2013 Shuler Hensley Awards nominees announced | Arts & Culture

ATLANTA -- Some of the most talented young performers in Georgia have been recognized with nominations for the 2013 Shuler Hensley Awards.

The awards program honors the best high school musical theater productions in the state.

It is named for Cobb County native Shuler Hensley, a seasoned Broadway performer who has won a number of prestigious awards, including a Tony.

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This year's Shuler Hensley Awards nominees were announced Tuesday. The awards ceremony will be held Apr. 18 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

The nominees include:

Best Overall Production

* Avenue Q
Atlanta International School, Buckhead

* Les Misérables
Buford High School

* Oliver!
West Forsyth High School, Cumming

* Once Upon a Mattress
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School, Sandy Springs

* Spamalot
Milton High School

* Urinetown
Starr's Mill High School, Fayette County

Best Overall Production, Honorable Mentions

* Little Women
Lambert High School, Suwanee

* Oklahoma!
Creekview High School, Canton

* The Sound of Music
The Lovett School, Buckhead

* Urinetown
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

Best Ensemble

* Avenue Q
Atlanta International School

* Les Misérables
Buford High School

* Oliver!
West Forsyth High School

* Spamalot
Milton High School

* The Sound of Music
The Lovett School

* Urinetown
Starr's Mill High School

Best Ensemble, Honorable Mentions

* All Shook Up
Woodland High School, Cartersville

* Chicago
Tri-Cities High School, East Point

* Once Upon a Mattress
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

* West Side Story
Pace Academy, Buckhead

Best Leading Actor

* Connor Alexander ("Javert"), Les Misérables
Buford High School

* Jason Byrd ("King Arthur"), Spamalot
Milton High School

* Austin Crute ("Scarecrow"), The Wiz
Greater Atlanta Christian School, Norcross

* Ryan Daly ("Willy Wonka/Candy Man"), Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka
North Cobb Christian School, Kennesaw

* Chase Thomaston ("Bobby Strong"), Urinetown
Starr's Mill High School

* Ricky Yoder ("Tevye"), Fiddler on the Roof
Wesleyan School, Norcross

Best Leading Actor, Honorable Mentions

* Drew Andersen ("Prince Dauntless"), Once Upon a Mattress
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

* Nick Eibler ("Artful Dodger"), Oliver!
West Forsyth High School

* Tristan Litré ("Princeton"), Avenue Q
Atlanta International School

* Jack Wachtel ("Curly McLain"), Oklahoma!
Creekview High School

Best Leading Actress

* Payton Anderson ("Princess Winnifred"), Once Upon a Mattress
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

* Lily Dickinson ("Nancy"), Oliver!
West Forsyth High School

* Lydia Flock ("Maria Rainer"), The Sound of Music
The Lovett School

* Jordan Forte ("Jo March"), Little Women
Lambert High School

* McKenzie Kurtz ("The Lady of the Lake"), Spamalot
Milton High School

* Grace Melville ("Kate Monster"), Avenue Q
Atlanta International School

Best Leading Actress, Honorable Mentions

* Amanda Buck ("Rosie"), Bye Bye Birdie
Pope High School, Marietta

* Rosa Campos ("Eponine"), Les Misérables
Buford High School

* Camille Edwards ("Hope Cladwell"), Urinetown
Starr's Mill High School

* Kalli Hicks ("Annie Oakley"), Annie Get Your Gun
Walton High School, Marietta

Best Supporting Actor

* Ryan Bolt ("Officer Lockstock"), Urinetown
Starr's Mill High School

* Brad Burnham ("Patsy"), Spamalot
Milton High School

* Valone Butler ("Jimmy"), Dreamgirls
Dutchtown High School, Henry County

* Lorenzo Gonzalez-Lamassonne ("Rod"), Avenue Q
Atlanta International School

* Corbin Ray ("Jud Fry"), Oklahoma!
Creekview High School

Best Supporting Actor, Honorable Mentions

* Hayden Anderson ("Dennis"), All Shook Up
Woodland High School

* Jay Bell ("Perchick"), Fiddler on the Roof
Wesleyan School

* Michael Grieve ("Jean Valjean"), Les Misérables
Buford High School

* Nolan Knight ("Will Parker"), Oklahoma!
Landmark Christian School, Fairburn

* Cody Marshall ("Fagin"), Oliver!
West Forsyth High School

* Eric Worrall ("Charlie Bucket"), Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka
North Cobb Christian School

Best Supporting Actress

* Jessie Kuehne ("Little Sally"), Urinetown
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

* Rebekah Livingston ("Penny Pennywise"), Urinetown
Starr's Mill High School

* Ivanna Martinez ("Christmas Eve"), Avenue Q
Atlanta International School

* Natalie Nuckolls ("Penny Pingleton"), Hairspray
Alpharetta High School

* Lizzie Powers ("Widow Corney"), Oliver!
West Forsyth High School

* Allie Thomas ("Ado Annie"), Oklahoma!
Creekview High School

Best Supporting Actress, Honorable Mentions

* Chloe Campbell ("Smitty"), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Northview High School, Johns Creek

* Sarah Freyaldenhovan ("Cosette"), Les Misérables
Buford High School

* Sydney Hillman ("Claire"), Changing Minds
Harlem High School

* Megan Humphries ("Puppet Master/Disciple"), Godspell
White County High School, Cleveland

* Lauren James ("Velma Von Tussle"), Hairspray
Griffin High School

See a full list of nominees and learn more about the awards program at shulerawards.org.