The Tennessee Theatre held its first annual Marquee Awards on Saturday, May 17, 2024, in celebration of East Tennessee high school musical theater. The event, attended by 10 area high schools, was hosted by Broadway star and Central High School alum Bailey McCall.
Awards were given in 12 total categories from this year’s participating high schools: Bearden High School, Carter High School, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Grace Christian Academy, Heritage High School, Knoxville Catholic High School, Maryville High School, Northview Academy, Oak Ridge High School and South- Doyle High School.
Finalists from various categories joined onstage to perform during the awards ceremony.
Below are the categories and respective winners.
- Outstanding Choreography Execution – Christian Academy of Knoxville, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- Outstanding Technical Execution – Knoxville Catholic High School, Into the Woods
- Outstanding Student Design – Carter High School, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
- Outstanding Ensemble/Chorus – Bearden High School, The Music Man
- Outstanding Overall Musical – Oak Ridge High School, Anastasia
- Outstanding Supporting female – Annika Kallstrom from South-Doyle High School who performed as Rosie in Mamma Mia!
- Outstanding Supporting male – Taylor Haun from Bearden High School who performed as Marcellus in The Music Man
The Tennessee Theatre’s membership in The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, allows the Marquee Awards’ Outstanding male and female winners to attend The Jimmy Awards held in New York City, which are a national celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theatre.
This year’s winner for Outstanding Lead is Norah Younger from Oak Ridge High School who performed as Lily in Anastasia.
The male winner for Outstanding Lead is Max Mishler, also from Oak Ridge High School, who performed as Dimitry in Anastasia.
“We are so excited to send Max and Norah to New York to represent the Tennessee Theatre in the Jimmy Awards next month,” said Mary Adkins, director of education and outreach for the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation.
Each school also recognized one student as an All-Star Cast Member and one as an All-Star Crew Member. Clarissa Feldt from Maryville High School was given the Inspiring Teacher Award. For the full list of winners, please visit here.
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