Date/Time:     Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

                        Pasant Theatre

Tickets:          Open to the public, General Seating

Information:   Dana Brazil

                       Assistant Education Director

                       517-884-3166 or dana.brazil@whartoncenter.com

EAST LANSING, MI.− Some of Michigan’s most talented high school students are coming together Saturday, May 19 at Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre for the first annual Ovation Awards.  The award is a celebration of outstanding achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performances for both a male and female lead in a high school musical theatre production.  It also honors the teacher’s and the school’s commitment to excellence in performing arts education.

Twenty-seven thespians from across the state have been nominated for the award by their theatre/music directors.  One male and one female will win an Ovation Award and will go on to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this June.

The evening will include a selection of Broadway tunes and dance performed by the students, culminating in the awards ceremony.

This is not a ticketed event and parking will be free in the ramp adjacent to Wharton Center. For more information, contact Dana Brazil atdana.brazil@whartoncenter or 517-884-3166.

            Skyline High School                                      Ann Arbor

            John Glenn High School                                Bay City

            Wylie Groves High School                            Beverly Hills

            Clarkston High School                                  Clarkston

            Swan Valley High School                              Dearborn

            Flushing High School                                     Flushing

            Grand Rapids Christian High School              Grand Rapids

            Okemos High School                                    Okemos

            Onekama Consolidated Schools                    Onekama

            South Lyon East High School                        South Lyon

            Traverse City High School                             Traverse City

            Waverly High School                                     Waverly

            Pewamo-Westphalia High School                  Westphalia

            Maple Valley High School                             Vermontville

                                      

The Ovation Awards partnership includes Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Broadway in Detroit and Broadway Grand Rapids.  The Ovation Awards are generously supported by Mrs. Nancy Passanante.