ArtsBridge Foundation honors high school theater at 15th Shuler Awards

Thursday on GPB-TV, the annual ArtsBridge Foundation’s Shuler Awards, for high school theater, will be livestreamed.

This recognizes and celebrates high school theater programs across Georgia for their 2022-23 school year productions.

According to ArtsBridge Foundation’s Executive Direction, Jennifer Dobbs, the Shuler Awards, named after Marietta-born film and stage actor Shuler Hensley, helps community members understand the work that students, theater directors, and high school programs from over 17 counties put in yearly.

“It is truly the high school version of the Tony Awards, and provides students an opportunity to experience being on the big stage, as well as being on a live broadcast television program,” she said.

The event, which takes place at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, features “purple-carpet arrivals inspired by the Tony Awards, live nominee performances, and trophies presented in 18 categories,” according to a press release.

A list of nominees can be found here.

This year’s ceremony will also celebrate the award’s 15th anniversary by highlighting the work done during its runtime.

“In the past 15 years we’ve grown from 13 schools to a one-time high of 75 schools, focused on our efforts to be much more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible with the implementation of our idea policy and our efforts to be open to everyone who wants to participate,” Dobbs said. “We also celebrate the non-gendering of our work.”

Up to six students will receive scholarships in cash, approximately $20,000, or in-kind scholarships. The money is for seniors pursuing the arts in higher education. The in-kind scholarships, as explained by Dobbs, are donated by “regional prestigious theatrical companies who typically provide a camp or intensive so that they can further hone their skills with professionals.”

GPB-TV and the ArtsBridge Foundation have won four Southeast Emmy Awards for the live broadcasting of the Shuler Awards. Dobbs says the organization hopes to receive a fifth based on this year’s showing.

“This year is going to blow everyone’s socks off,” she said. “We have a lot of surprises in store.”

Watch the GPB-TV showing of the Shuler Awards on Thursday, April 20 at 8 p.m. live or on demand at GPB.org.