For aspiring musical theater stars, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime
Each year, high school musical stars from across Michigan are professionally judged in their local productions for the opportunity to participate in the Sutton Foster Awards (SFA). Nominees will come together as a group over the course of two weekends to grow and develop their theatre skills in workshops lead by industry professionals. At the end of the SFA Showcase Weekend participants will present a live show for friends, family and the community.
From this performance, two winners for Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role will take their A-game to New York City to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards–also known as the Jimmy Awards.
Named for Broadway star and Tony winner Sutton Foster, this program recognize individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performances as well as the commitment of Michigan teachers and schools to excellence in performing arts education.
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 the Sutton Foster Awards. Additionally, adjudicator reviews and tabulations determine awards in technical and creative achievement, as well as best musical.
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 May 2023, held at Fisher Theatre in Detroit, 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 winners also earn a $1,000 cash prize and free tuition to Take It From The Top, our summer Broadway performance workshop.
2023 Participating Schools
| DeWitt High School | Newsies |
| Alma High School | Addams Family, YOUNG @ PART |
| Bloomfield Hills High School | Newsies |
| Bloomfield Hills High School | 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee |
| Brighton High School | Guys & Dolls |
| Byron Center High School | Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) |
| Chippewa Valley High School | Beauty and the Beast |
| Coopersville High School | Mamma Mia! |
| Cranbrook Schools | Cinderella (2013 Broadway Edition) |
| Dakota High School | Shrek The Musical |
| Detroit School of Fine & Performing Arts | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |
| Dundee High School | Footloose the Musical |
| East Lansing High School | Chicago: Teen Edition |
| Everett High School | You're A Good Man Charlie Brown |
| Grand Ledge High School | Mamma Mia! |
| Grand Rapids Christian High School | Into the Woods |
| Grosse Pointe North High School | Beauty and the Beast |
| Grosse Pointe South High School | Mamma Mia! |
| H.H. Dow High School | Into the Woods |
| Henry Ford II High School | Rodgers and Hammerstein Cinderella |
| Heritage High School | Beauty and the Beast |
| Holt High School | 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee |
| Interlochen Center for the Arts | Jesus Christ Superstar |
| Interlochen Center for the Arts | An Amerian in Paris |
| John Glenn High School | The Little Mermaid |
| John Glenn High School | Anastasia |
| Lakewood High School | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |
| Lakewood High School | Les Miserables |
| Lapeer High School | Mama Mia |
| Loy Norrix High School | Legally Blonde |
| Marshall High School | Newsies |
| Mercy High School | Matilda |
| Milford High School | White Christmas |
| Mt. Pleasant High School | Mamma Mia! |
| Northville High School | Seussical |
| Oakland Christian School | All I need to know I've learned in Kindergarten |
| Pioneer High School | Into the Woods |
| Portage Central High School | SpongeBob: the musical |
| Portage Northern High School | Footloose, the Musical |
| Portland High School | Addams Family, School Edition |
| Regina High School | A My Name Is Alice |
| Rockford High School | Shrek |
| Romeo High School | Mean Girls |
| Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy | Annie Jr. |
| Shepherd High School | Seussical |
| St Johns High School | Matilda |
| Swartz Creek High School | The Addams Family |
| Traverse City Central High School | Into the Woods |
| Traverse City West High School | Kiss Me Kate |
| Troy High School | Curtains |
| University Liggett School | Aida |
| W.E. Groves High School | Chicago High School Edition |
| Walled Lake Northern High School | Matilda |
| West Bloomfield High School | Urinetown |
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.
Greyson Taylor, from Interlochen Center For The Arts and Ashely Woytal, from Portage Northern High School, competed in and won the 10th annual Sutton Foster Awards at Wharton Center on Sunday, May 15, 2022.
These awards celebrate actors’ outstanding artistic achievement from a musical theatre production. Evaluated on vocals, dance and acting skills…
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