“ 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