Seven area high schools have been recognized by the Hennepin Theatre Trust for the quality of their fall musical theater productions.
The honors were announced this month as part of a yearlong program culminating in a two-night showcase at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on June 14-15.
The Washington County area schools are among 77 high schools across the state participating in the trust's SpotLight Musical Theatre Program, which now is in its 10th year and gives students a chance to work with local and national theater professionals in activities that include master classes and on-site school workshops.
Some schools, such as Park High in Cottage Grove, present their musicals in the spring, and will have their work assessed then.
During the fall, 42 productions were rated by a group of evaluators, who nominate both individual performers and productions as a whole for honors. Musicals are judged without comparing or ranking them against each other.
Four area schools — East Ridge in Woodbury, North High in North St. Paul, Tartan in Oakdale and White Bear Lake Area High — were recognized as outstanding in both the overall production and overall performance categories, and saw individual performers rated as outstanding, as well.
East Ridge staged "Into the Woods," and had four students — Brendan Finn, Anna Reimann, Quintin Walker and Samantha Wynn — recognized for outstanding performance in a leading role. Two other students, Erin Foy and Garrett Hildebrandt, were honored for outstanding performance in a supporting role.
North High presented "Grease," and saw two students — Jonah Hale and Shannon Lee — honored for outstanding performance in a leading role and two others — Josh Hurley and Isabel Dickey — recognized for outstanding performance in a supporting role.
