MONROE - Performers from the Monroe High School production of "Guys and Dolls" have been nominated for 13 awards honoring excellence in high school musical theater, a school record.
Named for actor and singer Tom Wopat, the honors are called the Tommy Awards. Originally from Lodi, Wopat is most remembered for his role of Luke Duke on the 1980s television show "The Dukes of Hazzard," but he has received a number of Tony Award nominations for his performances in Broadway shows.
The Overture Center in Madison has been bestowing Tommy Awards on high school talent in the state since 2009. Students who win a Tommy Award, either as an individual or as a group, take part in public performances scheduled throughout the awards ceremony. This year the ceremony will take place at the Overture Center on June 12.
Monroe special education teacher Jennifer Moehn directed the "Guys and Dolls" production in February. She has been director of the past nine shows put on by MHS.
She said she saw the potential in the students she coached every day and nominated the actors for Wisconsin's highest honor at the high school musical level.
"I always seem to get the best kids," Moehn said. "Super talented kids. We were small, but we were mighty."
Award nominations include: Nick Fenn (Nathan Detroit), Jessamine Burch (Adelaide) and Ellie Erb (Sarah Brown) for outstanding lead performer; Luis Aragon (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) and Paolo Lucas (Big Jule) for outstanding supporting performer; Jennifer Moehn for outstanding direction; Kathy King and Brenda Davis for outstanding stage management; crew for outstanding overall design; King for outstanding scenic design; Jennifer Bochar for outstanding lighting design; King and Davis for outstanding costume design; and Bochar for outstanding sound design.
Moehn applied to the Overture Center Tommy Awards as she has in the past. The organization sends three judges experienced in theater, without disclosing their names. They attend one of the live shows the ensemble performs and judge each criteria on a 1 to 5 scale. If the category receives a five, whoever performed the part or designed the set is nominated.
In the past, MHS musical performers have been nominated for a variety of Tommy Awards. Moehn said the most winners MHS has had in the past was five.
Moehn said the cast of "Guys and Dolls" was "amazing." Though the usual ensemble needed to produce "Guys and Dolls" is 40, the MHS production used 28 cast members.
"It was a show that was a big undertaking for us," Moehn said. "That's a really great learning tool. I think it's important to set the bar high and expect people to reach it, and these kids definitely did."
A romantic comedy that features numerous well-known songs, "Guys and Dolls" first opened on Broadway in 1950 and remains a popular production with audiences.
Tommy Awards winners are expected to be announced in May.
Named for actor and singer Tom Wopat, the honors are called the Tommy Awards. Originally from Lodi, Wopat is most remembered for his role of Luke Duke on the 1980s television show "The Dukes of Hazzard," but he has received a number of Tony Award nominations for his performances in Broadway shows.
The Overture Center in Madison has been bestowing Tommy Awards on high school talent in the state since 2009. Students who win a Tommy Award, either as an individual or as a group, take part in public performances scheduled throughout the awards ceremony. This year the ceremony will take place at the Overture Center on June 12.
Monroe special education teacher Jennifer Moehn directed the "Guys and Dolls" production in February. She has been director of the past nine shows put on by MHS.
She said she saw the potential in the students she coached every day and nominated the actors for Wisconsin's highest honor at the high school musical level.
"I always seem to get the best kids," Moehn said. "Super talented kids. We were small, but we were mighty."
Award nominations include: Nick Fenn (Nathan Detroit), Jessamine Burch (Adelaide) and Ellie Erb (Sarah Brown) for outstanding lead performer; Luis Aragon (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) and Paolo Lucas (Big Jule) for outstanding supporting performer; Jennifer Moehn for outstanding direction; Kathy King and Brenda Davis for outstanding stage management; crew for outstanding overall design; King for outstanding scenic design; Jennifer Bochar for outstanding lighting design; King and Davis for outstanding costume design; and Bochar for outstanding sound design.
Moehn applied to the Overture Center Tommy Awards as she has in the past. The organization sends three judges experienced in theater, without disclosing their names. They attend one of the live shows the ensemble performs and judge each criteria on a 1 to 5 scale. If the category receives a five, whoever performed the part or designed the set is nominated.
In the past, MHS musical performers have been nominated for a variety of Tommy Awards. Moehn said the most winners MHS has had in the past was five.
Moehn said the cast of "Guys and Dolls" was "amazing." Though the usual ensemble needed to produce "Guys and Dolls" is 40, the MHS production used 28 cast members.
"It was a show that was a big undertaking for us," Moehn said. "That's a really great learning tool. I think it's important to set the bar high and expect people to reach it, and these kids definitely did."
A romantic comedy that features numerous well-known songs, "Guys and Dolls" first opened on Broadway in 1950 and remains a popular production with audiences.
Tommy Awards winners are expected to be announced in May.