Published On: March 30th, 2020By Leticia Fehling

2 District High School Musical Theater Productions Earn Tommy Tune Award Nominations

Due to the canceled awards show, an online event is planned for April 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Carver HS’ musical production of “Sister Act” is a 2020 Tommy Tunes Awards nominee for Best Musical. The production is up for seven other category nominations.

Carver High School for Engineering, Applied Technology, and the Arts and Eisenhower High School’s theater departments are ecstatic! Theater Under the Stars (TUTS) recently announced the 2020 Tommy Tune Awards nominations. The schools’ respective spring productions of Sister Act and The Wiz earned a total of nine Tommy Tune nominations.

The Tommy Tune Awards Program celebrates the educational value, artistry, and community of high school musical theatre in the Greater Houston area. After evaluating the 46 participating Houston-area high school productions during the 2019-2020 school year, a team of 36 Houston-based theatre professionals nominated students in 15 award categories.

Carver HS’ Jocelyn Dorsey is a Leading Actress Award nominee for her role as “Deloris Van Cartier” in “Sister Act.”

This is Carver‘s sixth time to receive the Best Musical nomination.

The Carver production had students from Anderson Academy and Drew Academy form part of the ensemble. Theater Director Roshunda Jones and Technical Director Jabari Collins thank everyone who formed part of the production. Instructor Sarita Salinas, Brianna McCray, Armani Brown (a Carver HS senior), and alumnus Denzel Taylor were the choreographers. Theater volunteer Pamela Dickson served as the musical director. The vocal coach was Carol Stone, and the sound designer was Zavion Milburn, a Carver HS senior. Instructor Michael McCullough led the orchestra comprised of alumni Ivan Geters, Shawn Gonzalez, and Favio Guzman. The costume designers were senior Sanaa Hill and volunteer Linda Fleming.

Crystal Rose is the theater director at Eisenhower HS.

2020 Tommy Tune Award Nominations for AISD

Best Musical: Carver HS, Sister Act
Leading Actress: Carver HS, Jocelyn Dorsey as “Deloris Van Cartier” in Sister Act
Supporting Actress: Eisenhower HS, Ashlynn McCutcheon as “Evilene” / Glinda” in The Wiz
Featured Performer: Carver HS and Aldine Dance Company as the Carver and Aldine Dance Company in Sister Act
Ensemble: Carver High School Sister Act
Orchestra: Carver High School, Sister Act
Musical Direction: Carver High School, Sister Act
Choreography: Carver High School, Sister Act
Direction: Carver High School, Sister Act

The Tommy Tune Awards show, initially scheduled for April 28 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, has been canceled, due to the national health crisis.

“As we follow the lead of state and city health officials to keep our city’s students safe, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Tommy Tune Awards show this year,” said TUTS Community Engagement Director Israel Jimenez.

Eisenhower HS’s Ashlynn McCutcheon is a 2020 Tommy Tune Awards Supporting Actress nominee for her roles as Evilene and Glinda in “The Wiz.”

The winners will be announced via a specially-created video on the Tommy Tune Awards Facebook page and the TUTS YouTube channel on April 28 at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to these awards, the Tommy Tune Awards Program awards scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to pursue a career in the arts.

The Tommy Tune Awards offers an opportunity for students and educators to share their creative accomplishments while instilling in young people the value of engaging in the performing arts as a lifelong pursuit.

The Tommy Tune Awards are named for Broadway legend, a Houston native and Lamar High School alumnus Tommy Tune. A performer, director, and choreographer with more than 50 years of stage experience, Tune received nine Tony Awards for his work in the following productions: Seesaw, My One and Only, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Nine, Grand Hotel and The Will Rogers Follies. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2003 by President Bush.