School News

Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 June 2023 01:22

Thomas Jefferson High School’s “Anything Goes: 2022 Revision” won three awards at the 32nd Annual Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. The event was held Saturday night, May 27 at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

Thomas Jefferson’s Ashley Caldwell was named Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Erma in Anything Goes. For the second consecutive year, TJ’s musical theater students captured Best Vocal Ensemble and Best Crew/Technical Execution in its budget level, moving up to Budget Level IV this year.

Thomas Jefferson’s Anything Goes was nominated in all eight Gene Kelly Awards ensemble categories, including being one of the two Best Musical nominees in Budget Level IV.

A pair of TJ seniors were awarded scholarships during the Gene Kelly Awards. Senior Hayden Krupp, a finalist for Best Supporting Actor, was the recipient of a $2,000 scholarship from Robert Morris University, which is renewable each year with his involvement in RMU’s Colonial Theater. Senior Rachael Parsons, who was a finalist in the Best Actress category, earned a $4,000 Gene Kelly scholarship.

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 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.