5.20.23

Lutheran West Drama Earns 5 Dazzle Award Nominations

The next generation of Broadway stars are taking center stage at Playhouse Square’s Dazzle Awards presented by Pat and John Chapman. From behind-the-scenes work creating costumes and set designs to orchestras playing iconic scores and actors bringing scripts to life on stage, the educational program showcases the talents of more than 2,100 students from 32 schools around Northeast Ohio. The Dazzle Awards – affiliated with The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® – honors the hard work, dedication and excellence seen in the region’s high school theater programs.

The 2023 Dazzle Awards Ceremony takes place at the KeyBank State Theatre on Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at playhousesquare.org or by calling 216-241-6000. This regional program offers arts education opportunities throughout the school year and culminates with the annual awards ceremony hosted by Fox 8’s Natalie Herbick. Students participating in the ceremony walk the “PNC Red Carpet” as they enter, then take the stage to perform. In addition to master classes and audition workshops for those on stage, interested students can apply to be a Dazzle Awards Student Reporter, Technical Apprentice, and new this year, Musical Apprentice. Through these programs, they can learn firsthand from industry professionals, including the Dazzle Awards director/choreographer, music director, musicians, stage managers, lighting and sound designers and local reporters.

Public and private high schools located in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties were invited to apply for participation in the Dazzle Awards.

Lutheran West Drama earned five 2023 Dazzle Awards nominations for its production of Meredith Willson’s ‘The Music Man’:

Best Costume Design
Best Choreography Execution
Best Ensemble / Chorus
Best Supporting Actor – Jacob Rentas as Marcellus Washburn
Best Supporting Actress – Rebecca Leist as Eulalie McKecknie Shinn

Note: the first three paragraphs above were originally published as a press release by Playhouse Square.