MONROE - Their musical and theatrical talent has been recognized on the local stage, and now three Monroe High School seniors have received praise from the Overture Center of the Arts in Madison.
Jordan Goehring was honored with a Tommy Award for her performance as Mae Peterson in the Monroe High School musical performance of "Bye, Bye Birdie" this spring.
Abby Kennison received an honorable mention for a lead performer for her role as Rose Alverez in the same musical, while Lindsey Buehler received an honorable mention as a supporting performer for her portrayal of Ursula Merkle.
The awards will be presented June 6 in Overture hall in the Overture Center in Madison.
This is the first year for the Tommy awards, which recognize students for their outstanding talent. The award is named for Tom Wopat, a Lodi native, and Tony-award nominated singer and actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Luke Duke in the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard." He starred in the show and also directed several episodes.
Monroe High School teacher Jennifer Moehn said critics from professional theater companies as well as educators attended several high school musicals across the state to select the actors for the awards. Moehn directed the musical "Bye, Bye Birdie," and has also directed other musicals in the past.
The critics came to two performances of the play in Monroe and submitted their reviews to Tim Sauers, program and marketing director for the Overture Center.
Because the people who reviewed the performances are professionals, their comments are highly valuable, Moehn said.
The reviewers had many complimentary things to say about the three winners. Some of the comments were:
"Jordan Goehring captured the dry, sarcastic tone of Mae Peterson and was pure fun to watch."
" Abby Kennison delivered a solid performance and carried the storyline through to completion."
"Most noted was the fully realized performance of Lindsey Buehler as Ursula. From the moment she started talking she carried the energy for the whole company throughout the show."
All have been acting for several years in both school and community productions. Their love for entertaining has continued to grow over the years.
They share a special bond with the other performers, they said. Their success is a direct result of the other actors. When all the actors are in sync the performance on stage can be electric. There is a special chemistry between performers, they said.
"You feed off each other," Kennison said. "You have a sense of unity. You're like a family."
"It's never about just one person. It's about the entire cast," Goehring said.
"You become friends with a lot of people you've never met before," Buehler added.
Moehn said the three seniors have helped make the musicals better because of their hard work and dedication.
"I can rely on them to give 110 percent," she said. "I'm sad that all three are seniors. We'll miss them."
Jordan Goehring was honored with a Tommy Award for her performance as Mae Peterson in the Monroe High School musical performance of "Bye, Bye Birdie" this spring.
Abby Kennison received an honorable mention for a lead performer for her role as Rose Alverez in the same musical, while Lindsey Buehler received an honorable mention as a supporting performer for her portrayal of Ursula Merkle.
The awards will be presented June 6 in Overture hall in the Overture Center in Madison.
This is the first year for the Tommy awards, which recognize students for their outstanding talent. The award is named for Tom Wopat, a Lodi native, and Tony-award nominated singer and actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Luke Duke in the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard." He starred in the show and also directed several episodes.
Monroe High School teacher Jennifer Moehn said critics from professional theater companies as well as educators attended several high school musicals across the state to select the actors for the awards. Moehn directed the musical "Bye, Bye Birdie," and has also directed other musicals in the past.
The critics came to two performances of the play in Monroe and submitted their reviews to Tim Sauers, program and marketing director for the Overture Center.
Because the people who reviewed the performances are professionals, their comments are highly valuable, Moehn said.
The reviewers had many complimentary things to say about the three winners. Some of the comments were:
"Jordan Goehring captured the dry, sarcastic tone of Mae Peterson and was pure fun to watch."
" Abby Kennison delivered a solid performance and carried the storyline through to completion."
"Most noted was the fully realized performance of Lindsey Buehler as Ursula. From the moment she started talking she carried the energy for the whole company throughout the show."
All have been acting for several years in both school and community productions. Their love for entertaining has continued to grow over the years.
They share a special bond with the other performers, they said. Their success is a direct result of the other actors. When all the actors are in sync the performance on stage can be electric. There is a special chemistry between performers, they said.
"You feed off each other," Kennison said. "You have a sense of unity. You're like a family."
"It's never about just one person. It's about the entire cast," Goehring said.
"You become friends with a lot of people you've never met before," Buehler added.
Moehn said the three seniors have helped make the musicals better because of their hard work and dedication.
"I can rely on them to give 110 percent," she said. "I'm sad that all three are seniors. We'll miss them."