Actress winner Ivy O’Neal and Lead Actor winner Hayden Poe will each travel to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in June, also known as the Jimmy Awards. There, they will compete with students across the country for the awards, as well as scholarships and professional opportunities.
O’Neal, a junior at Ringgold High School, won the leading actress category for her performance as Peter Pan in the eponymous musical. When she learned about the show the year before, the actress planned to audition for the role of Wendy.
After watching productions of the show with women cast as the young boy, she decided to take on the challenge.
“I had never tried something like that before,” O’Neal said.
She spent the summer working on the character, deciding on a “rambunctious” Peter who had close bonds to the ensemble of Lost Boys. Still, she was shocked to find out her name was called for the top acting prize.
“It’s so surreal, like how bad I wanted this, and I’m just incredibly grateful that they saw something in me enough to where they were like, ‘she deserves to win,'” O’Neal said.
The ArtsBridge Foundation also awarded student applicants a series of theater and performing arts-related in-kind and monetary scholarships from $500 to $5,000 each.
Caleb Vasquez, a Gainesville High School senior, received the largest scholarship of the night: $5,0000 from the James Carlos Family Musical Theatre Performance Scholarship. Vasquez said the award is a blessing and an honor.
“I have been obsessed with theater for a long time, and theater is a passion for me; it’s a dream of mine to do big things in this field,” Vasquez said.
His high school was nominated for Best Ensemble at the 2024 awards for its production of “Sweeney Todd.” Vasquez has been doing theater since the eighth grade, but this is his first time at the ceremony.
“I never thought that I’d be here today; it’s like one of those moments where you look forward to it your whole life, and you’re finally here,” Vasquez said.
James Carlos’ wife, Helen Carlos, presented Vasquez with the scholarship on April 18. The Carlos family has been involved in the Shuler Awards ceremony since its creation 16 years ago.
“We just think the arts are very important, we’ve seen how it has helped our children in our lives,” Carlos said. “They are very committed, they take things very seriously and we just, you know, felt like it’s the right thing to do.”
The scholarships provide a material and financial boost to kids as they move on from high school into the collegiate world, but Lenhart hopes the Georgia High School Musical Theatre awards can benefit the people and the programs.
“What we are trying to do is support and elevate the community,” Lenhart said. “We want to be a resource, not a one-off.”
As the April 18 ceremonies ended, teary-eyed students danced into the crowd with joy, celebrating each other and singing “Let’s Get Loud.” Mere days after meeting, students like O’Neal said she made friends with her fellow competitors.
“I hope we can all stay friends because, truly, those are some of the most talented, most funny people that I’ve ever met in my life,” O’Neal said. “I was so scared to meet them, but I’m so glad I did.”
