<p>We have 2 programs in Southern California. One is affiliated with McCoy-Rigby Entertainment and the MACY (music and arts commendation for youth) awards for HS theater. They teamed up (the MACY’s have been around for 39 years as a separate awards program) McCoy-Rigby is sponsoring the 2 students. My daughter (a junior) was one of 3 girls called back after judges saw over 40 shows in our area. The girl who won is a senior and has tremendous stage presence and a very powerful belt! 5 boys were called back and the boy selected was amazing as well. The winners were announced at the awards show on May 17.</p>
<p>We have another program in our area called the JRAY (after the great John Raitt) sponsored by Fullerton Civic Light Opera. They will have their award ceremony on May 31–they had about 25 participating schools and cover a greater geographic area. They are brand new and started this program just for the HS National awards. They don’t call back finalist but just announce from seeing the shows who the runner’s up and winners will be on that evening. Our area has an enormous number of schools and programs with a large number of Performing Arts High Schools (we are a regular high school).</p>
<p>Each regional competition (all sponsored by professional theaters) send 1 boy and 1 girl to NYC for 5 days to compete. There are 30 such competitions nationwide so there will be 6o kids going to NYC. They will narrow to 10 boys and 10 girls to compete on television with the remaining participants becoming the “ensemble” for the show. The winners receive a $25,000 a year scholarship for 4 years to NYU or $5000 cash. The award show is to air on June 29th or 30th I think. Should be a great celebration for HS theater programs across the country. Wishing my daughter could have gone but very happy for those who will be going from our area–it is very exciting.</p>