Local high school musicals highlighted by Gene Kelly Award nominations

Since 1991, the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater have recognized the hard work and passion of music educators and high school students throughout Allegheny County. This year’s nominees — in a variety of categories — were announced on May 8, and the awards will be held this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Named for Gene Kelly, legendary actor, singer, dancer and director and native Pittsburgher, the awards are presented by the Pittsburgh CLO and the Michael J. Kara Family.

“The Awards recognize not only the artistic talent of these students, but also celebrate their dedication to their communities and schools, both on stage and behind the scenes. Pittsburgh CLO is honored to lead this 33-year-long tradition, celebrating excellence in High School Musical Theater,” Mark Fleischer, executive producer of Pittsburgh CLO, said in a release.

This year, 33 area schools participated in the Gene Kelly Awards. A panel of judges attended musicals throughout the season, and the panel met on May 3 to determine the slate of nominees.

Honors are given in 13 categories, including technical, acting and Best Musical. Many of the categories name nominees in four different budget levels.

On Saturday, the eight productions nominated for Best Musical will perform a number from each of their shows at the Benedum Center. Medleys will be performed by nominees in the acting categories, and a closing number will contain two representatives from each of the 33 schools who participated in the awards this year. All in all, more than 500 students will be onstage throughout the evening.

“It’ll be a nice way to come back to our Putnam County world that we made,” said Lauren Sarazen, who directed North Hills High School’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” this year. The show is nominated for 12 Gene Kelly Awards — the most they’ve ever received, according to Sarazen.

“I’m really just so excited and shocked. It’s just an amazing honor to be recognized in this way because we were so proud of, and happy with, what we created together,” Sarazen said of the nominations, noting that “Spelling Bee” was an effort between the students, the school and the whole community.

As another Best Musical nominee, the company of Quaker Valley High School’s “The Addams Family” will also perform their opening number. But they have to leave some of the extensive technical aspects of their show at home.

“For ‘The Addams Family,’ we really wanted to make the audience feel like they were entering this giant Victorian mansion in the middle of Central Park,” said director of Quaker Valley High School’s musical, Austin Wolford.

Many of the almost 200 students who were involved in “The Addams Family” worked on building the extensive sets, including a multi-level foyer and rotating interior-exterior walls. “Those giant, grandiose sets people saw, they were all built by our high school students and it’s pretty incredible,” Wolford said.

Wolford said that students were involved in most aspects of the show, from acting to light operation to makeup.

Quaker Valley’s “The Addams Family” was nominated for seven Gene Kelly Awards this year, including Best Scenic Design. Wolford is excited about all of the acknowledgment. “We love participating because of the opportunities it provides for the students. It’s really a great experience,” he said. “We’ll get to perform our opening number at the Benedum — which is one of the largest theaters in the country — and do it for a fully packed house.”

Another musical in the running for Best Scenic Design — as well as four other awards — is Hampton High School’s “Tuck Everlasting.” Dan Franklin, director and producer of Hampton’s musical, is proud of the unique approach they took to the sets for their show.

“It was really hard to nail down as far as what it should look like, because there’s so many locations,” Franklin said. “This year, we decided we wanted to go very stylized, almost an abstract interpretation of the real world.”

Franklin, who has been involved in multiple capacities with Hampton’s musicals since 1997 — “Tuck Everlasting” was his 68th show — is pleased with this production’s Gene Kelly Awards nods.

“Even if we walk away with just the nominations, I’m still really proud of what the kids were able to accomplish,” he said.

About 105 students in total were involved in “Tuck Everlasting.”

Zachary Burkovich, a junior from Penn Hills High School, was nominated for Best Actor for his role as the title character in “Shrek: The Musical.” He will be performing “Who I’d Be” as part of the medley of Best Actor nominees.”I’m just so thankful to work with the CLO and work with the Gene Kelly Awards. … I feel like I’m at this level that I get to perform with people who are just great. Getting to do a solo, I’m just so thankful to receive this,” he said.

Briana York, vocal director of Penn Hills High School’s musical, said that everyone is very excited for Burkovich. “He worked so hard, and this is such a nice honor for that. … he really did it, he came in, he knew his stuff, he knew his songs in rehearsal, he would practice, and I think that really sets kids apart when they do the work,” she said.

“Shrek” is York’s fourth show at Penn Hills High School. Because they had a fall and spring musical last year, she said that Burkovich had the opportunity to participate in five shows in his high school career.

“It was fantastic, I cherished every moment of it,” Burkovich said of his role as “Shrek.” “I was so thankful to receive a role that big, especially as a junior in high school.”

“I plan on doing musicals for the rest of my life,” he added.

A full list of nominees can be found here.