Newsies lands 5 awards – the most of any musical
Texas Border Business
McAllen ISD students earned seven trophies at the second annual Palms Awards – a celebration of high school theatre in the Rio Grande Valley. The McAllen High musical, Newsies, took home five awards – the most of any musical – Saturday at the McAllen Performing Arts Center.
Leading all musicals with 11 nominations, Newsies won for
- Best Production of a Musical
- Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical – Diego Rodriguez
- Best Ensemble in a Musical
- Best Choreography of a Musical
- Best Lighting Design of a Musical
James “Nikki” Rowe High’s musical production, Anything Goes, won two awards for Best Actress in a Lead Role in a Musical – Briana Amaya and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Maia
“Just to be nominated is a huge honor but to be selected as the winner is huge,” McAllen ISD Fine Arts Director Jim Egger said. “All three musicals from McAllen ISD – McAllen High’s Newsies, Memorial High’s Sister Act and Rowe High’s Anything Goes performed at The Palms. They all had incredible performances. Congratulations to all of these very talented theatre and choir students and their hard-working fine arts teachers.”
McAllen ISD had 32 nominations from three musicals and two plays. The Palms recognizes outstanding performers in the high school theatre community.
High Schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley were given the opportunity to enter one musical production and play. Thirty-five productions from nine different school districts were entered. A panel of judges attended each production and developed the nominations.
Below is a list of the nominations and winners for McAllen ISD:
McAllen High Musical Newsies (11 nominations)
- 11 nominations – The most of any musical!
- 5 Wins – The most of any musical!
- Best Production of a Musical – WINNER
- Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical – Diego Rodriguez – WINNER
- Best Ensemble in a Musical – WINNER
- Best Choreography of a Musical – WINNER
- Best Lighting Design of a Musical – WINNER
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Alexa Ramirez
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Sean Solis
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Cinco Hernandez
- Best Scenic Design of a Musical
- Best Technical Crew of a Musical
- Best Costume Design of a Musical
Rowe High Musical Anything Goes (five nominations)
- Best Actress in a Lead Role in a Musical – Briana Amaya – WINNER
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Maia Giometa – WINNER
- Best Production of a Musical
- Best Scenic Design of a Musical
- Best Choreography of a Musical
Memorial High Musical Sister Act (five nominations)
- Best Production of A Musical
- Best Actress in a Lead Role in a Musical – Kimberly Maldonaldo
- Best Ensemble in a Musical
- Best Technical Crew of a Musical
- Best Choreography of a Musical
McAllen High Play Luchahora (nine nominations)
- Best Production in a Play
- Best Actress in a Leading Role – Alejandra Tamez
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play – Diego Rodriguez
- Best Ensemble in a Play
- Best Featured Performer in a Play – Emmry Hornaday
- Best Sound Design of a Play
- Best Scenic Design of a Play
- Best Lighting Design of a Play
- Best Costume Design of a Play
Rowe High Play Noises Off (two nominations)
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play – Belinda Zuniga
- Best Featured Performer in a Play – Karla Santill
