Final Awards Ceremony Weekend
The Tommy Awards will culminate in a weekend celebration of area high school musical theater, including rehearsals, and a red carpet gala event. The 2013 Tommy Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2013 time TBD.
When will my school know if it is receiving an award?
We plan to announce the award recipients in early May 2013. Schools that will perform in the Final Awards Ceremony will have 1-2 weeks to prepare their numbers. We will expect teachers to send in their arranged music for lead performers approximately one week after the receipients are announced and music for medleys and scenes is due approximately two weeks after the announcement. Given this short turn-around period, you may want to begin thinking about what your school's performance(s) might look like – so that you are prepared if your school is selected.
What is the Final Awards Ceremony like?
The Final Awards Ceremony is a celebration of all the hard work that YOU have done this year! There will be award presentations throughout the show, with multiple recipients in each category. Awards will be presented to the school or individual. Schools that are being awarded a group award (Outstanding Ensemble or Outstanding Orchestra, for example) are encouraged to bring that group up on stage and have one representative accept the award. There will not be any acceptance speeches.
In between award presentations, students from the Outstanding Musical productions will perform medleys highlighting their shows, Outstanding Musical Number award recipients will perform their musical numbers and Outstanding Lead Performer award recipients will also perform short solos. There will also be a finale number, in which Outstanding Lead, Outstanding Supporting and Outstanding Dance Performer award recipients will perform. These students will be asked to attend additional rehearsals in order to prepare for this production number. All music accompaniment will be provided by a live band.
Every award recipient and school will know that they are receiving an award in advance of the final ceremony.
How do we purchase tickets to the Final Awards Ceremony?
Tickets will be available online, by calling 608.258.4141, or in person at the Overture Center Ticket Office (201 State Street). Tickets will go on sale in Spring of 2013.
Does anyone receive complimentary tickets to the Final Awards Ceremony?
Yes, complimentary tickets will be distributed as follows:
• Each school contact (teacher or director) will receive two (2) complimentary tickets to the performance.
• Any student who will be performing at the awards ceremony will receive a complimentary ticket.
• Any student who receives an individual award for a performance category will receive a complimentary ticket. For example: Outstanding Lead Performer and Outstanding Supporting Performer recipients
• Schools receiving an Outstanding Ensemble or Outstanding Orchestra Award will receive complimentary tickets for all members who are able to attend. (A final count of those attending will be due one week after the recipients are announced.)
Note: For awards in the design categories, a special reception will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2013 time TBD. At this reception we will recognize and award the outstanding design and technical achievement. The designers receiving a Tommy Award will also receive a complimentary ticket to the awards ceremony.
All other parents, relatives, friends or students may purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a public event so we encourage everyone in the community to attend and support area musical theater!
Will students who are performing get to watch the Final Awards Ceremony?
Seats will be reserved for anyone who is performing or receiving an award at the Final Awards Ceremony. We will escort students from their seats to the backstage area, and help them return after they have finished. This will allow them to see as much of the show as possible.
What’s the schedule for the Final Awards weekend?
Since a schedule for the 2013 Tommy Awards can only be made once recipients are selected, below is an example of a past rehearsal schedule.
Friday, June 1:
Finale Rehearsal, required for all Outstanding Lead, Supporting and Dancer winners performing in the Finale.
Saturday, June 2:
9 AM - 7 PM – Awards Ceremony Rehearsal, all schools receiving an award for Outstanding Musical or Outstanding Musical Number, and all Outstanding Lead Performer Award recipients are required to choose rehearse on either Saturday OR Sunday. Each Outstanding Musical Medley will rehearse on stage with the band for 45 minutes. Each Outstanding Musical Number will rehearse on stage with the band for 30 minuts and Outstanding Lead Performers will rehearse on stage with the band for 10-12 minutes each. Schools and individuals will be scheduled according to availability.
Sunday, June 3:
1pm - 4:40pm - Awards Ceremony Rehearsal, all schools receiving an award for Outstanding Musical or Outstanding Musical Number, and all Outstanding Lead Performer Award recipients are required to choose rehearse on either Saturday OR Sunday. Each Outstanding Musical Medley will rehearse on stage with the band for 45 minutes. Each Outstanding Musical Number will rehearse on stage with the band for 30 minuts and Outstanding Lead Performers will rehearse on stage with the band for 10-12 minutes each. Schools and individuals will be scheduled according to availability.
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM - Finale Rehearsal, required for all Outstanding Lead, Supporting and Dancer award recipients performing in the Finale.
7 PM–Final Awards Ceremony
If we are not performing in the Awards Ceremony and are not receiving an award, can we still participate?
Yes! The Tommy Awards are about recognizing excellence in High School Musical Theater - and we want all of our schools to be present at the ceremony if possible. It is a magical night and we hope everyone is able to make it!
If we perform in the Final Awards Ceremony, do we need to bring costumes or music?
Costumes – Students performing in Outstanding Musical medleys or an Outstanding Musical Scene should wear jeans and the t-shirt from their school's production. Students performing in the Outstanding Lead medleys will need to wear their costume. Please contact Karra Beach if you no longer have the costume pieces. Outstanding Supporting, and Dancer performers will be given a Tommy Awards t-shirt to wear during the Finale Number.
Music – Please keep the piano, bass and drum parts from your musical, we secure the rights to all of the schools’ music, so the publishing houses know. If someone from your school is performing in the Final Awards Ceremony, we will contact you to discuss music further.
I am the school contact or director for my production. What would my role be in preparing the performances for the Outstanding Musical medley, Outstanding Lead Performer solo, and Outstanding Musical Number? Each school that receives an Outstanding Musical award will be invited to perform a medley during the Final Awards Ceremony. As the teacher, you will need to arrange and stage a 5-minute medley that highlights your musical. Outstanding Lead performers will be asked to perform a solo from your production that is one minute in length. Lead performers will be grouped and all of the music will be arranged so that while a student is singing their solo, if there is a need, the others will sing back-up to them. Please see the National High School Musical Theater Awards website for an example of what one of these medleys looks like.
• Outstanding Lead performers will be asked to perform a solo from your production that is one minute in length. Lead performers will be grouped and all of the music will be arranged so that while a student is singing their solo, if there is a need, the others will sing back-up to them. Please see the National High School Musical Theater Awards website for an example of what one of these medleys looks like.
• Each school that receives an Outstanding Musical Number award will be invited to perform that number during the Final Awards Ceremony. As the director/school contact, you will need to rehearse the scene with the students and adapt it to Overture’s stage. Some longer numbers may need to be cut down.
I am the Student Liason for my school. What will my role be in preparing for the Awards Ceremony?
• Karra Beach will be in touch with you when the awards are announced and let you know what information she will need you to compile. Responsiblities could include collecting the t-shirt sizes for your group of students if your school won an Outstanding Musical or Musical Number award, assisting your director/school contact in finding out when students are available for the Saturday rehearsal, and letting the other students at your school know about the Awards Ceremony.
I am the Parent Liason for my school. What will my role be in preparing for the Awards Ceremony?
• Karra Beach will be in touch in May when the awards are announced. Your responsibilities may consist of assisting the teacher/director in collecting information, and getting the word out to your community about the Awards Ceremony.
All teachers with students performing in the Final Awards Ceremony are required to attend the Saturday afternoon rehearsal period with their students. Please note that each number will only have approximately 30 minutes to perform with the band, complete a sound check and work out any blocking challenges. Performers should be rehearsed and well prepared prior to this afternoon. Any number that is not prepared may not be allowed to perform.
What are the stage dimensions? Will there be sound and lighting?
The stage of Overture Hall measures 42’ wide and 38’ deep. Please plan accordingly.
Music accompaniment will be provided by a live band. Solo performers will have handheld microphones, and there will be hanging mics to capture ensemble performers. Minimal lighting will be designed and provided by Overture Center – unfortunately we are not able to accommodate requests for lighting or sound.
What if my students have conflicts during the Tommy Awards weekend?
We understand there could be conflicts with graduations and personal commitments. We will do our best to accommodate these situations. In some circumstances, award recipients who are not able to attend rehearsals may not be able to perform but they are still welcome to attend the ceremony and receive their award.
Is there anything else that we should be doing between now and May?
Consider applying for the Community Engagement Award or encouraging students to complete an application for a scholarship! This is a wonderful opportunity for musical theater productions to be recognized for the work that they have done in the community. Applications can be downloaded here. Applications must be received by May 10, 2013.