By Sharon Eberson
Seven hundred Allegheny County students were singing, dancing, and accepting awards and scholarships last night, marking the return of the Gene Kelly Awards to a razzle-dazzle in-person event at the Benedum Center.
Among the multiple winners at Pittsburgh CLO’s 31st annual Kellys were the schools that won best musical in their respective budget levels: Westinghouse Arts Academy (Level I), Hampton (II), Thomas Jefferson (III), and Woodland Hills (IV).
Tyler Guinto-Brody of Elizabeth Forward High School won best actor for the second time. Kylie Edwards of Gateway High was voted best actress. Both are now eligible to represent Pittsburgh CLO’s Kelly Awards at the Jimmy Awards – the National High School Musical Theatre Awards – at Broadway’s Minskoff Theater on June 27.
A sold-out crowd cheered on live ensemble performances by eight best musical nominees and performances by the best actor and actress nominees. Presenters included local WPXI-TV anchor David Johnson, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and Broadway’s Danny Herman and Rocker Verastique.
More than $70,000 in scholarships was awarded at the ceremony, including by Point Park University to seniors Katherin Bruce and Nathan Phillips, Robert Morris to Leila Wertz, and Max Pratley, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Best actress Kylie Edwards was among the Gene Kelly Cash Scholarship awardees and received the Walter Blenko Memorial Scholarship.
The Kellys is a competition, of course, but CLO executive producer Mark Fleischer noted that it also represents “community and camaraderie,” as demonstrated by the backstage high-fives among competitors and raucous cheers from family and friends in the audience.
To choose the nominees and winners, a panel of judges attended performances by more than 30 Allegheny County schools, each represented by at least two performers for the traditional grand finale, a dance number to the Michael Moricz song “Eyes on the Goal,”
Participating schools in 2022 were: Avonworth, Baldwin, Bishop Canevin, Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic, Chartiers Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Gateway, Hampton, Keystone Oaks, McKeesport Area, Montour, Moon Area, North Hills, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, Pittsburgh Allderdice, Pittsburgh CAPA, Plum, Quaker Valley, Redeemer Lutheran, Riverview, Serra Catholic, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, South Fayette, Springdale, St. Joseph, Thomas Jefferson, West Allegheny, Westinghouse Arts Academy and Woodland Hills.
In addition to the Kelly Awards presented at the ceremony, cash prizes and university scholarships also were awarded to performers, backstage standouts, and the winning Kelly Critic. For more information, visit pittsburghCLO.org.
2022 Gene Kelly Award Winners
(Winners are indicated in bold type.)
Best Scenic Design
Budget Level I
Plum: The Addams Family
Serra Catholic: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Westinghouse Arts Academy: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Budget Level II
Elizabeth Forward: Little Shop of Horrors – Broadway Version
Hampton: Into The Woods
Pittsburgh CAPA: Hairspray
Budget Level III
Moon Area: The Addams Family
North Hills: Once Upon a Mattress
Thomas Jefferson: Legally Blonde The Musical
Budget Level IV
Baldwin: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Penn Hills: Little Women
Woodland Hills: Shrek The Musical
Best Costume Design
Budget Level I
Chartiers Valley: Mary Poppins
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: Bye Bye Birdie
Westinghouse: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Budget Level II
Avonworth: The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Hampton: Into The Woods
Pittsburgh CAPA: Hairspray
Budget Level III
Moon Area: The Addams Family
Riverview.: Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Thomas Jefferson: Legally Blonde The Musical
Budget Level IV
Baldwin: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Pine-Richland: Shrek The Musical
Woodland Hills: Shrek The Musical
Best Lighting Design
Budget Level I
Chartiers Valley: Mary Poppins
Plum: The Addams Family
Westinghouse: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Budget Level II
Elizabeth Forward: Little Shop of Horrors
Hampton: Into The Woods
Shady Side Academy: Pippin
Budget Level III
Moon Area: The Addams Family
Riverview: Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Thomas Jefferson: Legally Blonde The Musical
Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland: Shrek The Musical
West Allegheny: Legally Blonde The Musical
Woodland Hills: Shrek The Musical
Best Crew/Technical Execution
Budget Level I
Chartiers Valley: Mary Poppins
Plum: The Addams Family
Serra Catholic: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Budget Level II
Elizabeth Forward: Little Shop of Horrors
Hampton: Into The Woods
Pittsburgh CAPA: Hairspray
Budget Level III
Moon Area: The Addams Family
North Hills: Once Upon a Mattress
Thomas Jefferson: Legally Blonde The Musical
Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland: Shrek The Musical
West Allegheny: Legally Blonde The Musical
Woodland Hills: Shrek The Musical
Vocal Ensemble
Budget Level I
Chartiers Valley: Mary Poppins
Serra Catholic: Beauty and the Beast
Westinghouse: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Budget Level II
Elizabeth Forward: Little Shop of Horrors
Hampton: Into The Woods
Pittsburgh CAPA: Hairspray
Budget Level III
Moon Area: The Addams Family
North Hills: Once Upon a Mattress
Thomas Jefferson: Legally Blonde The Musical
Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland: Shrek The Musical
West Allegheny: Legally Blonde The Musical
Woodland Hills: Shrek The Musical
Best Dance Ensemble
Budget Level I
Chartiers Valley: Mary Poppins
Plum: The Addams Family
Westinghouse: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Budget Level II
Elizabeth Forward: Little Shop of Horrors
Hampton High School: Into The Woods
Pittsburgh CAPA: Hairspray
Budget Level III
Moon Area: The Addams Family
Riverview: Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Thomas Jefferson: Legally Blonde The Musical
Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland: Shrek The Musical
West Allegheny: Legally Blonde The Musical
Woodland Hills: Shrek The Musical
Best Student Orchestra
Hampton: Into the Woods
North Hills: Once Upon a Mattress
Pine-Richland: Shrek The Musical
Plum: The Addams Family
Sewickley Academy: Urinetown
Westinghouse: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Outstanding Student Artist
Maddie Casella: North Hills
Stella Christensen: Quaker Valley
Jack Cipriani: Moon Area
Olivia Holloway: Avonworth
Alexander Victoria: Pittsburgh CAPA
Dragon Puppeteers: Woodland Hills
Best Supporting Actor
Jack Cipriani, Moon Area
Andrew Kaehly, Hampton
Issac McCloy, Westinghouse Arts Academy
Max Peluso, Sewickley Academy
Max Pratley, Baldwin
Kai Sachon, Pittsburgh CAPA
Best Supporting Actress
Camryn Hall, Westinghouse Arts Academy
Mackenzie Heidenreich, West Allegheny
Lucia Lazzara-Goodrich, Pittsburgh CAPA
Teddy McClelland, Woodland Hills
Beth Satariano, North Hills
Molly Virtue, Pittsburgh Allderdice
Best Actor
Dominic Difuccia, Woodland Hills
Jack Exline, Pine-Richland
Tyler Guinto-Brody, Elizabeth Forward
Logan Krushinski, Pine-Richland
Quintin Michalski, Baldwin
Nicolas Sperandeo, Chartiers Valley
Best Actress
Kylie Edwards, Gateway
Isabella Gricar, Westinghouse Arts Academy
Trisha Holmes, Pine-Richland
Emma Hopf, North Hills
Kaitlyn Majewski, McKeesport Area
Ellie Tongel, Plum
Best Musical
Budget Level I
Chartiers Valley: Mary Poppins
Westinghouse: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Budget Level II
Elizabeth Forward: Little Shop of Horrors
Hampton: Into The Woods
Budget Level III
North Hills: Once Upon a Mattress
Thomas Jefferson: Legally Blonde The Musical
Budget Level IV
West Allegheny: Legally Blonde The Musical
Woodland Hills: Shrek The Musical
Kelly Critics Award
Kevin Hutchinson, Baldwin
Faith Evans, North Hills
Alexandria Rhoads, Moon Area
Ryan Scott, Sewickley Academy
Categories: Arts and Ideas
Leave a Reply Cancel reply