♪ >>> AFTER TWO LONG YEARS, GEORGE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER HAS RETURNED TO THE STAGE WITH INSPIRATIONAL THEMES THAT RESONATE WITH STUDENTS AND AUDIENCES.

>> WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IN OUR COUNTRYTHAT RESONATE WITH AUDIENCES.

>> WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IN OUR COUNTRY USING MUSIC REALLY HELPS THIS YEAR.

>> GETTING BACK TO LIVE PERFORMANCES CAME WITH COUNTLESS CHALLENGES.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU COME IT REHEARSAL, AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE PLAN BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO WILL BE THERE.

HOW LONG THEY'LL BE GONE.

>> REGARDLESS OF THE STRUGGLES, EFFORTS DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF ART, POWER OF CHANGE.

>> THE POWER TO CONNECT.

>> MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE SHOW SO FAR IS BEING BACK ON STAGE AND BEING ABLE TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE.

>> AND THE POWER TO INSPIRE.

>> BE THE HERO OF YOUR OWN WORLD, EMBRACING YOURSELF, YOUR OWN ABILITIES, AND KNOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] .

.

♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ARTS BRIDGE FOUNDATION, IT'S THE 2022 GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS.

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA.

TONIGHT WE RECOGNIZE THE YEAR'S BEST PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR.

NOW PLEASE WELCOME YOUR HOST, SHULER HENSLEY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE FINANCIAL AS YOU CAN SEE.

I'M UNABLE TO JOIN YOU TONIGHT IN PERSON.

MOST OF YOU KNOW I'M IN PRODUCTION ON BROADWAY OF "THE MUSIC MAN" STARRING MY GOOD FRIEND HUGH JACKMAN, DO YOU KNOW WHO IT IS?

ANYONE?

I DON'T SEE MANY HANDS.

ANYWAY, I COMPLETELY PLANNED ON TAKING THE NIGHT OFF TO BE WITH YOU BECAUSE I LOVE THE SHULER AWARDS, I LOVE THE GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL THEATER KIDS, I LOVE IT ALL, BUT WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, AS OF YESTERDAY I TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

I'M FINE, DON'T WORRY.

A COLD.

BUT TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE I HAD TO MAKE THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISION TO BE PART OF THIS YEAR'S SHOW VIRTUALLY.

BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT WHAT I INTENDED BUT AS WE HAVE LEARNED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

AH.

NEVERTHELESS, I AM THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE 14th ANNUAL GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS, DESPITE THIS UNORTHODOX START, TONIGHT WE WILL STILL HONOR THE BEST PERFORMANCES AND PRODUCTIONS FROM HIGH SCHOOL AS CROSS GEORGIA.

IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO ATLANTA'S PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM AND WHO IN THE WORLD OF MUSICAL THEATER IS NOT LIKE SPORTS THEN YOU PROBABLY SEEN ME WORKING WITH UNITED ATLANTA AND UNITED FALCONS PLEA PLEASE WELCOME MICHELE TAFOYA AND BETH KEENER.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THE ENERGY IS FANTASTIC.

>> FEELS AMAZING.

>> I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

>> I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE AT THE SHULERS >> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I GUESS WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR THEM, DON'T WE CHELSEA.

ARE YOU READY?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ARE YOU READY?

>> ABSOLUTELY READY.

I WAS BORN FOR THIS.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER IS A SONG AND DANCE MAN SO MUSICAL THEATER IS IN MY DNA.

BESIDES I'M A HUGE FAN OF THIS SHOW.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND I'VE BEEN BRUSHING UP ON MY THEATRER KNOWLEDGE.

I STARTED OFF WITH ROGERS AND HANDER AND THEN SOME SONHEIM TO GERSHWIN, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU CAN'T FORGET ABOUT LIN MANUEL MIRANDA AND SWITCHED TO MUSICALS BASED ON MOVIES.

LIKE "LEGALLY BLOND" [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK, CHELSEA.

>> HEY, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DOWN TIME.

>> INDEED, WE HAVE.

LISTEN, THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.

IT'S SO GREAT TO BE BACK AGAIN, LIVE AND IN PERSON, YOU GUYS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AFTER A CHALLENGING COUPLE OF YEARS THE ATLANTA HIGH SCHOOL ARTS COMMUNITY HAS ROARED BACK TO LIFE, HAVE WE NOT?

AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO TONIGHT.

WE HAVE NO FEWER THAN 18 TROPHIES TO HAND OUT AND COOL DOZEN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES >> ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU ARE AS EXCITED AS WE ARE PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

I'M TALKING INSTAGRAM, I'M TALKING TIKTOK, I'M TALKING WHATEVER SOCIAL MEDIA YOU'RE ON, PLEASE #SHULER22.

>> WITH THAT LET'S HAND OUT SOME AWARDS, RIGHT, CHELSEA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY ARE READY.

TONIGHT'S FIRST IS MUSIC PRODUCER, FOUR TIME EMMY AWARD WINNER.

>> AND JUST HAPPENS TO BE THIS SHOW'S MUSICAL CONDUCTOR.

PLEASE WELCOME THE PHENOMENALLY TALENTED, SHERYL RODGERS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> HI.

HELLO, EVERYBODY, WELL ORCHESTRA HELPS TO TELL THE STORY INVOKING A RANGE OF EMOTIONS TO LET THE AUDIENCE SEE AND HEAR THE STORY AND ACTUALLY FEEL IT.

FOR INSTANCE.

HEARING THIS.

♪ MIGHT RIP YOUR HEART OUT.

[ LAUGHTER ] OR, IF YOU HEAR THIS -- ♪♪ -- YOU KNOW SOMETHING HUGE IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] WHICH IT IS.

BECAUSE YOU ARE ABOUT TO MEET THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES FOR BEST ORCHESTRA.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> JIM PALMER, ALATUNA HIGH SCHOOL.

CINDERELLA.

SCOTT WILLIS, HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL, MATT ILDA.

ANGELA -- NORTH GOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.

MARY POPPINS.

JOSH ROBERTS, INTO THE WOODS.

>> OH, MY GOSH, AND THE WINNER IS -- THE SHULER AWARD FOR ORCHESTRA GOES TO SCOTT WILLIS, HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE MUSIC ALLOY MATT ILDA" FOR THE MUSICAL "MATILDA" [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> WOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CLEARLY I'M NOT SCOTT.

HE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO ACCEPT THIS ON HIS BEHALF.

WE ADDED ORCHESTRA COUPLE YEARS AGO AND IT'S BECOME ONE OF OUR ELEMENTS OF THE SHOW AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR THOSE KIDS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO OUR KIDS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ GOOD LUCK STUDENTS ♪ ♪ BREAK LEG, STUDENTS ♪ ♪ GOOD LUCK, STUDENTS ♪ ♪ WE WISH YOU THE BEST LUCK NOW ♪ ♪ >> HI, SHULER AWARDS!

WELCOME BACK.

>> YEAH.

>> I HOPE YOU HAVE THE BEST NIGHT.

♪♪ >> THE SHULER AWARD FOR BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION IS BIGGEST ONE OF THE NIGHT, WE'LL ANNOUNCE NEAR THE END THE SHOW, FOR NOW, GET READY FOR INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES FROM THE SIX HIGH SCHOOLS DOMINATED FOR THE NIGHT'S MOST COVETED AWARD.

HERE'S A TASTE OF WHAT'S IN STORE.

FIRST HEAD OFF TO A MEDITERRANEAN DESTINATION WEDDING, THEN JOURNEY BACK IN TIME FOR REVOLUTION.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] FOLLOWED BY A JAUNT TO JOLLY OLD ENGLAND.

NEXT WE'LL GO FOR A DEEP DIVE UNDER THE SEA [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] BEFORE HOPPING ON WITH A PILOT WITH QUITE A FEW TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THAT'S A LOT OF TRAVEL.

DO WE HAVE SCUM OUTS, ANYONE?

FIRST UP, WE'RE HEADING TO NIGERIA TO EXPERIENCE THE LIFE OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICIANS, ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS TO EVER EMERGE FROM AFRICA -- AND HERE TO PERFORM FROM THE MUSICAL SAY LA.

PLEASE WELCOME TRICITIES HIGH SCHOOL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ].

NO ONE CAN EVER KILL, SO LET US TURN NIGERIA UPSIDE DOWN.

THE POLICE WILL TRY TO SLOW US DOWN BUT THE GOVERNMENT WON'T DARE COME NEAR ME!

I AM THE LAW AND WILL DO WHAT I PLEASE!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] SO, YEAH, MAN, MAKE ME YOUR NEXT BLACK PRESIDENT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] GET IT, GET T GET IT, GET IT HOT ♪ ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> AN ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SITS ON THE ARTS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COUNCILMAN WESTMORELAND.

>> GOOD EVENING.

AS A MEMBER OF THE ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SUPPORT THE ARTS, THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURED PERFORMER WHICH GOES TO AN INDIVIDUAL PERFORMER, WHILE EACH NOMINEE STANDS OUT, ONLY ONE CAN TAKE ONLY THE PRIZE.

>> GRAYSON TAYLOR.

GREENBRIER HIGH SCHOOL.

"SHE LOVES ME".

HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL, "MATLIDA".

LAKE VIEW A CAM MY.

NOAH CAPLAN.

"SOMETHING ROTTEN".

LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

LANIER HIGH SCHOOL," FOOTLOOSE".

MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, "LES MISERABLES."

>> AND THE SHULER AWARD GOES TO LAKE VIEW ACADEMY, NOAH CAPLAN "SOMETHING ROTTEN".

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THIS IS AMAZING.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY DIRECTORS, MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY, ALTHOUGH I CALL ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS PROCESS FAMILY.

AND FINAL STATEMENT, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN MAXIMIZING THE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN THROUGH THE FINE ARTS.

SO THANK ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS ACCOMPLISHED SOPRANO, WELL-VERSED IN OPRA AND MUSICAL THEATER, WHEN NOT SHOWING OFF HER OWN VOICE SHE ADVOCATES FOR THE VOICES OF BLACK WOMEN, PLEASE WELCOME JAMIE ALILA.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> AS AN ARTIST I'VE LEARNED THAT A GREAT COSTUME ALLOWS PERFORMERS TO BRING EVEN MORE PASSION AND ENERGY TO THEIR WORK.

THERE'S JUST NOTHING LIKE BEING DRESSED IN FLORAL FINERY.

OR ROYAL REGALE OR EVEN AS A CLOWN FISH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] LET'S MEET TONIGHT'S NOMINEES.

>> MARIA MILLER AND EMILY, DENMARK HIGH SCHOOL.

CURTAINS.

-- LAKEVIEW ACADEMY, "SOMETHING ROTTEN".

-- "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

"CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

JAY LAMBERT SMITH -- GRAYSON HIGH SCHOOL, "FELA!".

WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!".

>> AND THE WINNER IS -- JULIANA LOPEZ, LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MISS CARLY AND MR. WATTSON FOR THIS INSANE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS MY ENTIRE COSTUME CREW, BECCA, SASHY, CAM, MISS JULIE, I TRULY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> LET'S TAKE A TRIP TO A FICTIONAL GREEK ISLAND TO ATTEND A DREAM DESTINATION WEDDING.

WHILE WE'RE THERE LET'S ANSWER ONE QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WANT YOUR DAD TO WALK YOU DOWN THE AISLE AISLE BUT YOU ARE NOT SURE WHO HE IS, YOU GET ONE OF THE BIGGEST HIT WHOSICALS FROM THE MODERN ERA HERE TO PERFORM "MAMMA MIA!"

NOMINEE FOR BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION, WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >>> OUR NEXT PRESENTER HAS AN UNPARALLELED PASSION FOR THEATER.

HE SERVES AS A COUNCILMEMBER FOR THE GEORGIA COUNCIL OF THE ARTS AND IS ALSO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE ATLANTA THEATER.

PLEASE WELCOME COLT CHAMBERS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> EVERYONE APPRECIATES THE WORK OF THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES BUT WITHOUT GOOD LIGHTING THEIR PERFORMANCES WOULD BE LEFT IN THE DARK.

THE SHULER AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING DESIGN IS FOR THOSE WHO BRIGHTEN EVERYONE ON STAGE.

HERE'S YOUR NOMINEES.

MADISON -- "SHE LOVES ME".

HIRAM HIGH SCHOOL," BRING IT ON".

LAMBERT, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

CARTER, MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

"LES MISERABLES".

ASHTON HEAD, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN" RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL.

EMILY HAUSMAN, STARR'S MILL HIGH SCHOOL," PIPPIN".

>> AND THE WINNER FOR BEST LIGHTING DESIGN IS THOMAS SCHNITZER, LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE CAST AND CREW FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THEY PUT INTO THE SHOW AND FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGHOUT THE WAY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR AMAZING DIRECTOR CARLY -- FOR GIVING US THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR AMAZING ADMIN FOR LETTING US USE FOG IN OUR PERFORMANCE AND THANKS TO MY PARENT FOR LET MEG STAY LATE HOURS WORKING ON THE LIGHTING FOR THE SHOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> HELLO, SHULER AWARDS, I'M PHILLIP BOYKIN, TONY AND GRAMMY-AWARD NOMINEE.

I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL BACK TO THE SHULER AWARDS AND I WANT THE TO WISH YOU A LOT OF LUCK TONIGHT.

WELCOME BACK.

♪ >> HEY, GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS MY NAME IS NICK RODRIGUEZ AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON BROADWAY.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO SHOUT OUT AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL ON TONIGHT'S AWARD.

I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM WITHOUT AN AMAZING HIGH SCHOOL THEATER PROGRAM.

LEARNED SO MUCH IN HIGH SCHOOL.

CONGRATS TO YOU ALL.

NOT JUST THE NOMINEES AND WINNERS BUT ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING THEATER HAPPEN, ALL OF THE WORK YOU BRING.

HOPEFULLY I'LL SEE YOU ON BROADWAY SOME DAY SOON.

>> IT'S TIME FOR ONE OF MY FAVORITE AWARDS AND PERFORMANCES OF THE NIGHT, THE SHOWSTOPPER.

NOT A PHONE GOING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAL ADD THAT IS STOPPING A SHOW FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS, I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THE RIGHT ONES.

EACH YEAR SHULER AWARDS RECOGNIZES ONE SCHOOL FOR A PERFORMANCE SO GREAT, SO GRAND, SO OVER THE TOP THAT IT STOPS THE SHOW IN ITS TRACK AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IT, IT GOES TO MILTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE FROM "ANASTASIA" [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ PARIS HOLDS THE KEY TO YOUR HEART ♪♪ ALL OF PARIS ♪ ♪ PLAYS A PART ♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WOW.

WOW.

COME ON.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF A VERY LOVELY SPLIT THERE.

SO RUDE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MILTON HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HERE WITH THE DIRECTOR DAVID HOPKINS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND THIS IS DEFINITELY WHAT A SHOWSTOPPER REALLY LOOKS LIKE.

SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL EVERYONE OUT THERE, YOUR STUDENTS, AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD >> IT'S AMAZING.

I'M JUST SO INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR -- FOR THESE KIDS, THE BEAUTIFUL CAST AND CREW AND MY FELLOW DIRECTORS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT GIVE AND GIVE AND GIVE.

THAT'S IN OUR TROOPS AND YOUR TROOPS AMAZING ADMINISTRATORS, BRIAN JONES, YES, CHAMPION.

THE BOARD.

KATY STEWART, AGAIN, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ARTS EDUCATION.

THANK YOU.

>> WELL-SAID, THANK YOU MR. HOPKINS.

CHELSEA?

>> HEY, EVERYONE, BETH, I AM COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM BACK STAGE WHERE THE STUDENTS FROM MILTON HIGH SCHOOL ARE MAKING THEIR EXIT STAGE RIGHT.

AS YOU CAN SEE A QUICK LOOK AROUND WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW IMPORTANT SCENERY IS TO A PRODUCTION.

WITHOUT IT THE ACTORS WOULD BE PERFORMING IN FRONT OF A BRICK WALL.

WELL, WHILE I TRY TO SPRUCE THINGS UP AROUND HERE I WILL TURN THE SHOW OVER TO OUR NEXT PRESENTER.

SHE'S AN OPERATIC COMPOSER AND PHOTOGRAPHER AND CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORIAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HER CAREER TO PRESERVING AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND HAS MORE DEGREES THAN MY THERMOSTAT, YOU GO GIRL, PLEASE WELCOME -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

WHEN IT COMES TO HISTORY I OBSESS ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS.

SCENIC DESIGNERS SET THE STAGE FOR THE BEST OF THEM.

INCLUDING TONIGHT'S NOMINEES, THEY KNOW HOW TO TRANSFORM THE SMALLEST VISUAL DETAIL INTO SOMETHING MAGNIFICENT.

>> EMILY KRU C KOW AND LORE IANA VALDEZ, GREENBRIER," SHE LOVES ME".

HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL, "MATLIDA".

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY, "SOMETHING ROTTEN".

SIM JONES, MILTON HIGH SCHOOL, ANNA STASH.

RINGGOLD, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!".

>> AND THE WINNER IS -- SIM JONES.

[ CHEERS >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS SUCH AN HONOR AND A SURPRISE.

FIRST OF ALL, I AM BY NO MEANS THE ONLY SCENE DESIGNER.

DAVID HOP KIN WHO'S WAS ON STAGE IS MY COLLABORATOR, MY FRIEND, WE WORKED SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER.

AND OCD CANNOT LET ANYTHING GO UNTIL IT'S DONE AND CORRECT.

BUT JAMIE, IENT WANT TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD ON BEHAVE OF EVERY SINGLE DESIGNER, EVERY PARENT, EVERY STUDENT WHO RAISED A HAMMER, PICKED UP A PAINT BRUSH, AND GIVES TO CREATING THE WORLD IN WHICH THE ACTORS GET TO LIVE THROUGH THE SHOW.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BEEN A PLEASURE BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE EVENING.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> WHAT'S UP, EVERYBODY, AT THE GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS.

THIS IS CIARA VARGAS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK TONIGHT AND TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE ALL ENOUGH.

YOU ARE SO ENOUGH.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW ENOUGH YOU ARE.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT MUSICAL THEATER AND THEATER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IS WHAT IT TAUGHT ME IS THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

SO, EVERYBODY IS A TEAM SPORT AND I LEARNED THAT WHEN I WAS EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE, RIGHT NOW, SO I'M SO EXCITED FOR EVERYBODY AND HAVE THE BEST TIME CELEBRATING, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY, AND BEING A TEAM SPORT.

♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> WELL, NOW TO HELP ME PRESENT THE SHULER AWARDS FOR LEADING ACTRESS, JOINED BY LAST YEAR'S WINNER.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> HI, SHULER, GREAT TO BE HERE.

YES, I WON.

>> WELL, YOU WON LAST YEAR FOR YOUR ROLE IN CAROUSEL SO BRIEFLY TELL US WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE BACK THERE LAST SPRING SHOW.

>> HONESTLY IT WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EVEN PERFORM, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.

SO WITH A SHOW LIKE CAROUSEL WITH A STRONG THEME OF HOPE AND MOVING FORWARD WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU,IZEA BELLA, I KNOW EVERYONE WANTS TO BE YOU SO WE'RE GOING TO GET TO IT WITH THIS YEAR'S PERFORMANCE BY ALL OF YOUR BEST LEADING ACTRESS NOMINEES.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ '♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> NOW THE NOMINEES FOR BEST LEADING ACTRESS.

>> GEORGIA THOMAS, GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN, "ANASTASIA".

MARIE PUCKETT, JOHNS CREEK, "BRIGHT STAR".

MADDIE ROSS, LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

OLIVIA RODMAN, ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL, "INTO THE WOODS".

ELLA DUNCAN, WEST FORSYTHE HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!".

GRACIE PRICE, WHITEFIELD ACADEMY, "GUYS AND DOLLS".

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> AND YOUR 2022 BEST LEADING ACTRESS IS -- ONE SECOND -- THEY REALLY GLUED THIS, OKAY -- GEORGIA THOMAS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> HI.

HI.

UM, I'M SHAKING, OH, MY GOSH.

I HAVE SOME QUICK THANK YOUS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE AT ARCH BRIDGE FOR GIVING GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOLERS THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR MY FELLOW NOMINEES FOR BEING SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING, TALENTED PEOPLE I'VE EVER GOT TO WORK WITH.

THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, WILL, YOUR FAMILY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, THERE YOU ARE, HI, THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE CAST AND CREW OF "ANASTASIA", DR. MILLER, MR. CASEY AND MISS FAMES YOU GUYS ARE MY HOME AND LOVE AND FAMILY AND I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> WHOO, THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING NIGHT, GOT ME HUFFING AND PUFFING OVER HERE, WHILE THE PERFORMERS LOOK LIKE THEY ARRIVED SEAMLESSLY.

YOU ARE WITNESSING DOZEN OF VOLUNTEER ADJUDICAORS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ATTENDING SHOWS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE TO ENSURE ONLY THE BEST OF THE BEST RECEIVE NOMINATIONS ACROSS OUR 17 CATEGORIES.

IN ADDITION TO THE LIVE PERFORMANCES, SCHOOLS ALSO SUBMITTED VIDEOS DESCRIBING HOW THEY CREATED THEIR PRODUCTIONS, SUCCESSFUL ADDITION TO LAST YEAR'S VIRTUAL BROADCAST.

AFTER DECIDING THESE BROUGHT INTRIGUING BEHIND THE SCENES INCITED TO THE ADJUDICATORS REGARDING HOW THE SCHOOL'S OVER CAME A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES.

AND WITH THE HELP OF THE BENEFIT ACCOUNTING FIRM THE RESULTS OF THE ADJUDICATION PROCESS WERE TALLIED AND SEALED BEFORE TONIGHT'S BROADCAST FOR THE NEXT PRESENTER.

HE'S THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF DELTA CREDIT UNION WHOSE DEDICATION TO THE ROCKS HAS BEEN A BEDROCK FOR THIS SHOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MATTHEW -- [ APPLAUSE ].

>> ACTORS AND ACTRESSES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO NEED PITCH-PERFECT PRECISION.

THE AWARD FOR BEST TECHNICAL EXECUTION GO TO THE SCHOOL WITH BEST PRODUCTION INCLUDING STAGE HANDS, LIGHTING TECHNICIANS, AUDIO AND MORE.

HERE ARE YOUR NOMINEES.

ALLATOONA HIGH SCHOOL," CINDERELLA".

JOHNS CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, "BRIGHT STAR".

LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

NORTH HALL HIGH SCHOOL," BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN" ST. PIUS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, "THE ADDAMS FAMILY" >> AND THE WINNER IS -- CARLY ANN LOVELL, THOMAS SCHNITZER AND MEGHAN HUNTER.

♪♪ >> OH, MY GOODNESS.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL" IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOWS WE'VE EVER DONE.

THE HARDEST SHOW TO TACKLE.

VAND TO SAY WITH ALL OF MY HEART THIS SHOW WOULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT MY TWO INCREDIBLY, ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE STAGE MANAGERS BEHIND ME, THOMAS SCHNITZER AND MEGHAN HUNTER, THEY'RE PHENOMENAL.

I LOVE THEM TO DEATH.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.

>> WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR BACK STAGE CREW AND COSTUME CREW.

>> AND SPOTLIGHT OPERATORS AND AMAZING SOUND PEOPLE RUNNING OUR SHOW.

HOOK EM!

>> HOOK EM!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH, FEW SHOWS DEMONSTRATE THE MAGIC OF THEATER BETTER THAN THE CLASSIC TALE, "LES MISERABLES."

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND THIS YEAR A FEW SCHOOLS TOLD THIS TALE BETTER THAN MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S WHY THEY ARE YOUR NEXT NOMINEE FOR BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> SHE'S A SINGER AND PERFORMER, BEST KNOWN FOR HER ROLE AS ARIEL IN "THE LITTLE MERMAID" AND NOW SHE'S PART OF OUR WORLD TOO.

PLEASE WELCOME DISNEY LEGEND, JODIE BENZON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING WITH ALL OF YOU.

FROM SOARING EPICS TO HEARTBREAKING BALADS IT'S TRULY THE MUSIC THAT REMAINS IN HOUR HEADS LONG AFTER THE CURTAIN COMES DOWN.

AND THE NOMINEES FOR BEST MUSIC DIRECTION ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING THE UNFORGETTABLE SONGS THAT WE HAVE COME TO KNOW AND TO LOVE.

AND HERE ARE THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES.

♪♪ -- GARY BRIGHTWELL.

-- MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, "LES MISERABLES".

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, "THE SOUND OF MUSIC".

-- "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

"FELA!".

-- ALL SHOOK UP.

>> THIS IS SO EXCITING.

AN THE SHULER AWARD FOR MUSIC DIRECTION GOES TO -- MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, "LES MISERABLES".

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

OH, MY GOD.

>> OH, HI, GUYS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU.

OH, MY GOSH, WHAT A DIFFICULT SHOW, MUSICALLY.

.

I MEAN THE MUSIC DOESN'T TO.

-- DOESN'T STOP.

WHEN I WAS 16 MY BAND DIRECTOR TOOK ME TO NEW YORK CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WE SAW "LES MISERABLES" AND IT WAS MY FIRST BROADWAY SHOW EVER, HE'S HERE WITH US TONIGHT, AND I LOVE YOU JEFFERY BOUZER, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SHOW.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] OH, AND MY STUDENTS WORKED SO, SO, SO HARD.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FOR THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE SHULER AWARDS PARTICIPANTS AND NOMINEES.

I'MLE CO-COOGRAPHY FOR THE ENSEMBLE THIS YEAR.

THE SHULER'S ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART, THE FIRST TIME I GOT TO WALK DOWN A RED CARPET AS A PERFORM ERP, AND FIRST TIME I GOT TO PERFORM OVER 1,000 PEOPLE AND FIRST TIME I GOT TO PERFORM WITH A LIVE BAND.

I MET SO MANY FRIEND ENDS UP GOING TO COLLEGE WITH LATER ON AND WE ALL REMEMBER THE SHULER AS THE FIRST NIGHT TO VALIDATE US AS PERFORMERS SO I TELL ALL OF YOU OUT THERE NEVER QUIT, NEVER GIVE UP, AND USE TONIGHT, THE EXCITEMENT OF TONIGHT AND THAT ANXIOUSNESS TO DRIVE YOU TO HAVE MORE AWARD SHOWS AND MORE THAT YOU CAN BE PROUD OF.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> SO, LISTEN, I LOVE KIDS.

I EVEN HAVE ONE OF MY OWN, SHE'S HERE TONIGHT.

BUT NOT EVERYONE LOVES KIDS, ESPECIALLY THE HORRIFYING HEAD MISTRESS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL WHERE MOTTO IS CHILDREN ARE MAGGOTS.

PRETTY REVOLTING.

SO REVOLTING IN FACT HERE TO SING ABOUT IT BEST NOMINEE OF BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE OF "MATLIDA", IT'S DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE OF THE SHULER AWARDS PARTICIPANTS AND NOMINEES.

I'M THE CO-COROGRAPHY FOR THE SHULER ENSEMBLE THIS YEAR AND WAS A MEMBER MYSELF IN 2010.

THE SHULER AWARDS WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I GOT TO PERFORM FOR OVER 1,000 PEOPLE AND THE VERY FIRST TIME I GOT TO PERFORM WITH A LIVE BAND.

I MET SO MANY FRIENDS WHO I LATER ON ENDED UP GOING TO COLLEGE WITH OR PERFORMING WITH LATER ON AND WE ALL REMEMBER THE SHULERS AS THE FIRST NIGHT OF VALIDATION AS PERFORMERS SO I TELL YOU ALL OUT THERE, NEVER QUIT, NEVER GIVE UP AND USE TONIGHT, USE THE EXCITEMENT OF TONIGHT, THE GIDDEYNESS AND ANXIOUSNESS TONIGHT TO DRIVE YOU TO HAVE MORE AWARD SHOWS AND HAVE MORE PROCESSES YOU CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> HEY, EVERYONE, I'M BACK, BECAUSE WE HAVE REACHED A VERY SPECIAL POINT OF THE EVENING AND I WANTED TO BRING YOU THIS NEWS MYSELF.

THIS YEAR THE ARTS BRIDGE FOUNDATION DECIDED TO COMBINE BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AND BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS INTO A GENDER-NEUTRAL CATEGORY, BEST PERFORMERS TO ALLOW US TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS OF ANY GENDER WHO SUPPORT PERFORMING ROLES IN THEIR SCHOOL'S PRODUCTIONS AND WE CAN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO BE A LEADER IN THIS AREA.

NOW TO PRESENT THIS VERY SPECIAL AWARD -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING, IN OUR WORK WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE, THE STRUGGLE FOR INCLUSIVITY FOR MARGINALIZED GROUPS IS AS VITAL TODAY AS IT EVER HAS BEEN.

AS HUMAN BEINGS IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WE'RE MUCH MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT.

SO TONIGHT I'M VERY PLEASED THE ARTS AS THEY TYPICALLY DO ARE LEADING THE WAY AS WE RECOGNIZE TWO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS WITH THE FIRST EVER SHULER AWARDS FOR BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER.

HERE ARE YOUR NOMINEES.

>> CALHOUN HIGH SCHOOL, "SOMETHING ROTTEN".

DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL, "MATILDA".

DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL, "MATILDA" -- JULIA WOLF DENMARK HIGH SCHOOL, CURTAINS, SCHOOL EDITION.

SHYLA ROZIERO, HIERM HIGH SCHOOL.

BRING IT ON.

JOHNS CREEK, "BRIGHT STAR".

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL, "ANASTASIA".

TY CRONAN NORTH HALL HIGH SCHOOL," BEAUTY AND THE BEAST".

RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN" -- WILL FORGEY, RINGGOLD, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

PRICE, STARR'S MILL HIGH SCHOOL.

PIPPIN.

BELLA YANTIS, WEST FORSYTHE, "MAMMA MIA!"

>> I HAVE TO SAY I'M ENJOYING WATCHING ALL OF THE ENTHUSIASM.

SO LET'S SEE WHO THE WINNERS ARE!

AND THE SHULER AWARDS FOR BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER GO TO LORELEI CALDER, DECATUR "MATILDA" AND SHYLA ROSARIO HIRAM HIGH SCHOOL," BRING IT ON" [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> GOT A DOUBLE HOLD HERE.

>> OH, MY GOD!

HA HA.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY ENTIRE HIRAM HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY MISS POOL, YOU HAVE REALITY JUST SUPPORTED ME.

CHELSEA, THANK YOU FOR BULLYING ME INTO CONTINUING TO DO THESE SHOWS THE.

THANK YOU TO MY KID AND BEST FRIEND COME ON -- THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE CAST AND CREW OF "BRING IT ON".

I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT YOU GUYS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WELL, I'M VERY OVER DRESSED.

HA HA.

I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE I NEED TO THANK, DR.

YES OB MY DIRECTORS I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU.

MR. DAVIS HOW MANY HOURS YOU STAYED AFTER WORK AT SCHOOL GETTING THIS SET DONE AND MY VOICE DIRECTOR CHANGED MY VOICE IN A YEAR, INSANE.

MY SISTER, OLIVIA, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS, YOU COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> HI, EVERYBODY, CHEERP CHEER .

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] COMING TO YOU RIGHT FROM MY DRESSING ROOM ON BROADWAY.

I KNOW IT'S YOUR THEATER AWARDS AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU.

IT'S BEEN TWO LONG YEARS.

AH, WE'RE FINALLY BACK, AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE EXCITED.

HERE'S MY ADVICE, HAVE A BLAST, GO OUT, GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU GOT.

THIS IS SO SPECIAL WHAT YOU GET TO DO.

I LOVE YOU SHULER SO MUCH.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH JOY DOING WHAT WE DO TO GIVE TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY NOW.

SO GO OUT THERE, HAVE A BLAST.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

AND I WISH I COULD MEET YOU ALL BUT I'M ON BROADWAY.

MAYBE SOME DAY YOU'LL BE ON BROADWAY TOO, SO, GO FOR YOUR DREAMS.

DON'T GIVE UP.

LOVE YOU ALL.

♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> IT'S NAUTICAL NONSENSE ♪ ♪ IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU WISH ♪ ♪ THAN FLOP ON THE DECK LIKE A FISH.

IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT OUR BEST NOMINEE FOR BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION HAS GOT YOU COVERED.

HERE TO PERFORM FROM "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL" GIVE IT UP FOR LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL.

ARE YOU READY KIDS?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THEY WERE ON FIRE.

OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE THEATER COMMUNITY, HE'S A GEORGIA STATE THESBIAN OFFICER AND GOVERNOR HOCHBOR GRADUATE.

PLEASE WELCOME GEORGIA HENRY U.

>> LET'S FACE IT.

IF YOU CAN'T HEAR THE MUSIC, YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE NO MUSIC AT ALL.

THE NOMINEES FOR BEST SOUND MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN HEAR THE HIGHEST TO LOWEST NOTE, NOT TO MENTION EVERY WHISPERING DIALOGUE.

HERE'S THE NOMINEES.

CRAIG LOVELL AND HAILEY WALKER.

LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL.

"THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

ERICA DOAN, NORTH FORSYTH "MAMMA MIA!".

PRINCE AVENUE, "THE SOUND OF MUSIC".

RINGGOLD.

"CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

ST. PIUS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL.

"THE ADDAMS FAMILY".

>> AND THIS SHULER FOR BEST SOUND GOES TO -- SARAH RAKOSKI AND BRENNAN CICCARELLI, ST. PIUS CATHOLIC "THE ADDAMS FAMILY".

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> OH, MY GOD.

I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS.

[ LAUGHTER ] OH, MY GOODNESS.

THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERELE I'D LOVE TO THANK ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND MY SUPPORTING CAST AND CREW, BIG THANKS TO THEM.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND OH, MY GOODNESS, BIG THANKS TO MR.

KID CORDARRELLE OUR TECH DIRECTOR WHO BASICALLY REVIVED OUR TECH CREW AND ALSO TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I KNOW AND I CAN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH >> DOING SOUND EFFECTS YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY LIGHT CREW AND KEITH CORDELL MADE SURE I DID EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO AND GUIDED US THROUGH THIS JOURNEY SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK HIM.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> I'M JOINED NOW BY YOU WINNER OF LAST YEAR'S BEST LEADING ACTOR AWARD, ARI MICHAELSER GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> YOU TOO.

I'M EXCITED WE CAN BE FACE-TO-FACE THIS YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN 2021 YOU WON FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE IN OFFICER LOCK STOCK IN LAKEVIEW ACADEMY'S PRODUCTION OF -- >> URINE TOWN.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO RECEIVE THE HONOR IN THE HEART OF A PANDEMIC.

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN I WAS EXPECTING.

SUCH A STRANGE EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ONE AND I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD.

>> I LIKE THAT ANSWER, WELL, IT'S TIME TO INVITE THIS YEAR'S BEST LEADING ACTOR NOMINEES TO PERFORM A MEDLEY OF THEIR VERY OWN.

>> WITHOUT FURTHER A DUP ADIEU, HERE ARE YOUR NOMINEES FOR BEST LEADING ACTOR.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ PLAY ON.

SPEAKING OF LOVE, HERE'S ONE FOR ALL OF YOU LOVERS OUT THERE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> THIS STORY, I WON'T TELL YOU.

THE STORY ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> EVERYBODY SAY YEAH YA!

♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> LET'S TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES FOR BEST LEADING ACTOR.

♪♪ >> DAVISON FILSON, LAKEVIEW ACADEMY, "SOMETHING ROTTEN".

CHARLES MCGREGOR, MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, "LES MISERABLES".

ELI TALLEY, RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

CONNOR MCCARTHY, ST. PIUS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, "THE ADDAMS FAMILY".

NICHOLAS ALEXANDER WILKINSON II TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL, "FELA!".

MERRICK THEOBALD, WEST FORSYTHE HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!"

>> AND THE SHULER GOES TO -- OH, I RIPPED IT -- HOLD ON -- NICHOLAS ALEXANDER WILKINSON THE THIRD -- SECOND.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> EVERYBODY SAY YEAH-YA!

WOW.

WELL, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK THE ARTS BRIDGE FOUNDATION FOR BRINGING THEATER BACK!

YES!

WHOO!

I WANT TO THANK MY MOM FOR BEING MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] HAVING TO LISTEN TO MY NIGERIAN ACCENT EVERY NIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK MY THEATER DIRECTOR, SMITH, AMAZING OUTSTANDING WOMAN, THANK MY STAFF, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING LIVE THEATER.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> WHAT A SPEECH!

OUR NEXT PRESENTER DOES IT ALL, PERFORMER, CHOREOGRAPHER, DIRECTOR AND EDUCATOR, PLEASE WELCOME CARRIE CLYMAN >> MUSICAL THEATER ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE WORDS WE SAY AND SONGS WE SING, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE MOVEMENT.

HOW THE HUMAN BODY PASSES THROUGH THE SPACE, THE METICULOUS ARRANGEMENT OF ONE GESTURE AFTER THE NEXT.

OH, AND YEAH, IT'S ALSO ABOUT SHAKING YOUR BOOTY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] HERE ARE YOUR NOMINEES FOR BEST CHOREOGRAPHY [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> HIRAM HIGH SCHOOL, "BRING IT ON".

CARLY ANN LOVELL, GAT ALLEY GERMAN, KATY RITCHIE, LAMBERT, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

JACKSON DUNLAP AND SARAH CHARLES LEWIS, MILTON, "ANASTASIA".

KAYLOR JONES, PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, "THE SOUND OF MUSIC".

JADE LAMBERT-SMITH AND BRIANA BUNKLEY, TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL, "FELA!".

SYDNEY STETSON, WEST FORSYTHE HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!"

>> AND THE SHULER AWARD GOES TO -- TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL, "FELA!"

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> YES!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> WOW.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, ARTS BRIDGE, THANK YOU TO OUR SCHOOL FOR SUPPORTING US, THANK YOU DAVE FOR BRINGING ME ALONG.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> I AM SO -- COME HERE, I AM SO EXCITED TO STAND HERE WITH BREANNA BUNKLEY SHE'S TRI-CITIES ALUM CLASS OF -- >> 2014!

>> AND SHE'S LITERALLY MY KINDRED SPIRIT, WE'D GO HOME, COME BACK WITH THE SAME PHRASING.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO GETS YOU.

WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYONE ELSE, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> IN A NIGHT FULL OF BIG MOMENTS IT'S TIME FOR MORE OF THE BIGGEST MOMENTS OF THE NIGHT.

THE SHULER AWARDS SPOTLIGHT AWARD.

THIS AWARD WAS CREATED FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON, BECAUSE SOMETIMES A SCHOOL'S EXCELLENCE DOESN'T FIT NEATLY INTO ONE CATEGORY AND SO TONIGHT WE SHINE THAT SPOTLIGHT ON GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE OF "STAY, I PRAY YOU" FROM "ANASTASIA".

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WOW.

YOU ALL DID AN AMAZING JOB.

I'M SURE THE SPOTLIGHT WILL BE ON YOU FOR YEARS TO COME.

WHO WOULD YOU LOVE TO THANK.

>> WOULD LOVE TO THANK MY CAST FOR BRINGING THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY ON STAGE AND OUR COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT THEY GIVE US AND ARTS BRIDGE FOR THE HONOR OF SHOWCASING THIS INCREDIBLY POIGNANT MOMENT ON STAGE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OVER TO YOU CHELSEA.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE AT GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.

THAT WAS AMAZING.

NOW PLEASE WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS BRIDGE, JENNIFER DOBBS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THE MISSION OF THE ARTS BRIDGE FOUNDATION IS TO EXPAND ARTS EDUCATION FOR ALL GEORGIA STUDENTS.

WE DO THIS BY OFFERING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, SUCH AS FIELD TRIPS, MASTER CLASSES, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, THE SHULER AWARDS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND MORE.

EVERYONE, AND I MEAN EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE ARTS.

FROM THE FINANCIAL AID SUBSIDY PROGRAM TO REMOVAL GENDER BARRIERS TO PROVIDING SNACK BACKS FOR STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAMS TO ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS, WE ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE OUR INCLUSION, DIVERSITY EQUITY AND ACCESS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ONE OF THE BEST SUPPORTER IS LARRY WHO PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, NOT ONLY WAS LARRY A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR OUR VISION BUT FOUNDING OWNER OF ADOPT A SCHOOL FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM AND TONIGHT IN LARRY'S HONOR WE'RE ANNOUNCING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW FINANCIAL KYLE CHIPCHURA.

CHEER SCHOLARSHIP.

SO ON HIS BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS I SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY UNAPOLOGETICALLY DOPE SHULER STUDENTS [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, JEN IFRP FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE ARTS BRIDGE TEAM AND ALL YOU DO FOR GEORGIA STUDENTS EVERY YEAR.

NEXT PRESENTER IS FILM PRESENTER, ORGANIZER, AND ARTS CLASS INSTRUCTOR AND JUST WRAPPED A ROLE AT ACTOR'S EXPRESS.

AND HE'S ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF BLACK ATL.

PLEASE WELCOME MARCUS HOPKINS-TURNER.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> I AM THRILLS TO PRESENT THE BEST ENSEMBLE AWARD, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE CONNECTION THAT BRINGS A TALENTED TEAM TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS.

HERE ARE YOUR NOMINEES.

>> GREENBRIER HIGH SCHOOL, "SHE LOVES ME".

LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

RINGGOLD, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

STARR'S MILL HIGH SCHOOL, "PIPPIN".

TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL, "FELA!"

WEST FORSYTHE HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!".

>> AND THE WINNER IS -- LET'S -- THERE WE GO -- LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL."

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> OH, MY GOODNESS, WE ARE ACCEPTING THIS AWARD ON BEHALF OF OUR AMAZING TALENTED CAST BACK STAGE BUT FIRST WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR AMAZING DIRECTORS, CARLY ANN LOVELL AND RYAN WATTSON FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR US.

>> IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE NOMINATED AND SO GLAD WE GOT TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD AS A WIN AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR MAKING OUR ENSEMBLE LOOK GREAT AS WELL AND THANKS TO THE AMAZING CAST AND CREW, WE LOVE YOU GUYS, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU GUYS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> I HOPE YOU ALL PACKED YOUR SUITCASES BECAUSE TONIGHT'S FINAL NOMINEE FOR BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION IS TAKING YOU ON A TRIP YOU WON'T SOON FORGET BASED ON A CONMAN WHO IS LIVING THE TALE OF TWO LIVES, HERE'S RINGGOLD WITH LIVE IN LIVING COLOR FROM "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ OF ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ OF [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> ATLANTA'S FABULOUS FOX THEATER ISN'T JUST A MID-TOWN LANDMARK IT'S CENTRAL TO ATLANTA'S ARTS AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS BEING AN ASPIRATIONAL VENUE FOR SO MANY IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.

FROM THE FABULOUS FOX THEATER PLEASE WELCOME THE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> BEHIND EVERY GREAT PERFORMANCE, EVERY PROP AND LIGHTING QUEUE, IT'S THE VISION OF THE DIRECTOR THAT BRINGSS ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE VISION TOGETHER.

WHEN THAT VISION EXCEEDS THE EXPECTATION OF THE AUDIENCE YOU HAVE THE NOMINEES FOR BEST DIRECTION.

>> CARLY ANN LOVELL, LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

DAVID HOPKINS, MILTON HIGH SCHOOL, "ANASTASIA".

HANNAH HUNT, PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, "THE SOUND OF MUSIC".

JANE ELLIS, RINGGOLD, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

JADE LAMBERT-SMITH, TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL, "FELA!".

SARAH LINDVALL AND REBECCA STERN WEST FORSYTHE HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!".

♪♪ >> AND THE AWARD GOES TO -- JADE LAMBERT-SMITH TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL.

"FELA!"

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> OH, MY GOODNESS.

OKAY, 30 SECONDS, RIGHT.

5 YEARS AGO I ARRIVED AT TRI-CITIES THEY SAID WHAT SHOW DO YOU WANT TO DIRECT, I SAID "FELA!

", BECAUSE THE OTHER LEADS WERE TRI-CITIES ALUM, SORRY, GUYS, STAY CONSTANT -- LO-AND-BEHOLD THREE YEARS LATER THE PRODUCTION PEOPLE REACHED OUT AND SAID HERE YOU GO, LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THANKS ARTS BRIDGE AND THANK YOU EDPA FOR THE GRANT TO ALLOW US TO DO THIS PRODUCTION AND THANK YOU TO THE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER, AND TO THE AWESOME KIDS WHO WERE SO WONDERFUL TO DIRECT.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.

WE'RE SO BLESSED TO DO THIS WORK, SAY YEAH YAY.

>> AND THEN THERE WAS ONE, THE BIG ONE HERE TO PRESENT THE SHULER AWARDS FOR BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION IS A WOMAN LOVES THEATER AND HELPS ARTS COMMUNITIES ALL OVER GEORGIA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

INCLUDING THIS ONE.

PLEASE WELCOME MISS ROGERS.

>> THANK YOU CHELSEA AND BETH.

AS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS I'M HONORED TO SHARE THE SPECIAL NIGHT WITH YOU ALL.

TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCES WERE BEYOND SPECTACULAR AND REMIND US ALL HOW WE FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSICAL THEATER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED ALL OF THE NOMINEES ARE WINNERS.

AND SPEAKING OF THOSE NOMINEES, LET'S TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES FOR BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> DECATUR, "MATILDA".

LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL".

MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, "LES MISERABLES".

RINGGOLD, "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".

TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL "FELA!".

WEST FORSYTHE HIGH SCHOOL, "MAMMA MIA!".

>> WOW.

AND THE WINNER OF THE SHULER AWARD FOR BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION IS -- LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL."

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> OH, MY GOD.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M JUST SO HONORED TO BE HERE AMONGST ALL THESE WONDERFUL NOMINEES, WONDERFUL DIRECTORS THAT I SPENT THIS TIME WITH, YOU GUYS ARE ALL SO INCREDIBLE.

I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK.

I'D LOVE TO THANK MY CAST AND CREW, THEY ARE LITERALLY, LITERALLY MY FAMILY.

I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THEM.

I WOULD LOVE TO THANK MY WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER PARENTS WHO HAVE GONNA ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS PROGRAM AND PRODUCTION.

AND I'D LOVE TO THANK MY MUSIC DIRECTOR RYAN WATTSON FOR ALL HIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL WORK, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MY HUSBAND CRAIG LOVELL, I LOVE YOU!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> BEFORE WE GET TO TONIGHT'S CLOSING NUMBER, LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR THE MAN HIMSELF, SHULER HENSLEY.

>> IF THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HAVE TAUGHT US ANYTHING IT'S THAT HUMAN BEINGS CRAVE GENUINE CONNECTION THROUGH COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE, TO SHARE JOY, TEARS, LAUGHTER, ALL UNDER ONE ROOF, OKAY.

AND ANYWAYS, IT WASN'T UNTIL WE WERE DEPRIVED OF THIS FUNDAMENTAL NEED THAT I RECOGNIZED HOW ESSENTIAL IT IS AND HOW EASILY IT CAN BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED WHICH IS WHY IT FURTHER PAINS ME NOT TO BE WITH YOU THIS TIME.

BUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE IT'S NIGHTS LIKE TONIGHT THAT ALSO REMIND ME OF OUR RESILIENCE IN VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> TOGETHER WE HAVE EMERGED FROM THE ADVERSITY OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH A GREATER RESOLVE AND DEEPER SENSE OF GRATITUDE.

WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO BE TOGETHER FOR THIS YEAR'S SHULER AWARDS, LIVE, ONCE MORE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] WHEN WE CAN ALL SHARE AN EXPERIENCE THAT CELEBRATES A FUTURE WE DREAM ABOUT, DOESN'T JUST MAKE US SMILE, IT GIVES US HOPE.

WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU TOGETHER AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT YEAR FOR THE 15th ANNUAL GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS CHEERP CHEER THEATER AWARDS [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] GOOD NIGHT!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU ALL, GOOD NIGHT!

>> SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

>> WHOO!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪