Broadway dreams are dancing in the heads of two San Diego students, chosen to compete at the National High School Musical Theater Awards for a chance to win $10,000 towards a college scholarship.
Jonathan Norwood of Escondido’s Classical Academy High School and Aubree Bouche, a recent graduate of La Costa Canyon High School, each won $1,000 and will perform June 30 at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City.
They were named top winners Saturday in the Ben Vereen Awards Southwest Region (San Diego and Tucson). The inaugural awards, sponsored by San Diego County Credit Union, was hosted by Vereen and CBS8 news anchor Marcella Lee.
Norwood, a junior, won for best actor and was nominated for his role as Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables.” For the competition, he performed “Bring Him Home” from the “Les Misérables” production as well as a contrasting piece called “I’m Alive” from “Next to Normal.”
Bouche was winner for best actress — was nominated for her role in “Once Upon a Mattress” singing “Happily Ever After” as her nominated song as well as “Pulled” from “The Addams Family” for her contrasting piece during the competition.
A team of seven judges from San Diego and Tucson came together to select the top two performers from the Southwest Region. The national competition, also known as The Jimmy™ Awards, is named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander.
