‘One of the best nights in Charlotte.’ Boisterous Blumeys honor high school theater

Wild, whooping cheers kept coming in waves at sold-out Belk Theater Sunday night.

But all that positive energy wasn’t for some touring Broadway smash like “Hamilton” or Six.” It was for the students performing at the 10th annual Blumey Awards for excellence in high school musical theater in the Charlotte region.

Basically, it’s the local version of the Tony Awards, if honorees also had to worry about trig homework, college applications and prom. Students in 47 high schools across eight counties participated in the program.

Before the awards, Blumenthal Performing Arts President and CEO Tom Gabbard called the Blumeys “one of the best nights in Charlotte every year.”

The winners of the Best Actor and Actress awards compete in New York City for the national high school musical awards, known as the Jimmy Awards on June 26. In the week-long trip, with all expenses paid, they go up against other regional winners from across the country.

This year, the Blumey for Best Actor went to Charlotte Country Day School’s Lance Toppin as Nick Bottom in “Something Rotten.” Toppin said he wanted to “shout-out all the Black boys in theater.”

Best Actress winner, Central Academy of Technology and Arts’ Katie Ruttenberg as Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” tearfully thanked the cast, crew, teachers and family.

CATA collects the most Blumeys

It was quite a night for CATA. The Monroe magnet school captured the most Blumeys of any school, with 11 awards. That included best musical for a Tier 2 school for “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Tier 2 schools have budgets over $7,500 for their shows or are arts magnet schools.

Tier 1 schools have budgets under $7,500. The Best Musical winner in that category was North Lincoln High’s “Anastasia.”

The show, hosted by former TV anchor Brigida Mack and sponsored by Wells Fargo, featured musical numbers from each school nominated for best musical: Tier 1, Lincolnton High, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” North Lincoln High, “Anastasia” and Weddington High, “Seussical;” and Tier 2, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Charlotte Country Day School, “Something Rotten” and Davidson Day School, “Mean Girls.”

A mash-up of characters came in medleys for Best Actor and Best Actress finalists, where you could catch Shrek singing next to SpongeBob, and Sally Bowles shimmying near Mary Magdalene.

Best Actress nominees alongside Ruttenberg were: Kathleen Moore, Davidson Day School, as Regina George in “Mean Girls;” Riley Washco, North Lincoln High, as Anya in “Anastasia;” Gracie Bryant, Northwest School of the Arts, as Sally in “Cabaret;” Njoki Tiagha, Providence High, as Mrs. Lovett in ”Sweeney Todd;” and Shantal Tavarez, South Mecklenburg High, as Judy Bernly in “9 to 5.”

Best Actor nominees, in addition to Toppin, were: Omari Cupid, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, as Jesus of Nazareth in “Jesus Christ Superstar;” Miguel Villalobos, Christ the King Catholic High, as Shrek in “Shrek the Musical;” Eli Fischer, Concord Academy, as Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast;” Lucas Mechelli, Cuthbertson High, as SpongeBob SquarePants in “The SpongeBob Musical;” and Parker Syler, Northwestern High, as Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast.”

Students nominated as best actor and actress from each of the schools that participated in the Blumeys performed the opening and closing numbers, ensuring there would be additional sustained applause and standing ovations from start to finish.

One more Blumey note.

A 10th anniversary gala featuring past and current Blumey performers will be held Jan. 13, 2024. Previous Blumey participants include Tony nominee Eva Noblezada and Reneé Rapp, who has appeared on Broadway, in concerts and on an HBO Max show.

Here are the 2023 Blumey winners

Best student orchestra: Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best student critic: Aminah Imran, West Cabarrus High

Best ensemble/chorus: Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best overall direction: Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best student stage manager: Margo Smith, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best student set designer: Hannah Cook, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best student costume designer: Mallory Caballero, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best supporting actor: Josh Moraja, Weddington High, as Wickersham/Schmitz/Yertle in “Seussical”

Best supporting actress: Natalie Hough, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, as Pontius Pilate, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best choreography execution: Central Academy of Technology and Arts, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best featured performer: Lana Patel, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, as King Herod, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Two scholarships also were awarded: The Mary Doctor Fine Arts Scholarship, Laura Grace Dhillon from Rock Hill High and Mallard Creek High’s Melody Saxton.

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