(gentle music) (inspirational music) ♪ 525,600 minutes ♪ ♪ 525 moments so weird ♪ ♪ 525,600 minutes ♪ ♪ How can we measure and rehash this year ♪ ♪ In mouse clicks, virtual classes ♪ ♪ In Netflix, I watched 10 new series ♪ ♪ In binges, Snapchats and store one-way aisles ♪ ♪ For 525,600 minutes ♪ ♪ I've ordered takeout too many times ♪ (chimes ringing) (upbeat whimsical music) ♪ Into the woods we had to go ♪ ♪ To run from germs, a mask in tow ♪ ♪ Into the woods to do a show ♪ ♪ Surely you are kidding ♪ ♪ Into the woods we quickly went ♪ ♪ But soon began our discontent ♪ ♪ Into the woods ♪ - I can't see my lines.

♪ Into the woods ♪ - It's cold and scary!

♪ Into the woods ♪ - I'm allergic to pine.

- This box of props is really heavy!

♪ To act, to sing, to dance, to think ♪ ♪ To teach, to join, it's not a festival ♪ ♪ Into the woods ♪ ♪ Into the woods ♪ ♪ Into the woods then out of woods ♪ ♪ And happy ever after ♪ - I wish.

(chimes ringing) - Well, there are advantages of conversing online.

♪ We're half-dressed ♪ ♪ We're half-dressed ♪ ♪ Living in pajama pants ♪ ♪ Zooming waist-up, it's just awesome ♪ ♪ There's no needs for fancy bottoms ♪ ♪ Dirty hair, hey who cares ♪ ♪ There's no need to put on airs ♪ ♪ We're all staring at a small screen ♪ ♪ Don't obsess about our hygiene ♪ ♪ Need to toot, just hit mute ♪ ♪ Accidentally reboot ♪ ♪ The key is to keep ourselves unstressed ♪ ♪ We'll put on skinny jeans when we're unquarantined ♪ ♪ We'll look our best ♪ ♪ But for now we confess ♪ ♪ We're half dressed, we're half dressed, we're half dressed ♪ - We are fully dressed with our smiles, however.

And the show will go on!

- Shuler Hensley's Poised and Prime, ready or not, it's Shuler time!

(upbeat music) ♪ Shuler time ♪ ♪ Shuler time, Shuler time ♪ ♪ Georgia high school musicals shine ♪ ♪ All the best in rhythm and rhyme ♪ ♪ Shuler time, it's Shuler time ♪ ♪ Lights and cameras, Shuler time ♪ ♪ Makeup, costumes, Shuler time ♪ ♪ Singers, dancers, in a chorus line ♪ ♪ On with the show, it's Shuler time ♪ ♪ Oh, Shuler time, Shuler time ♪ - Got the winners, let's get going.

♪ Shuler time, Shuler time ♪ - I can't wait another moment.

♪ All the best in rhythm and rhyme ♪ - All the best in rhythm and rhyme.

♪ Georgia high school musicals shine ♪ - Georgia high school musicals shine.

♪ Oh, on with the show, it's Shuler time ♪ (upbeat music) - [Announcer] Brought to you by the ArtsBridge Foundation, it's the 2021 Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, celebrating excellence in high school musical theatre.

Tonight, we recognize the year's best productions and performances by high school students across the great state of Georgia.

And now, please welcome your host, Shuler Hensley.

- Good evening, and welcome to the 13th Annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Shuler's.

Wow.

What a year this has been.

I feel we have even more reason than ever to celebrate the incredibly talented students across Georgia who somehow have found a way, this past school year, to stage productions under the most challenging of circumstances.

As you'll see tonight, the resilience of our young people have shown it's truly inspiring.

They demonstrate that the arts can embolden us through difficult times to heal, to persevere, and as you'll see tonight, to excel.

That's right.

Excel is exactly what these students did.

And you'll see that excellence through the creative ways in which they approached their craft.

Now, as you're well aware, COVID restrictions have changed the way we do almost everything.

And in this case, that meant re-imagining how to put a show together.

And for the folks behind the Shuler awards, how to evaluate those shows.

To that end, every school participating in this year's awards submitted a 45-minute compilation of their musical performance.

And because the adjudicators couldn't attend these shows in person, the shows also submitted a 10-minute process to performance video, which allowed our judges, for the first time ever, to go behind the scenes and learn how these very talented students and teachers put their shows together.

Perceived limitations become unique opportunities.

To truly see and celebrate the amazing work we're about to.

More about all of that later.

Just know that this is a year and a show like no other.

I would like to extend a huge thank you to our presenting sponsor, the Georgia Lottery.

Along with the generous sponsorship of so many others, as you'll see at the end of the show.

Now, for our first award.

It's one of my favorites because it introduced me to my dear, dear friend, Mr. Tony.

It's the award for featured performer, and here are your nominees.

- [Announcer] Isabelle Ponder, Duluth High School, Sister Act Junior.

Catherine Hughes, Gordon Central High School, Little Women.

Annabelle Bentley, Greenbrier High School, Carousel.

Noah Caplan, Lakeview Academy, Urinetown.

Sarah Grace Fries, Ringgold High School, Anastasia.

Ava Nelson, West Forsyth High School, The Drowsy Chaperone.

- And the Shuler goes to Catherine Hughes from Gordon Central High School.

(students cheering) - Hi, I'm Catherine Hughes, and I'm honored to be selected as the best feature performer for the Shuler Awards.

I'd like to thank my friends, my family, my directors, and my school for supporting me in everything I do.

And of course, I'd like to thank the ArtsBridge Foundation for providing great opportunities for the students of Georgia.

Thank you.

(chimes ringing) - Hi everybody, my name is Asmeret Ghebremichael, and I am coming to you from my childhood bedroom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

And I wanted to say congratulations getting through what has been such an intense year.

I know this is not the way we expected this to go, and I know that as a theatre performer, it's especially challenging to do what you love when you are socially distant and trying to do everything from home.

But you made it.

Gonna get easier from here, I promise.

I think that one of the greatest things that we have, as artists, and theatre performers, and theatre people, is each other.

And I always rely on people in my shows, on stage, off stage, behind the scenes, because we're a community and we're all we have.

So, I just encourage you guys to lean on each other and I send you so much love.

- Hi, I'm Jamie Vosmeier, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Fox Theatre.

In theatre, we all know how important it is for all of us to remain on the same page, or in the orchestra's case, the same sheet music.

From the moment the overture begins to the final resounding note as the curtain drops, the orchestra's there, driving the pace, setting the mood, and of course, accompanying the actors.

And while they often go unseen, hiding in a low, darkened pit, the musicians are a vital component of any music theatre performance.

So, let's give them their proper due tonight and invite them out of the pit and into the spotlight.

And the Shuler Award goes to Tim Hinck from Heritage High School.

- And on behalf the students, I wanna say thank you so much for this award.

The students are so talented and worked so hard, and it was really an honor to work with them.

So, thank you again.

- Good evening, my name is Sharon Story.

I'm the Dean of the Centre for Dance Education, and it is my honor to present the Shuler award for best choreography.

As a dancer and a teacher, I know how difficult it is to design sequences, to perform them, and to elevate a story with expressive physicality.

As a great choreographer finds the right place for each dancer in a cast, every performer is different, yet collectively they rise above their individual talent to create lasting art.

Fame choreographer, George Balanchine, "Dancers are instruments, "like a piano the choreographer plays."

If that's the case, our nominees tonight are this year's virtuosos.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Riley O'Halloran and Traci Sproul, Glynn Academy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Allison Behrend, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Mallory Wallace and Jenna Dekich, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Taylor Shults and Joseph Simons, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Beauty and the Beast, Morgan Burgess and Antonela Brkic, Starrs Mill High School, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jade Lambert-Smith and Briana Bunkley, Tri-Cities High School, Fela!

- And the Shuler goes to Jade Lambert-Smith and Briana Bunkley from Tri-Cities High School.

- Everybody say yeah yeah!

- Yeah yeah!

Everybody say - [Both] yeah yeah.

- Thank you - [Both] ArtsBridge and Shuler Awards.

- We especially wanna thank our principal, Dr. Ethel Lett.

- And our VPA Magnet Director, Dr. Tiffany Mingo.

- We are so grateful for this opportunity.

On behalf of the VPA Magnet team, we say (speaks in foreign language) (both ladies speaking in foreign language) (jazz music) - If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna stop the show right now, for the best showstopper award.

(laughs) Wow, kinda feels like I should be breaking into song right now, doesn't it?

Fortunately, I don't need to because the recipient of this year's best showstopper award has already been decided and I have the results right here.

Shuler Award for best showstopper goes to Duluth High School for Sister Act Junior.

- Hi I'm Brandy Carter.

- And I'm Ivy Overcash.

- And this is the first Shuler Award for Duluth High School and we just wanna say thank you so much.

Thank you to our administration.

Thank you to our lovely music director.

And thank you, Father, for helping us with this show during the middle of a pandemic.

- And thank you for honoring us, Shulers, we're so excited.

- [All] Thank you Shulers!

(students cheering) - Hi, I'm Angela Farr Schiller, Director of Arts Education for the ArtsBridge Foundation.

Tonight, you will no doubt be amazed by the performances and spirit of the students we celebrate.

But right now, I wanna take a moment to thank our entire adjudication team for helping make this show possible.

As well as highlight some of the changes we made to this year's judging process.

Starting in late spring, it feels like only minutes after we wrapped last year's Shuler Awards, we began looking at our entry and judging methods in light of the new COVID protocols, and of equal importance, how we best could support the goal of the Broadway League, to make the Shuler's a more diverse and inclusive program from the top down.

I'm thrilled that this very unusual year has been an opportunity to become more equitable, inclusive, and representative of our state and the world in which we live, as you'll see, in this short video about the 2021 adjudication process.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] The Shuler Awards are one of the biggest celebrations of High School Musical Theatre in the world.

This year's 41 Shuler Awards adjudicators set out to cull through the 2021 virtual submissions by conducting virtual deliberations.

The delve enthusiastically into the new student-created process to performance videos submitted by each participating school.

Gathering in small groups on virtual platforms to deliberate over each and every aspect of the videos as they watched together.

- I wasn't sure what to expect from the new system, by the process to performance videos showed us more than what we could ever imagine.

Not only were we able to see the product, but we were also able to see the process, the creativity, the behind-the-scenes of everything that the students and the director were able to do with their production.

It was truly a fascinating experience.

- [Announcer] 20 high schools across the state, from Brunswick to Ringgold, were adjudicated with judges working in teams of four to create and share their feedback with the schools.

- We were consistently blown away by the quality of submissions.

I can tell you it lead to some of the most intense conversations I've ever had on Zoom.

Trying to choose winners from such a stellar field?

(laughs) It was not an easy task.

- [Announcer] The Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards and its virtual adjudication process, much like the students we honor, has grown in unimaginable ways this past year.

Through collaborative and inventive work under the most challenging of circumstances.

- I was so inspired after watching just a few submissions where the students overcame so many obstacles, I realized that they were ready to conquer the world.

I mean, watching these videos really made me appreciate just how impactful the arts can be, particularly for young people.

- Thank you to our judges for their time, their experience, and their commitment to the arts.

We appreciate your effort every year, now more than ever before.

Of course, I also appreciate leading actors, which as it so happens, is our next award.

Funny how that happens in a totally non-scripted and improvised kind of way.

Let's take a few moments to get to know this year's nominees by sampling just a bit of their work.

Here are your nominees for the Shuler Award for best leading actor.

(chimes ringing) (upbeat music) ♪ Let us face ourselves in Africa ♪ ♪ Na de matter of Africa ♪ ♪ Listen to this part of my song ♪ ♪ All the problems of this world ♪ ♪ We also carry in Africa ♪ ♪ So what you running from ♪ ♪ No run ♪ ♪ So what you running from ♪ ♪ No run ♪ ♪ So what you running from ♪ ♪ Problems of inflation ♪ ♪ Problems of corruption ♪ ♪ Mismanagement ♪ ♪ Stealing by government ♪ ♪ Widespread disease ♪ ♪ Brutality ♪ ♪ Them all carried all over Africa ♪ ♪ All over Africa ♪ ♪ All over Africa ♪ ♪ Yes your footprint goes with you ♪ ♪ It's something you don't lose ♪ ♪ The family that you're born with ♪ ♪ To the family that you choose ♪ ♪ Your footprint, your history, it's who you are ♪ ♪ The universe gets larger ♪ ♪ And the cosmos will expand ♪ ♪ But one thing never changes ♪ ♪ Your footprint is right where you stand ♪ (light piano music) (upbeat music) ♪ Better hope your pennies add up to the fee ♪ ♪ We can't have you peeing for free ♪ ♪ If you do, we'll catch you ♪ ♪ We, we never fail ♪ ♪ And we'll never bother with jail ♪ ♪ You'll get Urinetown ♪ ♪ Off with you to Urinetown ♪ ♪ Away with you to Urinetown ♪ ♪ You won't need mail ♪ (light music) ♪ Soon you'll leave me ♪ ♪ Off you would go in the midst of day ♪ ♪ Never, never to know ♪ ♪ I loved you ♪ ♪ If I loved you ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ H-A-S-E-N ♪ ♪ Hasen ♪ ♪ I'll P-F-E-F-F ♪ ♪ Pfeff ♪ ♪ E-R ♪ ♪ Let's go ♪ ♪ Magic foot ♪ ♪ Be specific ♪ ♪ Magic foot ♪ ♪ It's horrific if you're not specific ♪ ♪ Magic foot ♪ ♪ I'm terrific when I make a word with my foot ♪ ♪ Magic foot ♪ (slow piano music) ♪ Nothing here to hold me ♪ ♪ No one that I own ♪ ♪ Funny how a boy can grow ♪ ♪ Funny when a city tells you when it's time to go ♪ ♪ Boils down to there were some who have walls yet ♪ ♪ To climb you and I, on the fly ♪ ♪ Just in time but tonight there's a sky ♪ ♪ In quite of you ♪ ♪ Welcome to my Petersburg ♪ - And the Shuler goes to Ari Mikels from Lakeview High School.

- And I'm honored to accept this Shuler for best leading actor.

Firstly, I would like to thank my directors, Cece Conrath and Joe Harris for all their amazing guidance, I wouldn't be here without them.

Secondly, I'd like to thank the cast and crew of Urinetown for always pushing me to be my best.

And to my family, thank you for all your incredible support.

Lastly, I would like to give a thanks to ArtsBridge for this great opportunity to be representing Georgia at the Jimmys.

- Hi, I'm Pamela Pimpleton, special effects designer, professor, and artist, here in the Atlanta area.

It's well-known that clothes make the man or the woman, but that old adage is exceptionally true when it comes to musical theatre.

A costume designer establishes emotion, time, place and attitude with a stitch shorthand that allows the audience to know the characters, as well as the actors, embody the roles.

Here are your nominees for the Shuler Award for best costume.

(upbeat jazz music) - [Announcer] Peyton Wilkes, Brianna Rischar, Abby Robertson, and Kamari Robertson, Buford High School, Bright Star, Isabelle Ponder, Duluth High School, Sister Act Junior, Holly Jordan and Faith Cook, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Paulina Cortes, Lanier High School, The Addams Family, Sarah Grace Fries, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Jordan Schooley, Ciana Bishara, and Gus Miranda-Luna, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Beauty and the Beast.

- And the Shuler Award goes to, from Ringgold High School, Sarah Grace Fries.

(students cheering) - I definitely wanna say thank you to everyone at ArtsBridge for providing this opportunity in the first place.

It's an amazing honor to receive a Shuler Award, and I never thought it would happen.

I definitely wanna say thank you to Kelly, because without her, this wouldn't have been possible.

She's our costume queen.

And, so, a lot of this award is hers.

I wanna say thank you to Miss Ellis, my director, for giving me this opportunity as well, and my amazing cast and my family for always supporting me and allowing me to be the best version of myself.

(chimes ringing) - Hello, I'm Tony Award-winning scenic designer, Beowulf Boritt.

Scenic design is a complex solution to a simple challenge, how to create an artificial environment through outward facing design choices that evoke setting, mood, and subtext, but without drawing attention to itself.

It's a tough trick.

However, our nominees this evening designed professional-level sets that stood out among their peers.

Here are the 2021 nominees for Best Scenic Design.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Manuele Guimaraes, Emma Stone, Emily Riedinger, and Prisha Shah, Denmark High School, The Theory of Relativity, Emily Cruckow and Lorena Valdez, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Mia Callahan, Heritage High School, Into the Woods, Maia Rowland and Shannon Leahy, Lanier High School, The Addams Family, Cody Ogle, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Jordan Schooley, Ciana Bishara, and Gus Miranda-Luna, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Beauty and the Beast.

- And the Shuler goes to Ringgold High School, Cody Ogle.

(students cheering) - Our set wouldn't have come to be if it wasn't for people like Jason DuPay, Kelly Schroeder, Caroline Schroeder, Jennae Ellis, Will Forge, everyone who worked on the set, everyone who came and spent countless hours painting, screwing nails in, cutting up wood, we are just so thankful for you people who helped us do that.

And we are thankful for the Shuler Awards who see that all the hard work that goes into a set is important for a set.

You cannot have a show without a beautiful set.

Thank you so much.

(upbeat music) - Hey everyone, Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, what a year, what a year.

I'm thinking of you guys right now, 'cause I just finished dancing in my basement, which is probably what half of you have been doing all year, and then I sing in my bathroom, good acoustics, by the way.

So, it's been such a crazy year for us performers, but to be at your age and everything you're doing in high school, I just really feel for you and I just wanted to send a message of support to you.

This will finish, this will end.

We will be back together at some point in shows, creating shows, and bringing the magic to everyone.

But till then, please stay safe, be patient, and the thing that I was always taught by my main acting teacher, was that for an artist, an actor, it's important to have inspiration as well as performing.

'Cause he always said try to take things in, read books, watch documentaries, listen to music, watch movies you've never seen, who knows where the inspiration comes from.

Just want you to know that I'm thinking of you, and I can't wait to hopefully see you guys in person soon.

- You know the expression it takes one to know one?

Well, I may not be one, but I know how valuable leading actresses can be.

Especially in musical theatre.

They often have to share deeply personal performances while still being able to belt it to the back row.

But don't take my word for it.

Let them show you what they can do.

Ladies and gentlemen, here are your nominees for Best Leading Actress.

(chimes ringing) (light music) ♪ I saved a chair for my dad ♪ ♪ In the fourth row in the aisle ♪ ♪ And it may take him a while ♪ ♪ But when he gets here, that's his chair ♪ ♪ I love my dictionary ♪ ♪ And I love the indented border ♪ ♪ Every word's in alphabetical order ♪ ♪ Ergo lost things always can be found ♪ (suspenseful music) ♪ So, I was on the sixth train heading uptown ♪ ♪ To my lit professor's office ♪ ♪ It's like light years off of campus ♪ ♪ Don't as me why ♪ ♪ I'm sandwiched in between this guy ♪ ♪ Who's literally drooling ♪ ♪ And some European hipster ♪ ♪ Who, let's be honest, smells ♪ ♪ Woody Allen heard Gershwin in the air ♪ ♪ When he thought Manhattan ♪ ♪ Well I'm no so impressed ♪ ♪ I hear, like, Philip Glass at best ♪ ♪ I wish I could take a second to get calm ♪ (slow piano music) ♪ My mom and I were always close ♪ ♪ I was an only child ♪ ♪ Seeing ma had lost three others ♪ ♪ Before it clicked with me ♪ ♪ She called me her miracle ♪ ♪ Mira for short ♪ ♪ And the love in her was bigger than the sea ♪ ♪ And she'd say promise me this, Mira ♪ ♪ Enjoy your time on earth ♪ ♪ Always appreciate the wonder of your birth ♪ ♪ Promise me this, Mira ♪ ♪ Don't waste a single day ♪ ♪ Before you know it, dear ♪ ♪ It all can fade away ♪ (dramatic piano music) ♪ Back to who I was ♪ ♪ On to find my future ♪ ♪ Things my heart still needs to know ♪ ♪ Yes, let this be a sign ♪ ♪ Let this road be mine ♪ ♪ Let it lead me to my past ♪ ♪ Bring me home at last ♪ (slow piano music) ♪ Walk on through the wind ♪ ♪ Walk on through the rain ♪ ♪ Though your dreams be tossed and blown ♪ ♪ Walk on, walk on ♪ ♪ With hope in your heart ♪ ♪ And you'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ You'll never walk alone ♪ (solemn piano music) ♪ I'll shout and start a riot ♪ ♪ Be anything by quiet ♪ ♪ Christopher Columbus, I'll be astonishing ♪ ♪ Astonishing ♪ ♪ Astonishing at last ♪ (chimes ringing) - And the Shuler goes to Isabella Chaney from Greenbrier High School.

(students cheering) (triumphant music) - (screaming) Thank you!

Thank you guys so much.

Thank you to my entire cast and crew of Carousel.

Thank you to Mr. Hansen.

Thank you to Les Reagan for really challenging me.

Thank you God, amen.

Thank you Columbia County and Greenbrier for really providing funding and support for the fine arts.

And I know this year's been difficult with COVID and everything, but I really appreciate it for providing creating ways to perform and carry on because the show must go on and you'll never walk alone.

- Hi, I'm Elisa Roy.

- And I'm Sid Roy.

- And we are proud personal sponsors of the ArtsBridge Foundation.

You might even say that ArtsBridge runs in our blood.

- My father, Samit Roy, is a member of the board of directors of ArtsBridge, and my company, Scicom Infrastructure Services, is a proud sponsor.

- We are so thrilled to present this evening.

I'm even more thrilled to be wearing the gown that I purchased to wear at last year's Shuler Awards.

- I guess timing's everything, just like music direction.

The best music directors are simultaneously great leaders as well as team players.

They know when to take charge and they know when to allow another's creative vision to take hold and flourish.

- This year's nominees for Best Music Direction are: (flute music) - [Announcer] Kirk Grizzle, Denmark High School, The Theory of Relativity, Kimberly Watters, Gordon Central High School, Little Women, Marcus Miller, Greater Atlanta Christian School, Little Shop of Horrors, Addison Wilson, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Jane Ellis, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Sarah Clay Lindvall, West Forsyth High School, The Drowsy Chaperone.

- And this year's Shuler Award goes to: - Jane Ellis, - [Both] from Ringgold High School.

- Thank you so much ArtsBridge!

I wanna thank Aili, Eli, Cody, Gracy, Grace and Brody, and the rest of our amazing ensemble for singing so well.

You know, there are hardworking teachers all over our state who are giving students a place to have a voice and belong, a space where hard work and musical excellence is valued, and I wanna thank you so much for letting me be part of that community.

(jazz music) - And now, we've come to an award we've updated for this year's show to reflect the world in which we live in today.

It's the Show-Must-Go-On Spotlight Award.

Last year, we created the Shuler Spotlight Award to shine a light on the school that demonstrated a singular unique ensemble moment of excellence, worthy of being celebrated outside of other adjudicated categories.

This year, we expanded the spotlight award to recognize a school that triumphed against great odds, and we borrowed one of the theatre's great themes, because their show, in fact, did go on.

And, so, it is my honor to present the second annual Shuler Spotlight Award to Tri-Cities High School for their performance of Fela!

- Hey there, it's Jade Lambert-Smith, the theatre director at Tri-Cities High School, and on behalf of the BPA Magnet, we wanna say thank you for our Shuler Award for the Show-Must-Go-On Spotlight for Tri-Cities High School for Fela!

The Musical.

It was a long and arduous journey and we are so grateful that you recognize our hard work.

(upbeat music) - Hi, I'm Lena Hall and it's wonderful to be here virtually, in Zoom.

With the lack of being able to do live concerts and theatre, I pivoted and I discovered all this new technology, which now I can use for forever.

So, when you are, when something is taken away from you, pivot.

That's the best thing to do.

You don't have to wait for things to pick back up.

You can make your own career and you can do your own things.

And it's very possible, it just takes a little research.

- Hi, I'm Matthew Shepherd, Chief Operating Officer for Delta Community Credit Union.

Delta Community has proudly supported the Shulers for the past nine years.

This evening, I'm honored to present the Best Supportive Actress category.

An actress in a supportive role advances the narrative and provides insight into key events, often times to comedic or dramatic effect.

- Dad, it's supporting actress, not supportive.

I-N-G. - Oh, got it.

Here are your nominees for best supporting actress.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Avery Lester, Calhoun High School, Freaky Friday, Caylyn Kelly, Duluth High School, Sister Act Junior, Georgia Waters, Glynn Academy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Kaylan Gaines, Gordon Central High School, Little Women, Keilah Murphy, Greater Atlanta Christian School, Little Shop of Horrors, Colby Hetzel, West Forsyth High School, The Drowsy Chaperone.

- And the Shuler award goes to Kaylan Gaines from Gordon Central High School.

(triumphant chime music) (students cheering) - I am so thankful to be given this opportunity, and I'm forever grateful for my friends and family who supported me along the way, and especially thankful for the directors who helped me come out of my comfort zone a little bit, and also help me make the character into what it was.

I have no words.

I'm incredibly thankful, and I'm honored to be given this award.

Thank you so much.

(chimes ringing) - Hello, I'm Angela Harris, and I'm the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Canvas.

And I'm here to recognize the actors that play a supporting role.

While they're not the lead, you remember their performance long after the show is over.

I'm talking King George in Hamilton, or Timon and Pumbaa in the Lion King, or even Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls.

So, let's see who nicely nicely performed in a supporting role this year.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Ritesh Manugula, Denmark High School, The Theory of Relativity, Jack Slade, Glynn Academy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Matthew Cooper, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Cody Ogle, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Matthew Foley, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Beauty and the Beast, Merrick Theobald, West Forsyth High School, The Drowsy Chaperone.

- And the Shuler goes to, from Ringgold High School, Cody Ogle!

(students screaming) - Yeah, I wouldn't be able to do it if it wasn't for my whole cast and crew, and everybody involved.

Miss Ellis, Miss Kelly, my co-stars.

Thank you so much for this opportunity and goodnight.

(melancholy music) - Hi, I'm Connie Engel of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority.

The pandemic has meant that we have not been able to gather together in theaters, and it has shown us that absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

So, this year, the award for best ensemble takes on an especially profound meaning.

While solos enhance the plot, and duets can create a lovely, romantic interlude, the ensembles are what bring it all together.

Here's hoping that next year, we can form our own ensemble.

Here are the nominees for Best Ensemble of the Year.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Duluth High School, Sister Act Junior, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Lakeview Academy, Urinetown, Lanier High School, The Addams Family, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Tri-Cities High School, Fela!

- And the award goes to Ringgold High School, Anastasia.

(students screaming) - We're just so grateful that we were even nominated for this performance, much less got the award.

We've been aiming and trying for so long and working so much on our ensemble and their performance this year has been absolutely stunning.

All the choreography, the facials, just acting, everything.

And we couldn't have done it without all of the help from Miss Ellis and Miss Kelly.

So, thank you so much Shuler Awards, thank you so much to my amazing ensemble, and thank you to our directors.

We're so happy to receive this award.

(chimes ringing) - Hello everyone, happy Shuler Awards!

My name is Yesenia Ayala, and I am a Broadway performer, last seen playing Anita in the West Side Story Broadway revival, just before the shutdown.

I just wanna impart a little advice to those looking to pursue a career in theatre and that is simply to be kind to everyone.

That not only includes your director, music director, choreographer and fellow performers, but also wardrobe, crew, ushers, your doormen, musicians, even your cleaning people.

Anyone who is instrumental in running a show is worth your kindness and it doesn't cost you anything.

It'll make everyone's experience enjoyable, including your own.

- Hey everyone, my name is Jamil Jude and I am Artistic Director at True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia.

On behalf of all of the directors, I'm so proud to be representing you all and to be presenting the nominees for Best Director.

You know, the work of a director is hard stuff.

We have to articulate and create the vision for an entire production, we have to fuse dance, song, spoken word, and we have to marry the talent of directors and designers together with choreography, with lighting design, costume design, scenic, amongst so many others.

You know, the mark of a well-directed piece is when the talents of all those individual performers and designers come together, shine and sparkle, and the invisible hand of a skilled director fades into the background.

This year's nominees for Best Director.

- [Announcer] Kirk Grizzle, Denmark High School, The Theory of Relativity, Brandy Carter, Duluth High School, Sister Act Junior, Joshua Sinyard, Glynn Academy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Stephen Hansen, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Cece Conrath, Lakeview Academy, Urinetown, Jane Ellis, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Jade Lambert-Smith, Tri-Cities High School, Fela!

- And the Shuler goes to (drums rolling) Jane Ellis for Anastasia, Ringgold High School.

(students screaming) Congratulations Jane.

- Thank you so much.

I accept this honor on behalf of the entire Anastasia production team, for Kelly Schroeder, Jason DuPay, we thank Chloe Sneider and her technical team, Nehemiah Davis and Libby Hicks in the sound booth, making us sound amazing, for the Performing Arts Booster Club and Ringgold High School Administrators, for the county office, Deena Reese.

This was a collaborative effort and we could not have done it without each one of you.

Thank you for helping us make it a success.

- Hello, I'm Jennifer Dobbs, Executive Director of the ArtsBridge Foundation.

Being a part of this organization and its mission to provide engaging arts education to K through 12 students across Georgia is one of my greatest joys.

The arts have helped each of us during these trying times, by providing creative outlets, assisting our education, and most importantly, aiding our mental health.

I am so proud of all of our students for navigating with fortitude and hope as their worlds were turned upside down.

Congratulations to the schools whose performances we celebrate this evening, and thank you to our partners for helping us bring you the 2021 Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards.

(chimes ringing) - Before we present our final award of the evening, I wanna remind you, as I do every year, to stick around until the end of the show.

You do not wanna miss the closing number.

Especially if you're a fan of Hamilton, oh I was supposed to say spoiler alert first.

Any case, I would appreciate if you would also watch until the very last credit scrolls by and we fade to black.

Let's all recognize our entire family of sponsors who know the importance of the arts, and back it up by making this show as well as other outstanding ArtsBridge programs possible.

I would also like to thank all of you, students, teachers, family members and theatre lovers, for embracing high school musical theatre and holding it close to our hearts.

We are gonna be back in the theatre soon, mark my words.

Now, let us take solace from Les Miserables, even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise, and you don't have to be Jean Valjean to get behind that.

Now, let's turn to the biggest award of the evening, this is the big one people.

As we all know, the Best Overall Production.

It's an award so big, in fact, that I can't present it by myself.

So I'm gonna call on a good friend for help.

Please welcome the President and CEO of the Georgia Lottery, Gretchen Corbin.

- Thank you Shuler.

As proud, long-time sponsors of the Shuler Awards, all of us at the Georgia Lottery Corporation are excited to present the award for Best Overall Production.

You know, at the Georgia Lottery, we are also very much about overall production, because every time someone plays one of our lottery games, a Georgia student wins.

Did you know that since 1993 our corporation has returned more than $23 billion to the state of Georgia for education?

Which has made sure that 1.9 million students have been able to receive the Hope Scholarship and more than 1.6 million four-year-olds have attended lottery-funded pre-K programs.

Well this all-for-one spirit is essential for success, whether you are talking about education programs, or high school musical theatre performances.

You know, the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts.

And that is also true for this year's nominees for Best Overall Production.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Duluth High School, Sister Act Junior, Glynn Academy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Gordon Central High School, Little Women, Greenbrier High School, Carousel, Lakeview Academy, Urinetown, Ringgold High School, Anastasia, Tri-Cities High School, Fela!

(bells dinging) - And the Shuler Award for Best Overall Production goes to Ringgold High School, Anastasia!

(students screaming) - Hello Shulers!

I am Joshua Rodrigueza, and I will be accepting the award for Best Overall Production, and as a senior of Ringgold High School, I am so proud to take this award home.

We would like to thank Miss Ellis, Miss Kelly, our very wonderful directors, and our RHS Booster Club, and our parents, for doing the behind-the-scenes.

And thank you so much for this award.

(chimes ringing) - You've almost made it, don't go away or you'll miss the big finish.

But, before our final amazing performance of the night, I wanna thank you for joining us for the 2021 Shuler Awards.

And I say this with optimism, confidence, and resilience, I truly look forward to seeing you next year at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

And now, Hamilton.

(dramatic music) ♪ What's your name man ♪ ♪ Alexander Hamilton ♪ ♪ Alexander Hamilton ♪ ♪ When America sings for you ♪ ♪ Will they know what you overcame ♪ ♪ Will they know you rewrote the game ♪ ♪ The world will never be the same ♪ ♪ What's your name man ♪ ♪ Alexander Hamilton ♪ ♪ Work, work, Angelica ♪ ♪ Work, work, Eliza ♪ ♪ And Peggy ♪ ♪ Work, work ♪ ♪ The Schuyler sisters ♪ ♪ Angelica, Peggy, Eliza, work ♪ ♪ Daddy said to be home by sundown ♪ ♪ Daddy doesn't need to know ♪ ♪ Daddy said not to go downtown ♪ ♪ Like I said, you're free to go ♪ ♪ Look around, look around ♪ ♪ Angelica, remind me what we're looking for ♪ ♪ She's looking for me ♪ ♪ Eliza I'm looking for a mind at work, work ♪ ♪ I'm looking for a mind at work, work ♪ ♪ I'm looking for a mind at work, work ♪ ♪ Whoah, whoah ♪ ♪ Whoah, whoah, work, whoo ♪ ♪ See, I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine ♪ ♪ So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane ♪ ♪ You want a revolution ♪ ♪ I want a revelation ♪ ♪ So listen to my declaration ♪ ♪ We hold these truths to be self-evident ♪ ♪ That all men are created equal ♪ ♪ And when I meet Thomas Jefferson, uh ♪ ♪ I'ma compel him to include women in the sequel, work ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine ♪ ♪ So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane ♪ ♪ You want a revolution ♪ ♪ I want a revelation ♪ ♪ So listen to my declaration ♪ ♪ We hold these truths to be self-evident ♪ ♪ That all men are created equal ♪ ♪ Look around, look around ♪ ♪ At how lucky we are to be alive right now ♪ ♪ History is happening in Manhattan ♪ ♪ And we just happen to be in the greatest city ♪ ♪ In the greatest city in the world ♪ ♪ In the greatest city in the world ♪ ♪ No one else was in the room where it happened ♪ ♪ The room where it happened ♪ ♪ The room where it happened ♪ ♪ No one else was in the room where it happened ♪ ♪ The room where it happened ♪ ♪ The room where it happened ♪ ♪ My God, in God we trust ♪ ♪ But we never really know what got discussed ♪ ♪ Click boom, then it happened ♪ ♪ But no one else was in the room where it happened ♪ ♪ When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game ♪ ♪ But you don't get a win unless you play in the game ♪ ♪ Oh, you get love for it ♪ ♪ You get hate for it ♪ ♪ You get nothing if you wait for it, wait for it, wait ♪ ♪ What do you want Burr ♪ ♪ What do you want Burr ♪ ♪ If you stand for nothing, then what'll you fall for ♪ ♪ I've got to be ♪ ♪ The room where it happened ♪ ♪ I've got to be ♪ ♪ The room where it happened ♪ ♪ Oh I've got to be in the room where it happened ♪ ♪ I've got to be ♪ ♪ The room where it happened ♪ ♪ In the room ♪ ♪ I wanna be in the room where it happened ♪ ♪ Click boom ♪ (light music) ♪ The Battle of Yorktown 1781 ♪ ♪ The world turned upside down ♪ ♪ The world turned upside down ♪ ♪ The world turned upside down ♪ ♪ The world turned upside down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down ♪ ♪ The world turned upside down ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I am not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ I am not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ Hey yo, I'm just like my country ♪ ♪ I'm young, scrappy and hungry ♪ ♪ And I'm not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ Rise up ♪ ♪ When you're living on your knees, you rise up ♪ ♪ Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up ♪ ♪ Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up ♪ ♪ When are these colonies gonna rise up ♪ ♪ When are these colonies gonna rise up ♪ ♪ When are these colonies gonna rise up ♪ ♪ When are these colonies gonna rise up ♪ ♪ Rise up ♪ ♪ And I am not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ I am not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ Hey yo, I'm just like my country ♪ ♪ I'm young, scrappy, and hungry ♪ ♪ And I'm not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ We're gonna rise up ♪ ♪ Not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ We're gonna rise up ♪ ♪ Not throwin' away my shot ♪ ♪ We're gonna rise up, rise up ♪ ♪ It's time to take a shot ♪ ♪ Rise up, rise up ♪ ♪ It's time to take a shot ♪ ♪ Rise up, it's time to take a shot ♪ ♪ Rise up, take a shot, a shot, a shot ♪ ♪ Yo, it's time to take a shot, time to take a shot ♪ ♪ And I am not throwin' away my ♪ ♪ Not throwin' away my shot ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I've got a great idea ♪ ♪ You helped to make it grow ♪ ♪ And let my dreams run free ♪ ♪ Be whatever I want to be ♪ ♪ 'Cause of you the world looks bright to me ♪ - [Narrator] The Georgia Lottery has raised over $23 billion for education, allowing kids to go as far as their imaginations will take them.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Funding for this program is provided by, our presenting sponsor, the Georgia Lottery, Bennett Thrasher, Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta, The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia State University Television, Delta Community Credit Union, Jimmy and Helen Carlos, Scicom Infrastructure Services, Kia Motors America, Alliance Theatre, the Andrews and Flanders families, Benson Family Foundation Fund, Broadway Dreams Foundation, Lockstep Technology Group, Georgia Council for the Arts, Jubilee Cultural Arts Alliance, John and Mary Franklin Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Aurora Theatre, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Orbit Arts Academy, The Dobbs/Bernston Family, The Job Kakkasseril Family, Chick-fil-A, Clear Channel Outdoor, Cobb Galleria Center, Diaz Foods, Encore Atlanta, Gibbs Creative, Music Theatre International, Nicholas Wolaver, Pamela Pimpleton, and Subway.

(upbeat music)