Marin Summer Theater wins national awards
2013 Company to perform at the Mountain Play on June 9th.
Marin Summer Theater has been honored by National Youth Arts (NYA) with 11 nominations and 4 awards in NYA's Eighth Annual National Youth Arts Awards. NYA bestows nominations and awards to honor outstanding work by youth in the arts, specifically to those under nineteen years of age. This year more than 300 productions were considered for the awards, including shows from more than 100 different theatres in more than 50 cities spanning 10 states.
<br/>
<br/>MST earned nominations for all three of its 2012 productions of SPRING AWAKENING, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL. Of the eleven nominations, four went on to win awards. Due to the rules of NYA, only performers under nineteen are considered, with occasional exceptions made for outstanding Guest Artists over eighteen. Students under nineteen made up approx. sixty percent of the 2012 MST Company. 2012 was the first year that MST submitted shows for consideration.
<br/>
<br/>The audience at the June 9th performance of THE SOUND OF MUSIC presented by the Mountain Play Association will get a sneak peak at the MST 2013 Company when MST presents a pre-show warm-up at 12:30pm.
<br/>
<br/>MST was invited by the Mountain Play staff after one of their members saw MST perform at a benefit. MST is very excited about this opportunity hopes that it will help them get the word about the wonderful program they have to offer to middle school, high school and college students. Thirty MST company members will present a mash-up of music from GYPSY and LES MISÉRABLES, two out of the three shows MST is producing this summer.
<br/>
<br/>MST will perform GYPSY on July 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13; ALMOST, MAINE on July 18, 19, 20, 21; and LES MISÉRABLES on July 25, 26, 27, 28, August 2, 3, 4, all in Novato CA.
<br/>
<br/>Tickets and additional information can be found at www.marinsummertheater.org. 2013 is MST’s fifth season.
<br/>
<br/>GYPSY, one of the greatest musicals ever written, is a story about the ultimate stage mother and her daughters. It is a musical based on the real-life story of burlesque queen Gypsy Rose Lee. The rhinestone splendors of vaudeville are brought to life to the accompaniment of Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim's zesty songs as Madam Rose drags her daughters June and Louise from one second-rate theatre to another.
<br/>
<br/>A play by John Cariani, ALMOST, MAINE has been warming hearts and charming audiences since it was first produced at the Portland Stage Company in 2004. Since then, ALMOST, MAINE has traveled to Broadway, all over the United States and around the world. On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite as quiet as it seems in the mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost's residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways.
<br/>
<br/>LES MISÉRABLES is an international smash-hit that may be the most popular musical in the world. In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways.
<br/>
<br/>In addition to three demanding shows, MST is expanding its performance schedule by presenting GYPSY and LES MISÉRABLES for two weekends each. The need for more performances became apparent during the 2012 season. "The shows were so well received in 2012 that we could have run each of them for a month and still had an audience. We've decided to add performances to both musicals in 2013 so we can build our audience and more people can see them. It will be very demanding, but our kids can do it,” said MST Artistic Director Patrick Nims.
<br/>
<br/>Marin Summer Theater (MST) is a 501(c)3 theater company of students of performing arts between the ages of 13 and 23 and includes actors, singers, dancers, musicians, directors, designers, technicians, and crew. MST prepares and presents three fully-staged productions in a six-week summer season. MST's mission is twofold: To enrich the community by presenting exciting, professional quality live theater; to provide a venue for theater arts students to apply and expand their skills regardless of financial means.
<br/>
<br/>2012/2013 NYA Nominations: Outstanding Production: SPRING AWAKENING
<br/>
<br/> Guest Actress: Jessica LaFever (SFSU) as Elle Woods in LEGALLY BLONDE
<br/>
<br/>Lead Actor in a Play: Evan Held (MSA/NHS) as Mr. John Worthing in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNES
<br/>
<br/> Lead Actress in a Play: Christie Chenette (RHS) as Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
<br/>
<br/> Supporting Actress in a Musical: Chloe Gasparini (SMHS) as Ilse in SPRING AWAKENING
<br/> Supporting Actress in a Musical: Cierra Potter (MSA/NHS) as Fr. Bergman, Frl. Knuppeldick in SPRING AWAKENING
<br/>
<br/> Supporting Actress in a Play: Jane Reagan (TLHS) as Cecily Cardew in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
<br/> Supporting Actress in a Musical: Lily Hahn (MSA/NHS) as Vivienne Kensington in LEGALLY BLONDE
<br/>
<br/>Featured Actress in a Musical: Corrin Dove (SMHS) as Serena in LEGALLY BLONDE
<br/> Ensemble: The cast of LEGALLY BLONDE
<br/> Direction: Pat Nims for SPRING AWAKENING
<br/>
<br/>
