Jessica Elliott to perform at awards ceremony
Staff writer
Hillsboro High School’s November production of “Annie Get Your Gun” earned eight nominations for the eighth annual Jester Awards, presented by Music Theatre of Wichita. Nominations were announced May 13.
HHS’ nominations included outstanding lead actress, Jessica Elliott; outstanding playbill, Michael Klaassen; outstanding lights, Kelsey Bartel and Shelby Koons; outstanding costumes, Terry Bebermeyer; outstanding scenic design, Bebermeyer; outstanding direction, Lynn Just; outstanding sound, Glanzer Pro Audio; and outstanding ensemble, which is for the entire cast’s performance, especially music and dancing, Just said.
Elliott will perform the song “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun” during the awards ceremony.
She was thrilled to hear about her nomination.
“There was lots of excitement, jumping up and down,” Elliott said.
The “jumping up and down” continued down the entire hallway, Just said.
“There will be a lot more jumping,” if Elliott wins, she said.
Just said her nomination for direction really honors the students, because without a good cast and crew, she wouldn’t be nominated.
Jester Awards judges saw 32 musicals presented by 30 high schools. Awards will be given in 23 categories.
Music Theatre created the Jester Awards eight years ago, at the suggestion of producing artistic director Wayne Bryan.
There are about 30 similar high school theater awards in the U.S. The Jester Awards were among the first dozen, Bryan said.
Multiple awards can be given in the same category. The awards are about recognition, not competition, Bryan said.
Hillsboro’s inclusion with larger schools indicates that high school theater is about effort, teamwork, and problem solving, not size or money, Bryan said.
A group will travel to the awards ceremony Friday at the Mary Jane Teall Theatre in Century II. Tickets are available from Music Theatre box office, (316) 265-3107.
HHS presented “Annie Get Your Gun” Nov. 13-15. Just said she is uncertain what musical the school will present next fall.
MHS up for three awards
Marion High School’s production of “Grease,” which ran Nov. 14-16, garnered four nominations.
The nominations are for outstanding guest performance by an alumnus or teacher, Andrew Brookens; outstanding choreography or musical staging, Emily Young; outstanding small ensemble for “Greased Lightning;” and outstanding production number for “Born to Hand Jive.”