47 productions. 30 high schools. 1 incredible night.

A panel of 30 statewide casting agents have selected nearly 400 students from 30 high schools and nine counties to participate in this high-energy evening—featuring live performances of winners in the Outstanding Musical category and culminating in the announcement of the Outstanding Lead Male and Female Performers.

Modeled after the Tony Awards®, the Applause Awards will be directed by Broadway veteran Ray Roderick and hosted by award winning Broadway and TV actress/singer Rachel York. Thousands of dollars in scholarships will be given to college-bound seniors. Two overall winners will advance to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, known as The Jimmy Awards®, for an opportunity of a lifetime to compete among the next generation of Broadway stars in New York City.

2022 Applause Awards

Ray Roderick — Director

Ray Roderick (writer/director/choreographer), adapted the Broadway script for Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang for the 1st US national tour (director), UK tour and Australian tour. He wrote and directed ‘S Wonderful! The New Gershwin Musical, which toured the US. He has recently written book and lyrics for Brooklyn Bridge, A New Musical, and directed the premiere production at Montclair State University. He was associate director of A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden for six years, where he was privileged to work with original director Mike Ockrent. He was also associate director for Susan Stroman’s Broadway revival of The Music Man, and subsequently directed the successful three-year North American Tour. He co-wrote/directed/choreographed Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano three-year national tour of the US and Japan.

Ray was the founding artistic director of Tri-State Center for the Arts, where he remained at the helm for seven years. For The Denver Center of the Performing Arts, Ray has directed and choreographed First Date, The Last Five Years, The Taffetas, Five Course Love, and I Love You, Now Change! (Denver’s longest running show). Ray begins his 20th year as creative director for the United States Tennis Association’s US Open, where he writes and directs Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day television show for ABC, and creates on-court entertainment and ceremonies for ESPN.

As Broadway performer, Ray was seen in many shows, including Barnum, starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close, and originated roles in Grind, Cats, The Wind in the Willows, Crazy For You, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum starring Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg.

Rachel York — Host

Rachel York is a dynamic and versatile actress best known for her critically acclaimed Broadway performances in City of Angels, Les Misérables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award) with Dame Julie Andrews, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfuss, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Jonathan Pryce, Disaster! The Musical and most recently, Head Over Heels. Ms. York recently finished an engagement as Reno Sweeney in the sold-out run of Anything Goes at the Barbican Theater in London’s West End.

Ms. York also starred in the National Tour of the Tony-winning Anything Goes (Helen Hayes Award), earned rave reviews in the Los Angeles production of Grey Gardens opposite Betty Buckley, starred in the national tour of Camelot (Carbonell Award) opposite Michael York, Putting It Together (Manhattan Theatre Club) also with Julie Andrews, the national and London tours of Kiss Me, Kate, Cruella De Vil in the national tour of 101 Dalmatians directed by Jerry Zaks, Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center opposite LaChanze, Turn of the Century opposite Jeff Daniels directed by Tommy Tune at the Goodman Theatre, and The Odd Couple with Jason Alexander and Martin Short.

In concert, Ms. York has been a soloist worldwide including appearances with the New York Pops; the National Symphony under the direction of conductor Marvin Hamlisch; the Los Angeles Philharmonic; The Philly Pops; the San Francisco Symphony; the Jerusalem Philharmonic, and multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall. On Television, Rachel turned heads with her courageous portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS movie, Lucy; she had recurring roles on Fox’s Filthy Rich and CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted and has appeared on Prodigal Son, The Mick, Power, Elementary,Hannah Montana, Frasier and Reba, among many other films and television credits.

Prices, shows, artists, dates and times are subject to change at any time without notice. The views and opinions expressed within this show are those of the artist(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Dr. Phillips Center.

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