Brandon Firth and Christina Tephly picked for musical awards

Baldwin High School students Christina Tephly and Brandon Firth have been nominated for the highly prestigious Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance.

Both students also have the opportunity to advance to the “Nominee Selection Phase” for the Outstanding Performer in a Musical Award.

The Roger Rees Awards is the regional high school musical theater award program for the Greater New York City Area. Students performing in eligible roles in their school musical are reviewed by a team of adjudicators to determine two students from each school to continue in the process to become one of the 50 nominees selected for the Roger Rees Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Musical. Of these 50 nominees, two will be selected to represent the Greater New York City Region at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards and the Jimmy Awards.

The Nominee Selection Phase involves an in-person vocal audition in front of a panel of Broadway professionals and an educational workshop that will take place at one of three locations based on the geographic location of your school. If selected as a nominee, the Roger Rees Awards rehearsal, coaching, and showcase weekend will take place in May in New York City. All nominees will perform in the opening and closing numbers of the Roger Rees Awards Showcase at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

During the coaching sessions, nominees will work with a Broadway coach and music director on their solo song cut from their qualifying role. During the showcase, 12 finalists will be announced live, and those students will perform their solo song cuts. Their performances will be scored by a panel of distinguished judges to determine two “Outstanding Performers” and two “Emerging Artists.” The Outstanding Performer winners and their parents/guardians will be provided with further instructions for participation in the Jimmy Awards.

The Roger Rees Awards Showcase is open to the public and tickets will be available for purchase.