Carver High School Theater Students Shine at Tommy Tune Awards and Regional One-Act Play Competition

The magnet campus’ talented performing artists reap the rewards of their hard work.

A scene from Carver HS’ musical production of “Jelly’s Last Jam” at the 2018 Tommy Tune Awards.

Houston’s young stage stars shined bright at Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) Tommy Tune Awards. TUTS recently awarded high school students from across the Greater Houston area for excellence in theater at the 16th Annual Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony.

Named after the famed performer, director, choreographer, Tony Award-winner and Houston native, the Tommy Tune Awards Program (click to read more) celebrates the educational value, artistry, and community of high school musical theater in the Greater Houston area. Theatre Under The Stars believes that experiences in the arts cultivate confidence, spark creative thinking, and inspire life-long learning. The Tommy Tune Awards is an opportunity for students and educators to share their creative accomplishments as individuals, as collaborators, and as members of the greater Houston community.

Ri’Chard Jordan accepting his Tommy Tune Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Forty-five Houston area schools participated in the competition and only a select few were nominated for awards in 15 categories.  Carver HS earned 11 Tommy Tune Award nominations for the musical Jelly’s Last Jam (click to read story).

It was a tough competition. One Carver student, Ri’Chard Jordan, is all smiles. He walked away with the Best Supporting Actor Award for his role as Jack the Bear/Buddy Bolden in Jelly’s Last Jam.

As a best musical nominee, the Carver troupe performed “That’s How You Jazz” from the school’s musical production. Nominee for Best Leading Actor Bishop Pearsall and Ri’Chard Jordan along with nominees in their categories performed in the opening number of the awards ceremony.

Bishop also performed in the Best Leading Actor medley along with the other eight nominees in this category.

Fellow Carver thespians Kirby Jackson and Jazmyne Charles performed in the closing number of the ceremony along with students from the other 44 schools.

Carver High School theater students perform “Miss Evers’ Boys” for UIL One-Act Play.

The Carver HS theater troupe also competed at the UIL One-Act Play Regional Meet after advancing from the Area Meet. Once again, the school’s play was selected as the Region 2 State Alternate, which means Carver forms part of the top 12 schools in Conference 6A. In the past seven years, Carver has advanced to the Regional meet six times and has been chosen as the State Alternate four times.

Regional One-Act Play Meet Results

Region 2 State Alternate — Miss Evers’ Boys
All Star Cast Medal — Arielle Wilson
Honorable Mention Medal — Bishop Pearsall
Honorable Mention Medal — Yasaar Ellis
Honorable Mention Medal — Ri’Chard Jordan
Best Technical — Zavion Milburn

Carver HS’ One-Act Play Company for “Miss Evers’ Boys.”

One-Act Play Company Members: Lauryn Cornish, Yasaar Ellis, Miriam Hernández, Ahreaile Holly, Raphel Humphery, Reagan Jordan, Ri’Chard Jordan, Amaya Lacy, Meghan Lang, Zavion Milburn, Narius Nedd, Bishop Pearsall, Craig Spillars, Mariah Turner, Arielle Wilson & Kai Womack

One-Act Play Second Company Members: Kiera Bell, Armani Brown, Amber Colvin, Joshua Cruise, Cody Dixon, Jocelyn Dorsey, Ashley Harrison, Quinton Jackson,Prejazaclyn James, Brielle Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Jason Mejia, Bailey Mitchell, Xander Paiz, Jaila Stanley, Bailey Tucker, Ashlee Walker, Kevin Washington, Trysten Williams & Kaleb Womack

Directors: Roshunda Jones & Jabari Collins

Congratulations!

See more images from the Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony & One-Act Play Regional Meet.