Scholar, actor, singer and dancer Sarah Cartwright.

Energy. Style. Pizzazz. All were in ample supply Monday night at the annual Spotlight Awards in Minneapolis, a Hennepin Theatre Trust program that honors high school actors, singers and dancers across the Twin Cities. There were 47 schools saluted with honors or honorable mentions this year.

Hundreds of hoofers performed at the sold out event, including singer-dancer-actors from such places as Eagan, Wayzata, Minnetonka and Minneapolis.

Two very special performers were singled out for the Triple Threat Award: Sarah Cartwright, a graduate of Eastview High School in Apple Valley who will attend Northwestern University, and Minnetonka High School senior Ryan McCartan, who will attend the University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA training program in the fall.

Presidential Scholar in the Arts Ryan McCartan.

Both are stand-out scholar-performers with strong local credits. Cartwright, a member of the National Honor Society, was named a scholar of distinction in theater this spring.

McCartan, who has a four-octave range, was recently named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of 20 students in the nation to be so honored. He appeared in "The Master Butchers Singing Club" and "Little House on the Prairie" at the Guthrie.

McCartan and Cartwright will go to New York to perform June 27 in a competition for a full scholarship to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

"I'm speechless," McCartan said Monday. "This award is a validation of the work and dedication that we, all of us, put into what we love to do."

Added Cartwright: "It's special for me because this is the only thing I want to do, even when I'm tried to think of doing other things."

Monday's key presenter was Brainerd-bred Broadway singer and actor Linda Eder. She led master classes and workshops with the students.

Actor-comedian Greta Grosch emceed the event dressed, for most of it, in a blue bird-y suit.

The show stuck to schedule, ending at 10 p.m., including an intermission.