Breadcrumb
- Lake Michigan College
- Academics
- Arts & Humanities
- Visual & Performing Arts
- LMC’s WAVE Awards celebrates excellence in high school musical theatre
Nine local high schools participated in the second annual WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre at the Mendel Center Mainstage on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave., on Wednesday, May 24.
This year the WAVE Awards has grown to include students and art educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph County in Indiana. The participating schools were evaluated by 12 adjudicators, and about 550 students participated in the musicals that were reviewed.
"It is astonishing how the arts community has rallied around this idea. In just one year, we have almost tripled the number of participating schools and have seen tremendous growth in returning schools," said Kristopher Zook, LMC Dean of Arts & Sciences and founder of the WAVE Awards. "It was a fantastic night to celebrate and honor high school musical theatre in our community. We want to foster the talent of these students and give them even more opportunities to learn and grow while building a sense of community in the arts that lasts well beyond high school."
All nominees received an LMC Red Hawk Scholarship, good for a three-credit course taken within the next four academic years, and written feedback from a panel of arts professionals. The lead actor recipients also received $1,000 WAVE Award Scholarships to participate in LMC Visual & Performing Arts coursework.
Loosely designed after Broadway's famed Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognizes, encourages, and promotes high school theater. Individuals and productions from participating schools were nominated in 14 acting and technical categories. Two of those categories, Outstanding Featured "Special Cast Member" in a Musical and the Esprit de corps Award were new for this year.
The Outstanding Featured "Special Cast Member" in a Musical recognizes students and advisors who create memorable characters for the shows using carpentry, puppetry, and robotics. These characters all provide some useful "working" function in the story.
The Esprit de corps Award recognizes the spirit of support and unity that a school demonstrates in its shows.
“Theatre can give students a sense of belonging when it may be hard to find elsewhere," said Pat King, Lake Michigan College theatre instructor. "Additionally, theatre lets students explore different personas as they are creating their sense of self. Casts always bond in so many ways during rehearsal; it is noticeable when they help one another out on and off the stage.
"A few of the shows nominated for the WAVE awards included elementary and middle school participants trying to build their theatre programs," King continued. "Some of these schools are working with many challenges, like old equipment and small theatre budgets. One show was halted on opening night during the pandemic; the school put that show aside for a year and finally got to finish the run with new cast members. For one school, this year was the first time in six years that they were able to put on a theatrical show in the entire school district. "The Esprit de corps Award honors those who go above and beyond, working hard to bring theatre to their students and community. It is a reminder that rolling up our sleeves, giving our time and support, and lifting one another up are important parts of the arts and are needed in the world today."
Wednesday's event began with red-carpet arrivals, followed by the awards ceremony, which included several musical production numbers. Children's Music Workshop performed "Revolting Children" from their recent production of "Matilda Jr." St. Joseph High School performed the ABBA hit "Dancing Queen" from "Mamma Mia." Paw Paw performed "Heaven Help Me/I'm Free" from "Footloose: The Musical." Penn High School performed "Impossible" from "Cinderella." Bridgman High School performed "I Think I Got You Beat" from "Shrek, Jr." and Dowagiac performed "Bikini Bottom Day" from "The SpongeBob Musical."
Presenters included LMC President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke; United Way of Southwest Michigan's Marketing Communications Director Jennifer Tomshack and LMC Alumnus and Campaign Relationship Coordinator, Dawn Howley; DC Cook Nuclear Power Plant Manager of Engineering Projects Michael Carlson; Children's Music Workshop Executive Director Adrienne Glisson; Dansation and Samiras Photography Owner Ajah Fisher; Quinlan & Fabish Store Manager and Co-Founder of the Southshore Concert Band, Michael Hoge; LMC Music Faculty, Director of Choirs, and President of the District 6 Michigan State Vocal Music Association, Rebecca Derbas-Selvidge; LMC Foundation and Career Services and Alumni Relations, Barbara Craig; the namesake of the Hanson Theatre and Hanson Technology Center, philanthropist, and long-time friend and donor to LMC, Carolyn Hanson; long-time friend, donor, Alumnus, patron of the arts at LMC, and active member of the arts community in southwest Michigan, Carol Sizer; Corewell Health's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Partner Otilio Campos; LMC Theatre Instructor and professional actor Dr. Patrick King; current LMC Musical Theatre major and the inaugural winner of the WAVE Award for Best Actor, Sierra Loughrin; former Representative in the Michigan State House of Representatives and LMC Executive Director, Community & Governmental Relations, Alton Pscholka; and the current Berrien County 3rd District Commissioner and LMC Alum, Chokwe Pitchford.
The award for Outstanding Musical Production was presented on a prerecorded video by Gabriella Pizzolo, who portrayed Matilda on Broadway and currently stars in the HBO hit series "Stranger Things."
Here is the complete list of the 2022-2023 WAVE Award winners and nominees:
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical
Outstanding Choreography in a Musical
Outstanding Musical Direction in a Musical
Outstanding Orchestra (Band) in a Musical
Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical
Outstanding Featured "Special" Cast Member
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical (Two awards were given in this category)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (Three awards were given in this category)
Esprit de corps Award
Outstanding Direction in a Musical
Outstanding Musical Production