The best in local high school theater will be honored Thursday (May 24) at 7:30 p.m. as Casa Manana Playhouse will host the 2018 Buckley Awards, which go to high students and productions throughout North Texas.
The awards are named after Fort Worth’s own Tony Award-winning Best Actress, Fort Worth Independent School District and Casa Mañana alumnae Betty Lynn Buckley. The scholarship awards program promotes excellent in high school theater since 2000. Participation is open to Denton, Wise, Parker, Hood, Johnson and Tarrant Counties. The program culminates in a Tony Awards-style ceremony at Casa Mañana.
Haslet V.R. Eaton High School led all schools with 11 nominations for its production of “My Fair Lady.” Birdville (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (“Into the Woods”) were next with nine each, while Southlake Carroll (“Gypsy”) garnered eight, Aledo (“Big Fish”) collected seven, and Trinity Valley School (“9 to 5”) received five nods. In all, 21 schools received nominations.
Last year Birdville walked away with six Buckley Awards for its production of Mary Poppins. With its victory, Birdville joined the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, North Crowley, Grapevine and Southlake Carroll as the only two-time winners of the Best Musical award.
A panel of distinguished judges comprised of local theater professionals and educators votes for a winner in each of 14 categories. Awards include a $1,000 scholarship.
This year’s list of nominees are:
Best Play
Colleyville Heritage, “Comedy of Errors”
Fort Worth Country Day, “Matchmaker”
Grapevine, “Something Wicked This Way Comes”
Mansfield, “Lost Boy”
Arlington Martin, “Crucible”
Northwest, “Peter and the Starcatcher”
Richland, “Peter and the Starcatcher”
Best Musical
Aledo, “Big Fish”
Birdville, “Beauty and the Beast”
Southlake Carroll, “Gypsy”
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, “Into the Woods”
Grapevine Faith Christian School, “Shrek”
V.R. Eaton, “My Fair Lady”
Best Male Actor in a Play
Dylan Holladay, Dromio of Esephus, “Comedy of Errors,” Colleyville Heritage
Nasir Parywani, Antipholus of Ephesus, “Comedy of Errors,” Colleyville Heritage
Jackson Bennette, Cornelious Hakle, “Matchmaker,” Fort Worth Country Day
David Shumate, Davy/Peter Pan, “Lost Boy,” Mansfield
Logan Corley, James Barrie, “Lost Boy,” Mansfield
Ivan Friend, Governor Danforth, “Crucible,” Arlington Martin
Ben Larson, Lysander, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Paschal
Best Female Actor in a Play
Autumn Lanning, Hamlet, “Hamlet,” Benbrook
Sarah Poythress, Lucianna, “Comedy of Errors,” Colleyville Heritage
Catherine Cravens, Dolly Levi, “Matchmaker,” Fort Worth Country Day
Isabelle Ajemian, Maurine, “Lost Boy,” Mansfield
Naomi Calloway, Molly Aster, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Northwest
Trinity Lee, Molly Aster, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Richland
Best Male Actor in a Musical
Dillon Savage, Edward Bloom, “Big Fish,” Aledo
Hayden Hart, Baker, “Into the Woods,” Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Garrett Knudysack, Bert, “Mary Poppins,” The Oakridge School
Alexander Roemer, Joe, “9 to 5,” Trinity Valley School
Vincent Harrill, Henry Higgins, “My Fair Lady,” V.R. Eaton
Joe Rhoads, Colonel Pickering, “My Fair Lady,” V.R. Eaton
Best Female Actor in a Musical
Hannah Detrick, Belle, “Beauty and the Beast,” Birdville
Maria Varela, Scarecrow, “The Wiz,” Everman
Courtney Lynn Povero, Cinderella, “Into the Woods,” Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Katie Blanton, Witch, “Into the Woods,” Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Jennie Hotman, Mary Poppins, “Mary Poppins,” The Oakridge School
Sarah Zimmerman, Eliza Doolittle, “My Fair Lady,” V.R. Eaton
Best Male Supporting Actor in a Musical
Jacob Schuck, Lumiere, “Beauty and the Beast,” Birdville
Luke Preston, Tulsa, “Gypsy,” Southlake Carroll
Luke Dean, Jack, “Into the Woods,” Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Luke Edmiston, Rapunzel’s Prince, “Into the Woods,” Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Lane Norris, Alfred Doolittle, “My Fair Lady,” V.R. Eaton
Clark Jones, Freddy, “My Fair Lady,” V.R. Eaton
Best Female Supporting Actor in a Musical
Celia Nowlin, Gertrude McFuzz, “Seussical,” All Saints Episcopal
Devan LeLugo, June, “Gypsy,” Southlake Carroll
Katie Cross, Tessie, “Gypsy,” Southlake Carroll
Sydney Dotson, Little Red Riding Hood, “Into the Woods,” Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Myia Oliver, Ghost of Christmas Future, “A Christmas Carol,” Lake Country Christian School
Lauren Clark, Marley, “A Christmas Carol,” Lake Country Christian School
Excellence in Costume Design
Aledo, “Big Fish”
Argyle, “Legally Blonde”
Birdville, “Beauty and the Beast”
Everman, “The Wiz”
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, “Into the Woods”
Trinity Valley School, “9 to 5”
V.R. Eaton, “My Fair Lady”
Excellence in Scenic Design
Aledo, “Big Fish”
Birdville, “Beauty and the Beast”
Southlake Carroll, “Gypsy”
Everman, “The Wiz”
Trinity Valley School, “9 to 5”
V.R. Eaton, “My Fair Lady”
Excellence in Lighting Design
Aledo, “Big Fish”
Birdville, “Beauty and the Beast”
Southlake Carroll, “Gypsy”
Trinity Valley School, “9 to 5”
V.R. Eaton, “My Fair Lady”
Excellence in Sound Design
Aledo, “Big Fish”
Birdville, “Beauty and the Beast”
Trinity Valley School, “9 to 5”
V.R. Eaton, “My Fair Lady”
Excellence in Choreography
Aledo, “Big Fish”
Birdville, “Beauty and the Beast”
Southlake Carroll, “Gypsy”
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, “Into the Woods”
Grapevine Faith, “Shrek”
Lake Country Christian, “A Christmas Carol”
Best Student Orchestra
Birdville, “Beauty and the Beast”
Southlake Carroll, “Gypsy”
V.R. Eaton, “My Fair Lady”