SW, Washburn Win Top Theater Awards

Look out, Broadway: here come the students of Minneapolis Public Schools.

Last night, and were each presented with from the Hennepin Theater Trust, akin Tony Awards for Minnesota high school musical theater.

Southwest won Outstanding Overall Performance, Outstanding Overall Production, and Outstanding Performance By A Student Orchestra for this spring’s “Hairspray.” Washburn won Outstanding Performance by Chorus/Ensemble, Honorable Mention Achievement in Dance, and Honorable Mention Performance by Student Orchestra for their spring musical, "FAME."

“(The students) did things like jump up and down and hug each other when we found out” last week, said Hairspray co-director Margaret Berg. “It’s a nice ‘kudos.’”for their spring musical, Fame.

“We’re extremely proud of our students,” Berg’s co-director Nathan Knoll added. “They’re a joy to work with.”

The honor is particularly great for the three students who designed the show's costumes and sets by themselves.

“Fame” was Washburn’s first big musical in several years, and has been called a landmark in the school’s art program and in the school’s journey from a federally mandated “fresh start” several years ago.