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Health & Fitness

Two Connecticut Teens Shine on Broadway

Newtown High School grad Taylor Varga takes home the prize.

The fifth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards were held Monday night at the Minskoff Theatre, the long-time home of The Lion King in New York City. These awards are nicknamed the Jimmy Awards after theater owner James Nederlander and marked the crowning event of the months-long competition that began with 50,000 students from 1,000 high schools in 20 states.

The Connecticut gala took place in May at the Palace Theater and the Best Actor winner, Taylor Varga from Newtown HS and the Best Actress winner, Jillian Caillouette from St. Paul HS in Bristol were sent to the Glee-like Nationals to represent the state.

And the winners are..Taylor Varga got the Best Actor crown and Sarah Lynn Marion, from Fullerton, CA, was named Best Actress. Mr. Varga was a standout as J. Pierrepont Finch in Newtown HS production of How to Succeed in Business (Without Really Trying.) Click here to read my review of this terrific show. Both top winners will receive a $10,000 scholarship award. Bristol's Jillian Cailloutte was among the national finalists.

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MARK KENNEDY of the Associated Press attended the awards (I am so envious of him) and posted this report.

The five runners-up, who each receive $2,500, were: Martha Hellerman from Madison, Wis.; Eva Maria Noblezada from Charlotte, N.C.; Jillian Caillouette (who appeared in her high school's Little Women) from Norwich, Conn.; Michael Burrell from Mission Viejo, Calif.; and Austin Crute from Atlanta. "They all were amazing," according to the NHSMTA Facebook page.

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NHSMTA also announced three additional award-winners: Billy Krager, Madison, WI (Best Performance in an Ensemble), Jillian Caillouette, Norwich, CT (Most Improved), and Brian Baylor, East Lansing, MI (Spirit of the Jimmy Awards). In addition,  McKenzie Kurtz from Atlanta, GA was selected to attend Carnegie Mellon University's 6-week Pre-College Drama program.

The Connecticut chapter of the organization posted a huge thank you to past CHSMTA winners who participated in Nationals: Steven Mark (National winner 2009), Grace Hardin, John Jorge (2010 NHSMTA finalist), Katie Oxman (2010 NHSMTA finalist), Max Gottschall, Lucy Moon Fitzsimmons, Shavance Stephens, Ali Kramer....thank you for being such an incredible support team for Jillian and Taylor. Thank you for making a family. Thank you for being incredible role models. Thank you for inspiring us all to reach higher and follow our dreams!

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