School News

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 May 2023 22:26

Thomas Jefferson High School’s musical theater production of “Anything Goes: 2022 Revision” has earned 11 nominations for the prestigious Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards, including for Best Musical for the second consecutive year.

Thomas Jefferson’s Anything Goes is one of two finalists for Best Musical in Budget Level IV, competing against Hampton’s production of Something Rotten! for the top honor. Best Musical will be selected in four budget categories.

Thomas Jefferson’s Anything Goes was nominated in all eight Gene Kelly Awards ensemble categories, led by Best Musical. The other categories are: Best Scenic Design, Best Vocal Ensemble, Best Dance Ensemble, Best Crew/Technical Execution, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Student Orchestra (one of six overall nominees)

In the acting categories, TJ’s Rachael Parsons was selected a Gene Kelly Awards finalist for Best Actress, Ashley Caldwell was named a finalist for Best Supporting Actress and Hayden Krupp is a finalist for Best Supporting Actor. Parsons and Krupp were nominated in their respective categories for the second consecutive year. Kayleigh Johnson was a semifinalist in the Best Actress category. There are six overall nominees in each of the acting categories.

Anything Goes was directed by Jim Benedek, who teaches Technology Education at TJ. Julie Tipton, a TJ English and theater educator, was the assistant director and Michele Stoicovy, who teaches family and consumer science at TJ, coordinated costume design. Thomas Jefferson music educators Julie Lucci (vocal director) and Jim Mirabella (orchestra pit director) also were members of the musical production team.

In 2022, Thomas Jefferson’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” earned five Gene Kelly Awards, including its first Best Musical honor. Legally Blonde also won Best Scenic Design, Best Vocal Ensemble, Best Dance Ensemble and Best Crew/Technical Execution in its budget level last year.

The Pittsburgh CLO’s 32nd Annual Gene Kelly Awards will be held at the Benedum Center on Saturday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m.

The Gene Kelly Awards are presented by Pittsburgh CLO, the HRH Foundation, and the Michael J. Kara Family, with additional support from The Gismondi Family Foundation, Deloitte, PNC, Highmark, and the CLO Ambassadors.