theater

MERRITT ISLAND HS THEATER Wins Mulitple Awards

From Merritt Island High School’s production of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.”

By PAM HARBAUGH

Well now THAT was a nice press release to receive: The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announced its 2016 APPLAUSE AWARDS for excellence in high school musical theater in Central Florida.

And MERRITT ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL’s Theater program won 14 awards. Congratulations. Here are the MIHS winners, who all came from its production of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.”

Merritt Island High School production of "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying."

Merritt Island High School production of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.”

“We’re very blessed this year,” said the show’s director Jenora Duprey. “The kids are beyond excited. They were really concerned because we are in a group of lots of schools of the arts and schools where arts are definitely more in the forefront than other public schools.”

One of the awards the school won was for Community Involvement. They won the award after using social media to help raise $500 in ticket sales dedicated to benefit the Brevard Rescue Mission, an organization helping women and children needing housing, financial and employment assistance.

Here’s the list of the school’s 2016 Applause Awards:

Outstanding Technical Achievement
Outstanding Supporting Performer — Lydia Rose Kinzler
Outstanding Supporting Performer — Torie D’Alessandro
Outstanding Dance Performer — Emma Kapper
Outstanding Director — Jenora Duprey
Outstanding Choreographer — Torie D’Alessandro, Mikaela Farrell & Shay Hattaway
Outstanding Stage Manager — Mykael Larson
Outstanding Overall Design — Steve Rossi
Outstanding Set Design — Mykael Larson
Outstanding Lighting Design — Emma Pearcy
Outstanding Sound Design — Justin Wright
Outstanding Costume Design — Jewell Porer & Farrah Sephri
Honorable Mention in Design — Bryce Polly
Community Engagement — Merritt Island High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

For a list of all winners, go here:

The Applause Awards includes 22 schools in six counties of Central Florida. Winning performers from the “Outstanding Lead Performer,” “Outstanding Supporting Performer,” “Outstanding Dance Performer” and “Honorable Mention in Performance” categories are invited to perform at a special showcase. MIHS’ Torie D’Alessandro, Lydia Rose and Emma Kapper will be performing. The showcase will be held 6 p.m. June 5 in the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando. Tickets are $21.75. Call 844.513.2014 or visit DrPhilllipsCenter.org. drphillipscenter.org. Online and phone ticket purchases include handling fees.