National award created for H.S. musical actors

PITTSBURGH—Dozens of the best high school musical actors and actresses from around the country will compete on Broadway next year for a new national award named after theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander.

The National High School Musical Theater Awards are a partnership between the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and Nederlander Presentations Inc., which operates theaters on Broadway, in Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere.

The prizes are based on the opera's Gene Kelly Awards, which for 18 years have recognized high school musical performers from the Pittsburgh area, Van Kaplan, the opera's executive producer, said. Those awards were named for Kelly, an actor, filmmaker and choreographer who was born in Pittsburgh and perhaps best known for the film "Singin' in the Rain."

The national award will be called The Jimmy, in honor of James M. Nederlander, who has produced or co-produced "Annie," "Peter Pan," "La Cage aux folles" and other shows.

"My father believes in talent -- on stage, back stage and in business. This new award will help encourage a new generation of artists and audiences," James L. Nederlander, president of The Nederlander Organization, said in a recent statement. "We are humbled and grateful that the Pittsburgh CLO is naming this award in his honor."

The first award is set for June 1, 2009. Kaplan anticipates that about 50 to 60 actors and actresses from around the country -- culled from competitions such as the Gene Kelly Awards -- will advance to a national competition in New York. There, competitors would be taught an opening and closing number, which would be performed at the Palace Theatre before judges and an audience of industry professionals.

"I think that's really important," Kaplan said. "Whether they decide to continue in a career in theater or performing arts, performing on the Palace stage will be a life-changing process for them."

Competitors would then be narrowed through a series of interviews and auditions.

The Gene Kelly Awards have served as a model for similar high school competitions around the country, Kaplan said. He's also tried to take them national before, including shopping the idea of a reality TV show based on the competition, but got no takers.

Last fall, a conversation with Nederlander's chief marketing officer, Susan Lee, a Pittsburgh native, led to Nederlander's interest, Kaplan said.

Kaplan hopes the national awards lead to a greater interest in high school musicals, which he said has been the case in Pittsburgh.

"We've seen the qualities of high school musicals raised because there's an awareness in the Kellys," he said. "Just like sports, the sense of competition brings out the best."

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On the Net:

National High School Musical Theater Awards: http://www.nhsmusicaltheaterawards.com

Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera: http://www.pittsburghclo.org