Theatre Under The Stars announced the nominations for the 2020 Tommy Tune Awards as well as changes to the awards show today.
As previously announced, the Tommy Tune Awards show, originally scheduled for April 28 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts has been canceled, due to the nationwide health crisis.
“As we follow the lead of state and city health officials to keep our city’s students safe, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Tommy Tune Awards show this year,” said TUTS Community Engagement Director Israel Jimenez.
The winners will be announced via a specially-created video on the Tommy Tune Awards Facebook page and the TUTS YouTube channel on April 28 at 7:30pm.
The Tommy Tune Awards Program celebrates the educational value, artistry, and community of high school musical theatre in the Greater Houston area. After evaluating the 46 participating Houston-area high school productions during the 2019-2020 school year, a team of 36 Houston-based theatre professionals nominated students in 15 award categories.
The following high schools and individuals were nominated:
Best Musical:
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- G.W. Carver Magnet School Sister Act
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Spring High School Aida
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Leading Actress:
- Jocelyn Dorsey from G.W. Carver Magnet High School as “Deloris Van Cartier” in Sister Act
- Atara Romero-Wilson from George Bush High School as “Aida” in Aida
- Taylor Greny from Friendswood High School as “Matilda” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- Isabelle Olson from Klein High School as “Janet Van De Graaff” in The Drowsy Chaperone
- Starlee Brown from Klein Cain High School as “Olive” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Emily Cagle from Second Baptist School as “Belle” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Makaila Heath from Spring High School as “Aida” in Aida
- Lindsay Bates from Stratford High School as “Janet Van De Graaff” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Leading Actor:
- Jackson Cook from Concordia Lutheran High School as “Jesus” in Godspell
- Eric Jensen from Friendswood High School as “Miss Trunchbull” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- Thomas Massey from Friendswood High School as “Mr. Wormwood” in Ronald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- Cade Eller from Klein High School as “Robert Martin” in The Drowsy Chaperone
- Xavier Smith from Klein High School as “Man in Chair” in The Drowsy Chaperone
- Charles Sexton from Klein Cain High School as “William Barfee” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Cooper George from Klein Cain High School as “Leaf” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Will Larabee from Stratford High School as “Man in Chair” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Supporting Actress:
- Ashlynn McCutcheon from Eisenhower High School as “Evilene / Glinda” in The Wiz
- Katherine Lunam from Houston Christian High School as “Irene” in Crazy for You
- Cami Moses from Kinder HSPVA as “Sofia” in The Color Purple
- Helene Rosborough from Klein Cain High School as “Logainne” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Sara Rodriguez from Pearland High School as “Erma” in Anything Goes
- Lauren Beaman from Ridge Point High School as “Little Sally” in Urinetown: The Musical
- Evers McCormack from Spring Woods High School as “Rosie” in Mamma Mia!
- Catherine Piskurich from Stratford High School as “Kitty” in The Drowsy Chaperone
- Naomi Adams from George Bush High School as “Nehebka” in Aida
Supporting Actor:
- Ashton Deverka from Houston Christian High School as “Lank” in Crazy for You
- Andrew Linhart from The Kinkaid School as “Pitkin W. Bridgework” in On The Town
- Martin Ibarra from The Kinkaid School as “Ozzie” in On The Town
- Keagan Greer from Pearland High School as “Moonface Martin” in Anything Goes
- Evan Blackwell from Ridge Point High School as “Caldwell Cladwell” in Urinetown: The Musical
- Zac Decker from Second Baptist School as “Lumiere” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Jordyn Wardsworth from Spring High School as “Mereb” in Aida
- Christopher Aviles from Spring High School as “Zozer” in Aida
- Luke Centanni from Stratford High School as “Aldolpho” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Featured Performer:
- Dovid Adler, Matthew Alter, Casey Markowitz, and Jack Paransky from The Emery/Weiner School as “The Sheep” in Head Over Heels
- Taylor Campbell from Friendswood High School as “Mrs. Wormwood” in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- Carver and Aldine Dance Company from G.W. Carver Magnet High School as the Carver and Aldine Dance Company in Sister Act
- Eva Adickes from Houston Christian High School as “Patsy” in Crazy for You
- Mia Nguyen from James E. Taylor High School as “Featured Dancer” in Mamma Mia!
- Tomi Akinwande, Alexandria Collins, and Keri Palmer from Kinder HSPVA as “The Trio” (“Doris,” “Darlene,” and “Jarene”) in The Color Purple
- Jackson Luikens from Klein Collins High School as “Cuban Dancer” in Guys and Dolls
- Davian Raggio from Pearland High School as “Ship’s Captain” in Anything Goes
- Kevin Mendez from Second Baptist School as “LeFou” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Connor Padron and Matthew Prudhomme from Stratford High School as “Gangster #1 and Gangster #2” in The Drowsy Chaperone
Ensemble:
- Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Dickinson High School Disney’s Newsies
- The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Spring High School Aida
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Lighting Design:
- Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
- Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde - The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- George Ranch High School Mamma Mia!
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Spring High School Aida
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Scenic Design:
- Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
- Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- George Ranch High School Mamma Mia!
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Pearland High School Anything Goes
- Spring High School Aida
- Spring Woods High School Mamma Mia!
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Costume Design:
- Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
- Concordia Lutheran High School Godspell
- Dickinson High School Disney’s Newsies
- Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Pearland High School Anything Goes
- Spring High School Aida
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Stage Crew & Technical Execution:
- Dickinson High School Disney’s Newsies
- Dulles High School Bonnie & Clyde
- The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- George Ranch High School Mamma Mia!
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Pearland High School Anything Goes
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Orchestra:
- Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Cypress Woods High School Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Klein Forest High School The Addams Family
- Memorial High School Singing in the Rain
- Porter High School Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Musical Direction:
- Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- James E. Taylor High School Mamma Mia!
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Spring High School Aida
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
Choreography:
- Clements High School Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)
- Cypress Ranch High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- The Emery/Weiner School Head Over Heels
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- Fulshear High School Chicago
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Klein Collins High School Guys and Dolls
- Pearland High School Anything Goes
Direction:
- Friendswood High School Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
- G.W. Carver Magnet High School Sister Act
- Houston Christian High School Crazy for You
- James E. Taylor High School Mamma Mia!
- Kinder HSPVA The Color Purple
- Klein High School The Drowsy Chaperone
- Klein Cain High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Pearland High School Anything Goes
- Spring High School Aida
- Stratford High School The Drowsy Chaperone
In addition to these awards, the Tommy Tune Awards Program awards scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to pursue a career in the arts.
The Tommy Tune Awards offers an opportunity for students and educators to share their creative accomplishments while instilling in young people the value of engaging in the performing arts as a lifelong pursuit.
Every year, Houston area High Schools produce a full-length musical in order to compete in 15 categories: Leading Actor, Leading Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Featured Performer, Ensemble, Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Costume Design, Stage Crew & Technical Execution, Orchestra, Musical Direction, Choreography, Direction, and Overall Best Musical. Throughout the 2019-20 school year, the adjudicators will evaluate each participating school’s show, focusing on each element of the production. The adjudicators are made up of a group of Houston-based theatre professionals who have backgrounds as performers, designers, directors, choreographers, and musicians; and who have years of experience working in arts education and administration.
The Tommy Tune Awards are named for Broadway legend, Houston native and Lamar High School alumnus Tommy Tune. A performer, director and choreographer with more than 50 years of stage experience, Tune received nine Tony Awards for his work in the following productions: Seesaw, My One and Only, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Nine, Grand Hotel and The Will Rogers Follies. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2003 by President Bush.
Jimmy Awards®
Traditionally, the Best Leading Actor and Actress go on to compete at the national level for the Jimmy Awards. However, due to COVID-19, The Jimmy Awards issued this statement regarding this year’s awards show:
“The Broadway League has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Jimmy Awards due to the ongoing crisis with COVID-19. We are heartbroken that so many of the 143,000 students who participate in high school musicals across the country will not have an opportunity to show off their hard work, and that the 92 nominees won’t be able to realize their Broadway dreams this year by performing live on a Broadway stage at the Jimmy Awards. We look forward to next year when we can welcome nominees and fans back to the big Apple and continue to celebrate the future of Broadway together at the 2021 Jimmy Awards.”
