Spotlight on student talent as Apple Awards return to Numerica PAC

WENATCHEE — It’s Apple Awards time again, when we celebrate high school theater, both plays and musicals, and give the equivalent of Tony awards to actresses, actors and crew. What used to be an honor given only by a student’s own school has six schools participating all together for one giant night of awards and honors presented by Wenatchee’s own Barrett Family.

Hosted and directed by Brian Higgins, and produced by Kylee Boggs and Alex Haley, the Apple Awards serve to highlight the excellence and innovation and creativity that these young minds create, giving us their all in return for nothing but the experience.

And make no mistake: High school theater is a lot harder than you might suppose. Just as football players start practicing in full gear when the summer sun is still high overhead, theater kids put in long hours and dedicate all of their free time to perfecting something for your entertainment.

There’s not a slouch in the bunch of this year’s nominees. The high schools involved are Cashmere, Chelan, Eastmont, Ephrata, Quincy and Wenatchee, and the productions that nominations are drawn from are just as varied as the communities that these young people are from.

Honoring both traditional plays and musicals, the shows up for consideration for best overall production this year are:

• “And Then There Were None” from Cashmere High School (play)
• “Angels of Bataan” from Eastmont High School (play)
• “One Acts” from Ephrata High School (play)
• “The Great Gatsby” from Lake Chelan High School (play)
• “Romeo and Juliet” from Wenatchee High School (play)
• “The Little Mermaid,” Cashmere HS (musical)
• “Big Fish,” Eastmont HS (musical)
• “Cinderella,” Quincy HS (musical)
• “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,” Wenatchee HS (musical)

There will, of course, also be awards for Lead and Supporting Performers in both Plays and Musicals, for Stage Managers and for Tech Crews who bring everything together smoothly.

If you want a sneak peek at the up-and-comers in the Wenatchee Valley’s vibrant theater community, find your way to the Numerica PAC on Thursday, May 15 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30). Tickets are $15 for students and $20 for adults, and can be found at the PAC’s Box Office, by phone at 509-663-ARTS (2787) or on the PAC website.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media