These local students are nominated for Prime Stage Drama Awards

Photo above by Kyle Head on Unsplash.

On April 24, students from nine local high schools will gather at the New Hazlett Theater’s Center for the Performing Arts. These teens are nominated for Prime Stage Drama Awards in categories including best and supporting actor/actress and best student director, as well as awards for best lighting and sound design, best backstage crew, best manager and best overall production.

The Pittsburgh region has so many high schools with impressive theater programs (don’t miss our guide to spring musicals happening during the coming weeks). For this year’s Prime Stage Drama Awards, there are nominees from these high schools: Avonworth, Carlynton, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel Area, North Allegheny, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, Shady Side Academy and Thomas Jefferson.

“We recognize the importance of showcasing and applauding those high school students who choose to express their artistic abilities through drama. By bringing recognition to the students who work so hard to offer drama to their audiences, we can also help keep theatre alive in our area schools and on their stages,” said John Dolphin, Prime Stage Theatre Drama Awards Director, in an announcement about the awards.

Prime Stage Theatre has been a mainstay of the Pittsburgh Arts Community for 26 years and has presented more than 100 productions. Through the Prime Stage Sprouts program, the theater company helps students develop a love of theater and literature. The high school drama awards have a similar goal: to encourage students’ love of performing and using their talents to produce theater.

The awards are “just a small token of appreciation for their talent, collaboration, and creativity within themselves, their school, and their community.” said Wayne Brinda, Prime Stage Theatre’s producing artistic director.

Here are this year’s nominees: