Kelly Awards: Moon Takes Home 'Best Orchestra'

Moon Area High School's "Guys and Dolls" marked the district's return to the annual performing arts awards.

Baldwin High School took home a Gene Kelly Award for "Best Musical, Budget Level III" for its production of the musical mystery comedy, "Curtains." Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh presented the 22nd annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater Saturday night. The event, held at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh, selected performers from 32 participating high schools that produced a spring musical. The award, named for iconic Hollywood movie star and Pittsburgh native Gene Kelly, was given to promote excellence in high school musical theatre. Kelly is most notably remembered for “Singin' in the Rain,” the titular song in the classic musical comedy, “Singing in the Rain.” Moon, Pine-Richland…

• Photos (8)
• Videos (1)

Moon High School Reacts to Gene Kelly Nominations

Moon Area High School's musical director reacts to students receiving two Gene Kelly Award nominations.

This is the first year in a long time that Moon Area High School has entered its spring musical for consideration at the Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards and the cast and crew are glad they did, as they received two nominations for their rendition of Guys and Dolls. Moon student Zach Houston was nominated for best supporting actor for his role as Nicely, Nicely and the student orchestra picked up a nomination as well. "In the past, I really worried about the competition factor and about students getting their feelings hurt," musical director Laura Mitchell said about why she previously chose not to be part of the Gene Kelly Awards. Now that Moon Area High School has a beautiful new theater and the ability to put on even more show-stopping …

• Photos (1)

Moon, OLSH Nominated for Gene Kelly Awards

The award winners will be announced at a 7:30 p.m. program on Saturday, May 26, at the Benedum Center.

Moon Area High School's rendition of Guys and Dolls notched a nomination for best student orchestra in this year's 2012 Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards.  Moon student Zach Houston has also been nominated as best supporting actor for his role as Nicely, Nicely in the musical.  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, meanwhile, was nominated for best musical in the budget category I division.  It also picked up nods for best scenic design, best costume design and best lighting.  OLSH student Vinnie Smith was nominated for best supporting actor for his turn as Bud Frump in the production. OLSH's Adrienne Knap is up for best supporting actress for her role as Smitty.  Moon's Guys and Dolls, a theather …

• Photos (1)

Rockin' the Suburbs

High School Musical Season Comes to an End

Columnist Gab Bonesso would probably not be a professional performer had it not been for her time at Montour working on the spring musical!

High school musicals are kind of a big deal in the suburbs. For many residents, it’s the only time of the year when they attend the theater. For the students, it’s a time for big dreams, big fun and even bigger dance numbers. I love the theater. In fact, I love it so much that I spent four years at Duquesne University studying it as my major. My first experiences with the theater came as a student at Montour High School. As hard as it might be to imagine, I was somewhat shy during high school. To my close friends, I was outgoing and possibly insane. However to strangers I came off as “shy and too serious” or at least that’s what some classmates told my older brother during my middle school years. Anyway, I never felt comfortable singing. I…

• Photos (1)

'Guys and Dolls' to Hit the Stage in Moon

The play will open at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Moon Area High School auditorium.

Moon Area High School's take on Guys and Dolls—the theatrical classic about big-city gamblers—will mark the district's return to the running for Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Award. The production, which will be presented Thursday through Sunday at the Moon Area High School auditorium, has been entered for consideration for the regional high school performing arts awards, said director Laura Mitchell.  Moon has not submitted a production for consideration in the Kelly Awards in "years and years," said Mitchell, who has directed plays for the district since 2005. Kelly Award judges will be in attendance at each of the show's four performances later this week.  "We figured, hey, we've got this fabulous stage; let's do something with it," …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (5)

Five Things You Need to Know This Week

Patch takes a look ahead at news and events in Moon Township for the week of March 13, 2012.

1. Guys and Dolls opens at Moon Area High School Moon Area High School will present Guys and Dolls at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, which are available at the door, are $10 for seniors and students and $12 for adults. Check back with Patch for coverage.  2. Women's History Month events scheduled at RMU Robert Morris University students can take part in the "Love and Be Loved" campaign to combat domestic violence. The event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the university's Nicholson Center, features a T-shirt sale that will benefit the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. The event is held in honor of March's Women's History Month.    Click here for a glimpse of other women's history …

• Photos (1)

You Sent It In: Musical Director Thanks Donors, Community

Guys and Dolls runs March 15-18 at the Moon Area High School.

  The following is a message from Laura Mitchell, Moon Area School District musical director.  The MASD Drama Club wishes to thank the wonderful, committed donors and volunteers who support the plays and musicals at Moon High School. We could not exist without you! The Drama Club endeavors to bring family entertainment to our community and offer theatrical educational opportunities to more than 150 students per show in the following areas: set design, stage management, stage crew, orchestra, hair and makeup, dance, lighting, sound, and, of course, singing and acting.    Moon students participate in ALL elements of the production! This year we are very excited to announce our spring musical: Guys and Dolls March 15 to 18 on our gorgeous, …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)