Salem High School theater wowed judges and earned nominations in nine out of 15 categories for the Shuler Hensley Excellence in High School Musical Theatre Awards in its first run for the awards.

SHS’s performance of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” was nominated in the following categories: Overall Production; Director (Pete Talton); Choreography (Pete Talton); Scenic Design (Pete Talton and David Jones); Lighting Design (Avery Reagan and Clint Maguire); Stage Crew and Technical Execution; Musical Direction (Lenae Rose); Ensemble/Chorus; Leading Actor (Emanuel Beecham as Joseph).

The school will also be performing an excerpt from “Joseph” at the Tony-style awards ceremony on April 26 as one of the six schools nominated for Overall Production excellence.

The awards, now in its third year, recognize the best in musical theatre at the high school level. Forty-one high schools from 12 counties, representing 14 school districts as well as private schools in the greater Atlanta region participated this year. Three judges traveled to the schools to watch performances and chose the top six in each category.

The winners will be announced on April 26, 7:30 p.m. at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The ceremony also will include performances from the six nominated schools nominated for Best Overall Production, leading actor and actress nominee medleys, as well as award presentations by local and national celebrities. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, or (800) 745-3000, or at the Cobb Energy Centre at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. For general information on the Shuler Hensley Awards program, call (770) 916-2800.

The program is an initiative of the ARTSBRIDGE education program of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Foundation. 

The awards are named for Marietta native, Shuler Hensley, whose work has included: his performance as Jud in the revival of Oklahoma!, for which he received the Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award; the country-rock and blues musical The Great American Trailer Park Musical in 2004-2005; in May 2006 he opened in the Disney musical Tarzan in the role of Kerchak; and most recently. Hensley played the role of Frankenstein’s monster in the stage musical of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, which opened on Broadway in November 2007.