TUTS Names Carver High School Theater a Finalist in 10 Categories in the 2023 Tommy Tune Awards

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Theater Under the Stars (TUTS) recently announced the 2023 Tommy Tune Awards nominations. Theater members of Carver High School for Engineering, Applied Technology, and the Arts are thrilled. The school’s spring production of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical received over 20 nominations and has been named a finalist in 10 categories.

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 48 participating Houston-area high school productions during the 2022-2022 school year, a team of Houston-based theatre professionals nominated students in 17 award categories.

Under the direction of Roshunda Jones-Koumba and Jabari Collins, the Carver HS theater began to compete in the Tommy Tune Awards program in 2008. To date, Carver has earned over 109 nominations. This is the Choice School’s seventh time being named an Outstanding Musical finalist.

Tommy Tune Awards are In Person This Year

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) will return to the in-person awards show for the first time since 2019. The 2023 Tommy Tune Awards will be held on May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

“We are ecstatic to have the Tommy Tune Awards back in person this year after such a long time away,” said Jacob Shideler, TUTS Interim Director of Education. “The Tommy Tune Awards allows these passionate students to share their creative accomplishments with the Greater Houston community.”

2023 Tommy Tune Award Nominations for Caver HS

Performance Evaluation — Production Nominations

Outstanding Musical: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Outstanding Ensemble: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Outstanding Orchestra: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Outstanding Technical Achievement: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

Performance Evaluation — Individual Nominations

(4) Outstanding Supporting: Christopher Pace (as Bruce), Alyssa Dorsey (as Diva Donna/Mama), Morgan Childs (as Disco Donna), Ryan Randolph (as Duckling Donna/Mimi)
Outstanding Singer: Morgan Childs
(2) Outstanding Dance: Giovanni Gonzalez-Cisneros (as Giorgio) and Faith Bumper (Ensemble)
(2) Outstanding Actors: Ryan Randolph and Ivan Davidson (as Neil)
Outstanding Director: Roshunda Jones-Koumba
Outstanding Music Director: Pamela Dickson
(2) Outstanding Choreographers: Densel Taylor and Camron Lettries
(2) Oustanding Lighting: Neveah Law and Isabella Escobar
(2) Oustanding Scenic Designer: Jabari Collins and Adam Gary
(3) Oustanding Costume Designer: Roshunda Jones-Kooumba, Cora Frazier, and Bailey Day
(2) Outstanding Stage Manager: Emani Caston and Niya Kelly
Honorable Mention: Aja White (as Joyce/Gunther)

Carver HS Finalists List for 2023 Tommy Tune Awards

Carver High School competes in the Tier 1 Category. The following have been invited to perform in the Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony. Additionally, one student from every participating school will perform in the finale number. Delores Sells, a senior, was chosen from Carver.

Outstanding Musical: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Outstanding Ensemble: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Outstanding Director: Roshunda Jones-Koumba
(2) Outstanding Lead: Alyssa Dorsey (as Diva Donna/Mama) and Morgan Childs (as Disco Donna)
Oustanding Actor: Ryan Randolph (as Duckling Donna/Mimi)
(2) Outstanding Dancers: Faith Bumper (Ensemble) and Giovanni Gonzalez-Cisneros (as Giorgio)
Outstanding Music Director: Pamela Dickson
(2) Outstanding Choreographers: Denzel Taylor and Cameron Lettries
Outstanding Stage Management: Niya Kelly
(2) Outstanding Costume Design: Bailey Day and Cora Frasier

Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, the adjudicating mentors evaluated each participating school’s show, focusing on each element of the production. The adjudicating mentors comprise a group of Houston-based theatre professionals with backgrounds as performers, designers, directors, choreographers, and musicians; and with years of experience in arts education and administration.

Additionally, TUTS 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, and Lamar High School alum 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.

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (the Jimmy Awards®) celebrate outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance and elevating the importance of theatre arts education in schools. Of the 28 Tommy Tune Award nominees for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role, two will be selected via a rigorous audition process adjudicated by a panel of industry professionals, ultimately winning an opportunity to represent Houston and TUTS at the Jimmy AwardsⓇ. The Broadway League Foundation presents the Jimmy Awards.