Bolingbrook Student Finalist for Theatre Award

Submitted by the Valley View School District 365U

• Photo: Bolingbrook High School freshman Spencer Avery, who played Donkey in the BHS spring production of “Shrek the Musical,” is a finalist in the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Bolingbrook High School’s Spencer Avery is one of 12 Illinois male thespians who have been named finalists in the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards.

The BHS freshman, who was selected for the honor based on his role as Donkey in the March BHS production of Shrek the Musical, will travel to downtown Chicago in June to work with Kerstin Anderson, who plays Maria in the national tour of The Sound of Music. During his visit, he will not only see a performance of the show, but will also perform himself on-stage at the Broadway Playhouse in front of casting directors and agents.

One of the 12 high school students will be chosen “Best Actor” and will advance to New York to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards.

“We are incredibly proud of Spencer,” said BHS English teacher David Morrison, who was Assistant Director of the spring musical and director of the fall play at BHS. "He deserves every bit of the honor that he’s receiving.”

This is the fifth straight year the Illinois Chapter of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards has sponsored an annual celebration honoring “outstanding achievement in musical theatre performance by high school students.” Broadway in Chicago founded the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards.