Broadway performers earn recognition for their performances through the Tony Awards. High school theater students in central Pennsylvania have the Apollo Awards. Created in 2008, the awards are presented by Hershey Theatre, and this year, several Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS) students were honored at the awards ceremony held on May 19.

Claire Hanlon won Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of the title character in "Mary Poppins," the EAHS spring musical. Brendan Fritz won Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Bert in the same show. Brendan also won Best Actor in a Play for his role as Max/Cecil/Arthur in the school's fall production of "The Play That Goes Wrong." Olivia Gable and Emma Griffith were presented with the Spirit of Theatre Award to recognize their contributions to the EAHS theater program behind the scenes.

Along with these awards, EAHS was nominated for Best Play for "The Play That Goes Wrong," Best Musical for "Mary Poppins," Best Dance Number in a Musical and Best Student Orchestra. Olivia received an honorable mention for Featured Performance in a Musical for her portrayal of Miss Andrew, and Scott Creason received an honorable mention for Best Actor in a Musical for his role of George Banks.

At the ceremony, the "Mary Poppins" cast entertained with a memorable number from the musical.

"The musical cast performed 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' on stage and was practically perfect," said Christy Blaisdell, EAHS theater productions director. "Our students were respectful, supportive of each other and other schools, and showed class and grace all day."

Modeled after the Tony Awards, the Apollo Awards celebrate student achievement in theater in southcentral Pennsylvania. The program offers scholarships and theatrical opportunities. "One of the best parts is the opportunity to perform on a professional stage for a larger audience," Blaisdell said. "Whether or not students are planning on going into theater in the future, it is an amazing taste of the professional world."

She noted that high school theater students deserve to be recognized for their hard work. "These students spend hundreds of hours creating a performance not just to entertain audiences, but to be a part of the experience of creating it," she commented. "They grow and learn and perfect skills. They challenge themselves and others. They are equally important as academic scholars, athletes, artists, etc., and deserve to be celebrated for all that they give to the community."

She said she's proud of Brendan and Claire for their awards as well as all of the students who represented the EAHS theater program in the ceremony.

"It is an honor to be nominated and have hard work and talent recognized; however, at E-town, we always want students to know that winning or not winning an award does not dictate how amazing they are and it does not take away from their efforts," she said, adding that one of the many benefits of performing arts is the opportunity it gives students to foster self-confidence. "Theater is a place where you can be a million different people on stage but be reminded that the person you are off stage is amazing and worthy of love and respect."