“ This production is one that is near and dear to my heart, and everyone has worked so hard for it.”
“ This production is one that is near and dear to my heart, and everyone has worked so hard for it.”
Having produced a successful musical would be compliment enough, but when Giffin got word that their production of“ Les Miserables” was nominated for 10 Gene Kelly Awards— the most in school history— for everything from Best Lead Actor to Best Set Design, it was more than she could have imagined.
“ The Gene Kelly Awards are sponsored by the Pittsburgh CLO and they are like‘ the WPIALs’ of high school theater,” she says.“ We submitted information about our production and they sent four judges to see one of our performances. Never did I think we’ d be recognized like this. It has been a highlight for everyone, especially Devin.”
As the lead in the show, Devin’ s performance helped carry the production and the cast.
“ He was quite a mentor to the other kids,” says Giffin.“ And I found I really respected his opinion. I believe these attributes, along with his performance, is why he won the Best Actor Award at the Gene Kelly Awards ceremony in May.”
As the winner, he was given the chance to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City. The awards took place on the Minskoff stage, which is home to the Broadway show“ The Lion King.” Sixty-two students from around the nation competed: 31 females and 31 males. Of those, eight were chosen as finalists: four females and four males. And luckily for CVHS, Devin was one of the finalists, placing him among the top high school actors in the nation. While he did not win the competition, he received a $ 2,500 cash scholarship to use toward his education.
“ Having a student place nationally in theater is a huge distinction for our district,” notes Giffin,“ especially since the judges for the competition are either performing on Broadway or are intimately involved as producers or casting agents for Broadway and other national stages. It opens up so many more opportunities for our students.”
Giffin is very proud of her cast and crew’ s accomplishments this year and is looking forward to another great high school production in 2017. And, as a 2002 graduate of CVHS who went on to study dance and English at Point Park University, she knows all too well the hard work it takes to pull off a great performance.
“ To be able to come back to the school I attended as a student, teach subjects I love, and work as the director for the high school musical program has been so rewarding,” she says.“ And it’ s such a terrific feeling to see the kids shine and succeed in ways they never thought possible.” n
Chartiers Valley | Fall 2016 | icmags. com 21