Earlier this year the BSM theater department applied for the SpotLight Award program, sponsored by the Hennepin Theatre Trust.  Over the course of the production run of High School Musical, the SpotLight Award group sent out three reviewers to watch and critique the show.

As a result, the show received an “Outstanding Production Award,” meriting an invitation for those involved to perform a medley at the SpotLight Showcase on June 6.

Individual award winners may also perform. BSM students honored with individual awards include the following:

Leading Role
Outstanding:
Rob Shaver as Troy Bolton
Emma Eldred as Sharpay Evans

Honorable Mention:
Megan Collins as Gabriella Montez
Sean Simonson as Ryan Evans

Supporting Role
Outstanding:
Emily Beh as Ms. Darbus
Ned Meeker as Coach Bolton
Anna Landis as Kelsie

Honorable Mention:
Sam Jordan as Chad
Nate Muckley as Zeke

Featured Role
Outstanding:
Leila Aboussir as Martha Cox

Honorable Mention:
Nic Brinza as Jack Scott

The SpotLight Showcase will begin at 7 p.m., June 6, at the Orpheum Theatre. As the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s website (www.hennepintheatretrust.org) notes, “This exciting tradition brings together musical theatre students from 47 high schools in Minnesota on one stage in a dazzling array of performances!”

One reviewer shared that for both the performance and production categories, “I believe this is the only Outstanding I've given all year in this category.

Other comments were as follows:

• Of all the shows I evaluated this year, this was the best. It's clear you have some resources at your disposal, given the names I recognized on staff. But I don't believe you rested on that. From what I can see, you worked your cast extremely hard, and it has really paid off. The level of focus and discipline the students showed was outstanding. You're giving them a great foundation.
• You've built an amazing program. I look forward to coming to other performances (even if I'm not a spotlight evaluator).
• Your production was very enjoyable and obviously enjoyed by all the proud families in the audience. It was obvious to me that you have an established theatre arts program and that your school's community views it as a valuable part of the school's student activities.
• I prefer your singing to the Disney TV production.