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6 high schools in Franklin, Fulton counties get nods for Totem Pole Playhouse awards


FAYETTEVILLE >> The spring productions at five high schools in Franklin and Fulton counties received 12 nominations in the five major categories for the 2015 Totem Pole Playhouse awards.

Mercersburg Academy received the second-most nominations of all schools nominated, with 12 for "Urinetown," including the top overall award, The Carl Schurr Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical. Waynesboro Area Senior High School's "Little Shop of Horrors" was also nominated in the category.

Local students nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress and Actor in a Leading Role are: Maggie Dennis, WASHS; Sarah Steele, Chambersburg Area Senior High School; Andrea Crawford, Shippensburg Area Senior High School; Andy Barkdoll, WASHS; Zach McDonald, Mercersburg Academy; and Holden Lupey, Forbes Road Junior Senior High School.

Local nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actress and Actor in a Supporting Role are: Nikki DeParis, Mercersburg Academy; Darcy Long, SASHS; Lauren Mellott, CASHS; and Alex Jackson, Mercersburg Academy.

Multiple local students were also nominated in the category Outstanding Performance by a Feature Female and Male Ensemble member: Lexa Treml, Mercersburg Academy; Bailey Nordin, CASHS; Brittany Parson, McConnellsburg Junior Senior High School; David Hewitt, SASHS; Billy Crowder, McConnellsburg; Danny Booth, Mercersburg Academy.

Local students from Franklin and Fulton counties also received nominations in the other categories, including two for Featured Dancer, three for Female Solo Vocal Performance, one for Male Solo Vocal Performance, three for Vocal Duet, three for Small Ensemble Performance, two for Musical Chorus, three for Musical Production Number, and two for Stage Crew.

The Totem Pole Playhouse Awards began in 2014 and are modeled after the Tony Awards of Broadway. The awards recognize outstanding achievement in musical theater production and performances by high school students in the counties surrounding Totem Pole Playhouse, with public and private schools in Franklin, Fulton and Adams counties invited to participate.

Professional arts judges evaluate the performances of the participating high schools using standardized criteria. The judges select five nominees in each of the categories from the casts of the participating schools. Also, the directors for each of the musicals choose one student to receive the Jean Stapleton Award for their school.

The 2015 Totem Pole Playhouse Awards ceremony will take place on May 17, at 5 p.m. at Majestic Theater at Gettsyburg College. The show will include performances from the nominees, in addition to the presentation of the awards.

For the full list of nominees, go to http://bit.ly/1z6wkpw.