presented in 2019 by
The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Foundation
with media sponsorship by KTVI-TV & KPLR-TV
(St. Louis, MO) – The St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards (SLHSMTA) production committee is proud to announce The Thomas A. Kooyumjian* Foundation as the Presenting Sponsor of the third St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards to be held on Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m. at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. KTVI-TV & KPLR-TV will partner as media sponsors.
“Mr. Kooyumjian had a passion for classical music and the theatre. We are fortunate to be able to support the areas we know were dear to his heart,” said Foundation spokesperson Cindy Kooyumjian.
“We are profoundly grateful to The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Foundation for recognizing how important this event is for students throughout our community,” said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “In three years, the SLHSMTA has quickly grown to become an epic, wonderful experience for the schools and the kids. We are so honored The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Foundation has recognized the need for and power of this event.”
The St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards are designed to celebrate outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre. Participating schools’ musical productions are evaluated by a panel of theatre professionals.
The June 2 awards ceremony will include exciting performances by talented young local artists selected from 37 area high schools. Award recipients will be announced in 14 categories (plus WOW! Moment and Special Recognition) including an Outstanding Actress and an Outstanding Actor who will go on to compete in The Jimmy Awards® / National High School Musical Theatre Awards® in New York City, presented by The Broadway League.
“The St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards have grown exponentially in our first three years and we are thrilled The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Foundation is presenting the Awards show,” said Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation board president emeritus and Fabulous Fox Theatre partner Mary Strauss. “The SLHSMTA are a tremendous opportunity for the metropolitan-area high schools, casts and crews to be recognized for their hard work and endeavors.”
The schools participating in the 2019 St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards are Affton High School, Belleville East High School, Belleville West High School, Central VPA, Chaminade College Prep, Christian Brothers College High School, Clayton High School, Cor Jesu Academy, Crossroads College Prep, Edwardsville High School, Festus High School, First Baptist Academy, Francis Howell Central, Ft. Zumwalt North High School, Greenville High School, Jersey Community High School, Kirkwood High School, Lafayette High School, Lindbergh High School, Marquette High School, McCluer High School, Metro-East Lutheran High School, MICDS, Nerinx Hall, Normandy High School, O’Fallon Township High School, Rockwood Summit, St. Dominic High School, St. Francis Borgia, St. John Vianney High School, Take 3 Christian, Timberland High School, Union High School, Villa Duchesne, Visitation Academy, Webster Groves High School, Westminster Christian Academy and Whitfield School.
The year-long adjudication process culminates in an awards ceremony modeled on the Tony Awards®. The winners of the Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Actor categories will travel to New York to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Awards®) program and to participate in a week-long professional development experience
About The Jimmy Awards® / National High School Musical Theatre Awards®
The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) program impacts more than 100,000 students who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of Touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. Presented by the Broadway League Foundation, the program sends a Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions to New York for a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only talent showcase on Broadway. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $2,000,000 in educational scholarships. The eleventh annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 24, 2019 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Coaching and rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event will be held Monday, June 17, 2019 through Monday, June 24, 2019 in New York City. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.
About The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Foundation
The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and in particular to preserve Armenian Culture of Americans of Armenian descent and support other educational and charitable organizations.