Time to shine for young actors

Mount presents 2nd annual TAMY Awards

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — In an atmosphere reminiscent of the Tony awards in New York City, high school drama students showed up to the Four Points Sheraton in Leominster Tuesday night donning prom gowns and tuxedos as if ready for their closeup on the red carpet. Mount Wachusett Community College’s Theatre at the Mount hosted the second annual TAMY Awards, a high school musical theater competition that recognized the hundreds of hours of hard work and creativity that both faculty and staff put into area high school theatrical productions. The regional competition, which drew more than 450 students faculty and friends, had nominees from 17 different high school musical productions. The coordinator of the event, Gail Steele, said that she came up with the idea for a night that was focused on the achievements of local high school theater performers during an athletic banquet for her daughter. “There is so much attention paid to athletes in our high schools and I thought to myself ‘what about the theater students?’,” said Ms. Steele. “These kids have put in hundreds of hours of rehearsal, which is probably more than any athlete at the school.” The guest speaker at the event was Christopher Chew, an actor who recently appeared as Cervantes in “Man of La Mancha” at Lyric Stage in Boston. Throughout his speech, Mr. Chew reminded students that win or lose, they should all be proud of their accomplishments. “We are here tonight to celebrate the theater opportunities that are granted to students in our school systems,” said Mr. Chew. “Although some of you will win wonderful awards tonight, we need to all walk out of here proud of all of the work that brought us here in the first place. As actors and actresses, it isn’t through awards that we should get our satisfaction, but reaching out to the people in the audience.” Mr. Chew also emphasized the importance of supporting high school theater productions, which he said will produce the next generation of actors. “What you are all doing for the people who watch your performances is so important,” said Mr. Chew. “You allow people in the audience to lose themselves in characters you create that remind them of themselves.” The event was sponsored by the Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, the Ronald M. Ansin Foundation, Aubuchon Hardware, Health Alliance Hospital, Henry Heywood Hospital, I-C Credit Union, and Birgita Clementi. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 6/4/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 132)