Six Gene Kelly Nominations for Baldwin High School

Baldwin High School has an opportunity to defend the Gene Kelly Awards' Best Musical title, earning six nominations in 13 possible Kelly categories this year, including that one as well as Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

Maggie Brooks, who impressed as "Tracy Turnblad" in "Hairspray," is Baldwin's shot at Best Actress. Brooks was a nominee in the same category in 2011 but did not come away with the hardware. Brooks was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actress award in 2012, helping Baldwin earn the Best Musical award that year.

Meanwhile, Greg Arcuri is Baldwin's hope for Best Supporting Actor in 2013 for, oddly enough, his gender-bending portrayal of Tracy's mother "Edna Turnblad."

The other acting nomination for Baldwin this year is in the Best Ensemble category, and the high school also earned nominations in two categories that make those actors look good—Best Scenic Design (Budget III) and Best Lighting Design (Budget III).

Baldwin's 2013 nominees:

• Best Musical (Budget III)
• Best Actress - Maggie Brooks as "Tracy Turnblad"
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Greg Arcuri as "Edna Turnblad"
• Best Ensemble
• Best Scenic Design (Budget III)
• Best Lighting Design (Budget III)

The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's 23rd Annual Gene Kelly Awards show will be held at The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m.

According to its website, the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater were launched as a means to recognize and encourage student achievement and to focus the attention of the community and school districts on the importance of musical theater and arts education.

Patterned after the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, the Gene Kelly Awards celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education.

(The video found toward the right side of this article includes clips from a "Hairspray" rehearsal on March 11 as well as interviews with cast members.)

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