The stars will shine next week when the Halo Awards, presented by Seven Angels Theatre, will return to Waterbury’s Palace Theater.
On three consecutive evenings, the historic Palace Theater will be filled with hundreds of well-dressed and excited teens as they gather to celebrate the best in Connecticut high school theater.
This year Seven Angels will present the 21st Annual Halo Awards on May 28. 29 and 30. The doors to the Palace Theater will open each evening at 6:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony beginning promptly at 7 p.m.
The Halo Awards, often seen as the Tony Awards of high school theater, has now grown to include a large number of public, private and parochial schools from across the state.
The awards have consistently honored high school students’ achievements in all aspects of theater at their respective high school. This year over 95 high schools from across the state of Connecticut will be participating over the three nights.
The productions are judged by a dedicated group of volunteer Halo judges who travel to high schools throughout the state in order to experience a performance in person. Local notable adults have been invited to announce the winners and present them with their award on the magnificent stage of the Palace.
I am honored to have been invited once again to present two awards on each of the three evenings.
The Halo Awards are presented as a Gala Red Carpet Event for the participating students and their family and friends. Many students travel together by school bus to Waterbury in order to attend dressed in the finery that they wore to their prom. Photographers are in attendance to snap photos of the attendees in the Palace lobby and as they accept their Halo Award.
Awards are announced in numerous categories, including Best Actor and Actress in a Musical/Play, Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Musical/Play, Best Performance by the Cast in an Ensemble Production, Best Comic Actor and Actress in a Musical/Play, and Best Student Choreographer. Trophies are also awarded in the categories of lighting, design, stage management, special effects, and many more.
This is a fun evening for the whole family, particularly because many schools will perform a musical number or scene from their high school production. The student performances are always my favorite part of each evening.
The public is invited to attend this exciting annual event. Tickets are $25 plus fees and can be purchased by calling the Seven Angels Theatre box office at 203-757-4676.
The Palace Theatre is located at 100 East Main Street in Waterbury, with easy parking available in the Scoville garage.
Sharon Playhouse will present a Spotlight Gala “To Bobbie, With Love,” featuring performances by Broadway’s Kate Baldwin, Danny Drewes and Julia Murney. The event is scheduled for June 1 at the Playhouse in Sharon.
Baldwin is a two-time Tony Award nominee, who will be starring in “The Prom” at Sharon Playhouse, while Sharon Playhouse favorite Drewes will be starring in both “Rock of Ages” and “The Prom” this season. Murney, a Drama Desk Award nominee, will direct “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” in Sharon this season.
The Playhouse announced via email that there will be local singing and dancing stars joining this stellar cast for the Spotlight Gala, including local actor Dick Terhune. The evening also will feature a special performance by the Playhouse’s local YouthStage performers and live party music with performances by local musicians Jonathan Grusauskas and Donald Sosin.
The gala will honor Bobbie Olsen, former Sharon Playhouse board president.
This year the Spotlight Gala will offer three options to tailor the experience.
Tickets are available at sharonplayhouse.org/spotlight-gala.
