KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
March 23, 2019
By Jennifer Miko
Local high school students entertained audiences and judges with impressive musical theatre performances and collect numerous award nominations for Tommy Tune Awards.
"Disney's Beauty and the Beast" at Seven Lakes High School
The nominees for the 17th Annual Tommy Tunes Awards were announced recently and include amazing theatre programs from several high schools in Katy ISD. Each year, students and teachers from the greater Houston metropolitan area are recognized for excellence in musical theatre. Fifty-one schools participated this year and were judged by 40 Houston-based theatre professionals.
Last year, Katy ISD high schools received 12 nominations and this year 19 nominations were received.
Katy ISD Tommy Tune Award Nominations
Seven Lakes - Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Best Musical
Leading Actor: Benjamin Heintz as Beast
Supporting Actress: Brent Eastman as Mrs. Potts
Supporting Actor: Jared Guidry as Lumiere
Ensemble
Lighting Design
Stage Crew and Technical Execution
Orchestra
Musical Direction
Direction
Mayde Creek - Legally Blonde the Musical
Leading Actress: Parker Munsey as Elle Woods
Supporting Actress: Glendaliris Torres-Greaux as Brooke Taylor Wyndham
Supporting Actor: Samuel Oladejo as Professor Callahan
Costume Design
Tompkins - Once on This Island
Supporting Actress: Ever Williams as Mama Euralie
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Taylor - Les Miserables
Orchestra
Lighting Design
Seven Lakes Tells a Tale as Old as Time
Seven Lakes High School received ten nominations for their production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, including Best Musical. This is their Fine Art Department’s third Best Musical nomination. Ben Heintz received his second nomination for Leading Actor, as the Beast.
Chocs Landgrebe, Director of Seven Lakes High School’s Studio VII Theatre Company, was proud of the characters these students created. “The costumes each of them wore caused numerous issues, but all three of them never complained,” Landgrebe said. “They were able to flesh out funny, sensitive and phenomenally entertaining characters. Additionally, the singing by each of these characters/actors was pitch-perfect.”
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast also received nominations for Musical Direction and for their Orchestra. Landgrebe said they “rehearsed a total of nine times for a total of only 20 hours prior to our final six rehearsals including our run-throughs and final dress.” He estimates the orchestra rehearsed about 40 total hours.
Seven Lakes senior, Jared Guidry said, “This nomination (for Lumiere) is an incredible honor and I am so humbled to have been chosen as a finalist for this award, along with so many other talented actors.
Jared Guidry, Lumiere in "Disney's Beauty and The Beast," SLHS Press
Guidry has been involved in theatre since the fourth grade at Griffin Elementary. He recalls his first performance: “The show ignited a love for performing that I still have not been able to shake off.” This fall, Guidry will continue to pursue his love of the fine arts at either Baylor or Auburn University.
Dedicated Students Shine On and Off the Stage
"We know how hard our students work at their craft," said Taylor's theatre director, Kelley Hughes. "We hope to inspire the audience with some great story telling."
Taylor received nominations for their Les Miserables Orchestra that was comprised of 34 students and a couple of faculty members. Senior Kobe Clements and sophomore Reese Morgan collaborated to design the lighting for the production, which also received a nomination.
Taylor High School Les Miserables
"It’s always great when the students are recognized for their achievements," Hughes said. "We appreciate the Tommy Tune Awards for shining light on fantastic Houston area fine arts programs."
Awards Ceremony on April 30
The Tommy Tune Awards are named after Houston native and Lamar High School alumnus Tommy Tune. His career as a performer, director and choreographer has spanned five decades, and he has earned nine Tony Awards for his contributions to theatre.
The Tommy Tune Awards ceremony will be held Tuesday, April 30 at 7:30pm at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston. Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday, April 15 at 9:00 am.
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