Newton South wins musical theater awards

Newton South senior David Broyles as Sky Masterson in the school's production of "Guys & Dolls."

By Chantal Mendes
Globe Correspondent

Newton South High School brought home three awards June 2 at the North Shore Music Theater’s 4th Annual Spotlight Awards.for the school's production of Guys & Dolls.

Senior David Broyles won best actor for his performance as Sky Masterson, while teacher Jeff Knoedler won best director . The play itself won best overall musical, beating out 20 other area schools for the award .

Newton South Stage was originally nominated for nine awards, more than any other school.

“It was great fun and of course an honor to be nominated,” said Knoedler.

According to the North Shore Music Theater’s website, the Spotlight Awards are a way to honor the discipline and creativity that goes into a high school musical production. The program also “encourages students and teachers to achieve the highest levels of excellence in the artistic expression of musical theater.”

The Awards ceremony is held each year in May at the North Shore Music Theater where awards are given in 15 categories .

Additionally, for the students that win best leading actor or actress, best supporting actor or actress, or best technical achievement there is the possibility of winning a scholarship. Winners of these awards are invited to attend the National High School Musical Theater Awards competition held in New York City where they will have a chance to win a $100,000 scholarship to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts .

Preparation for the North Shore awards is a yearlong event, with theater professionals specially selected to attend musical productions at high schools around Massachusetts, New Hampshire and southern Maine . A panel of three judges then views the productions and awards points to each school based on a strict set of guidelines that takes both technical and performance elements into consideration.

This year Newton South was the only school to win three awards.
.
Knoedler is proud that his students’ hard work and dedication has paid off.

“It was nice to be recognized for best direction,” he said, “but the award for best musical encapsulates everything we stand for at Newton South Stage.”