March 18, 2024

GCHS Drama Department Nominated For 12 Jester Awards

USD 457

The Garden City High School drama department has received word that the Music Theatre of Wichita has announced their nominees for their 19th Annual Jester Awards.  Garden City High School was nominated for a total of 12 Jester Awards for the fall musical Disney’s Newsies, which was performed on November 15th, 16th, and 17th in the Garden City High School Auditorium.

Nominations for GCHS include:

  • Overall Production
  • Direction of Show – Barbara Hilt
  • Leading Actor – Nathan Ayala,  as Jack Kelly
  • Pre-High School Performer – Jackson Loving, as Les
  • Ensemble/Chorus
  • Vocal Music Direction – Abigail VanTimmeren
  • Artistic Guest – Kimberly Cano for Choreography
  • Stage Crew
  • Technical Achievement – Laren Hunt (Scenic Design)
  • Scenic Design – Laren Hunt
  • Costume Design – Robyn Hilt and Seferino Ramirez
  • Sound Design – Barbara Hilt

The Jester Award program recognizes the extraordinary amount of work, creativity, and dedication that faculty and students put into their high school theatrical productions. The accolades program showcases the next generation of musical theatre talent in Kansas.  Each year, trained volunteer judges attend and evaluate dozens of performances. This year, 46 judges viewed 144 performances of 48 productions, involving more than 3000 students and extending as far as Liberal, Hays, Salina, Pittsburg, and Topeka, in addition to the greater Wichita area.

The Jester Awards Ceremony will take place by digital broadcast on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. To join the free broadcast, sign up for MTWichita emails at mtwichita.org, or join through Facebook to get the link and password.  Honorees in 25 categories will be announced during the ceremony. Scholarship awards will be presented to three students, lead male and female honorees and a technical theatre recipient.