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Sutton Foster Awards

The Sutton Foster Awards are a celebration of high school musical theatre across the State of Michigan.

A program of Wharton Center for Performing Arts, the Sutton Foster Awards is open to all high schools in the state, regardless of location, budget, or school size.

Registration
Registration is closed for the 2024-2025 Sutton Foster Awards.

The year-long program consists of four main components:

1. Learning Opportunities with Theatre Professionals
Workshops offered throughout the year help students grow in their theatre craft. Whether students are performers, technicians or on the creative team, these skill-building workshops are designed to offer any/all participants of the school musical production an opportunity to learn. Many workshops will be led by visiting Broadway professionals.

2. Professional Review
All participating musicals receive a professional review. A panel of adjudicators, comprised of performing arts educators and professionals, attend each musical and provides feedback on everything from individual performances to technical elements. The scores and review are based on each school’s own merit and is not a competition between schools. Teachers and students use the feedback to learn for future productions.

3. Workshop and Audition Weekends
All nominees will participate in a Sutton Foster Awards Workshop and Audition Weekend. Students will receive individual vocal coaching with professional voice teachers, learn music and choreography for a production number to be performed during the showcase, and audition for a panel of judges. All of these experiences are meant to help the students grow as performers and prepare them for a career in musical theatre.

4. Awards Showcase
The year culminates in a professionally produced Sutton Foster Awards Showcase. In addition to celebrating the schools, the two nominees for the National High School Musical Theater Awards will be revealed. The 2025 Showcase will be held at Wharton Center in East Lansing.

How it works: To be considered for the Sutton Foster Awards, schools must nominate their fall and/or spring musical theatre production.

There is a $225 fee per nominated musical production. If the fee is a barrier to participation, please contact Ben English at Ben.English@whartoncenter.com.

Wharton Center will send a team of adjudicators to attend a performance of your musical. Adjudicators will nominate two or more students for “Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role” from each qualifying production, who will then be invited to participate in one of two SFA workshop and Audition weekends as well as the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase. Additionally, adjudicator reviews and tabulations determine honors in technical and creative achievement.
Each school will receive a professional assessment of their show, meant to support the teacher, school, and students in growing their production values and recognizing excellence.

This year’s Sutton Foster Awards Showcase is a public performance in June 2024, held at Wharton Center, where judges will determine Michigan’s two Outstanding Performers in a Leading Role. The winners fly to New York to compete for the National High School Musical Theatre Award.

The Sutton Foster Award Showcase finalists will earn a $1,000 cash prize.
2024-2025 Participating Schools: Allen Park High School
Annapolis High School
Armada High School
Avondale High School
Bay City Academy
Bay City Central High School
Berkley High School
Blissfield High School
Bloomfield Hills High School
Brighton High School
Chelsea High School
Chippewa Valley High School
Clarkston High School
Coopersville High School
Cranbrook Schools
Crestwood High School
Dakota High School
Detroit School of Arts
Dexter High School
Dewitt High School
Dundee High School
Eisenhower High School
Grand Ledge High School
Grand Rapids Christian High School
Grandville High School
Greenhills High School
Grosse Pointe North High School
Grosse Pointe South High School
H.H. Dow High School
Harper Creek High School
Henry Ford II High School
Heritage High School
Holt High School
Howell High School
Interlochen Arts Academy
John Glenn High School
Lakeview High School
Lowell High School
Loy Norrix High School
Manistee High School
Melvindale High School
Mercy High School
Milford High School
Mount Pleasant High School
Northville High School
Oxford High School
Pioneer High School
Portage Central High School
Portage Northern High School
Portland High School
Regina High School
Rockford High School
Romeo High School
Royal Oak HS
Shepherd High School
Skyline High School
St. Johns High School
Swartz Creek High School
Traverse City Central High School
Troy Athens High School
Troy High School
University Liggett School
Walled Lake Central High School
Walled Lake Northern High School
Walled Lake Western High School
Waterford Mott High School
Webberville High School
West Bloomfield High School
Winston Churchill High School
Zeeland East High School

Sponsored by Piper & Gold Public Relations with additional support from Nancy Passanante.

Questions? Contact Ben English at ben.english@whartoncenter.com or (517) 884-3171.

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