Fort Worth is renowned as one of America’s best cities for top-notch theatre. It has produced its fair share of Broadway talent and a plethora of other stars criss-crossing the country on a variety of tours.
Such stars as Major Attaway (longest-running Genie in Broadway’s “Aladdin”), Jay Armstrong Johnson (“Moulin Rouge” and “Hair”) and Adrianna Hicks (“SIX” and “Some Like It Hot”) hail from Fort Worth.
One of the long-standing traditions of the Fort Worth Theatre scene is Casa Manana. Built in 1958, just 114 days after city council approval, it was the first permanent musical arena theatre in the United States. And it was where Tony Award winner and Fort Worth’s Betty Buckley got her start with her professional debut at age 15 in “Gypsy.” She would also perform in productions such as “The Sound of Music” in the early 1980s, and has taught master classes, along with having a high school excellence award named after her, the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards.
The 26th annual edition of those awards were held recently. The event recognizes the best in Tarrant County and surrounding area high school talent. In true transparency, high school theatre has long been dear to my own heart. As a high school actor, doors were opened for me to go to college, spend a decade as a radio broadcaster and now as a theatre writer/critic.
I even met my wife, the lovely Mrs. Junell, while performing onstage 15 years ago. Theatre has impacted my life in so many positive ways – and it all started in high school, as it has with the many winners and nominees of the Buckley Awards over the years.
This year’s ceremony was led by host Quinn VanAntwerp, actor/writer/producer with the national tour of “Shucked.”
“The beauty of the Buckley Awards is the attention the ceremony brings to high school arts. We are bringing together theater departments from across the area to celebrate and highlight the students’ achievements throughout the year,” Casa Manana President/Executive Producer Wally Jones said. “It is our way of showcasing the productions happening on stage and the work these students put into every show.”
It also gives us a glimpse into the future of theatre in Fort Worth – and even beyond. A host of these award winners have gone on to great success in the world of theatre, as likely will several of this year’s winners and nominees.
The big winners at this year’s event was the theatre department at Trophy Club Byron Nelson High School. Their production of “Matilda” walked away with five awards.
“Moon Over Buffalo,” by Richland High School, won four and Flower Mound’s “Sunset Boulevard” captured two. Liberty Christian High School also won twice, once each for separate productions of “Curtains” and “Freaky Friday.”
The complete list of this winners:
*Excellence in Scenic Design: Jack Layton, “Moon Over Buffalo,” Richland High School.
*Excellence in Lighting Design: Jenna Dyer and Sam Springston, “Matilda,” Byron Nelson High School.
*Herb Silverberg and Stan Kolker Youth Orchestra Award: “Matilda,” Byron Nelson High School.
*Excellence in Sound Design: Peyton Meyer, “Matilda,” Byron Nelson High School.
*Bobbie Wygant Scholarship Award: Malachi Cooks.
*Excellence in Costume Design: Addy McKinley and Elizabeth Graybiel, “Sunset Boulevard,” Flower Mound High School.
*Excellence in Choreography: Emma Brown, Bryanna Coffee and Ella Jaymes Saltzgiver, “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Weatherford High School.
*Excellence in Stage Management: Elisa Kelly, Caitlin Benedict and Grayson Zimmerman, “Matilda,” Byron Nelson High School.
*Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (Play): Ramon Hernandez as “Howard” in “Moon Over Buffalo,” Richland High School.
*Best Performance by a Supporting Actress (Play): Kylie Martin as “Nick Bottom” in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Birdville High School.
*Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (Musical): Spencer Ritsema as “Robert Martin” in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Waxahachie High School.
*Best Performance by a Supporting Actress (Musical): Emma Hurd as “Carmen Bernstein” in “Curtains,” Liberty Christian School.
*Best Performance by a Leading Actor (Play): Oliver Morgan as “George Hay” in “Moon Over Buffalo,” Richland High School.
*Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Play): Ava Martin-Sanchez as “Toinette” in “The Imaginary Invalid,” Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts.
*Karen and Stanley Pirzchalski Award: Isabella Green
*Best Performance by a Leading Actor (Musical): Benjamin Kegg as “Joe Gillis” in “Sunset Boulevard,” Flower Mound High School.
*Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Musical): Hadley Hill as “Matilda Wormwood” in “Matilda,” Byron Nelson High School.
*Outstanding Educator Award: Brian Ketcham; Keller High School.
*Excellence in a Play: “Moon Over Buffalo,” Richland High School.
*Excellence in a Musical: “Freaky Friday,” Liberty Christian School.
