Last Monday night at the New Vic theatre downtown bristled with the energy of 10 area high school students auditioning for a chance to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. The two winners selected at the end of the night then go on to the Jimmy’s in Los Angeles, which will get them one step closer to the finals in New York.
Hosted by actors Teri Bibb and Davis Gaines, both of Phantom of the Opera fame, the evening was split in to two parts. Part one showcased the 10 singers competing for two spots to go on to the next round, the Jerry Herman Awards at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Part two was ensemble work from these same schools.
While Bibb and Gaines were great hosts, a big shoutout goes to veteran television writer, Cheri Steinkellner, whose witty, succinct script Bibb and Gaines read from kept the audience laughing and show moving along without a hitch.