LHS Drama Nominated for Jester Awards

21st Annual Jester Awards to take place Sunday, May 7

WICHITA, Kan. – The Jester Awards, a program designed to celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre, has announced its nominees for the 21st annual ceremony. All nominees in the 23 categories – including “Outstanding Production,” “Leading Performer,” “Stage Crew” and “Lobby Display,” – are listed online here.

“We are amazed by the dedication and talent of these high school students and their teachers from across the state of Kansas,” said Joshua Larson, education director for Music Theatre Wichita. “The Jester Awards recognizes all aspects of the musical productions that the high schools put on throughout the year. The support given from each school to another at the ceremony is spectacular to witness.”

The Jester Awards showcases the next generation of musical theatre talent in Kansas. Each year, trained volunteer judges attend and evaluate dozens of performances. This year, 59 judges viewed 143 performances of 49 productions, involving more than 3,000 students and 50 schools across the state of Kansas. The program began in Wichita, but now extends as far as Liberal, Hays, Salina, and Pittsburg, in addition to the greater Wichita area.

The Jester Awards Ceremony will take place at Century II Performing Arts Center’s Convention Hall in Wichita at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, 2023. During the ceremony, all honorees will be announced, and several will perform. Scholarship awards will be presented to three students – two leading performers and a technical theatre recipient.

Tickets to the ceremony are $15 and available in advance (online only) or at the door. The Jester Awards is sponsored by the Naftzger Fund for the Fine Arts and the Lois K. Walls Jester Fund at MTWichita.

LHS Performing Arts has received 7 nominations this year:

Direction of a Show: Miriam Climenhaga
Supporting Performer: Lance Bickerstaff (Cogsworth)
Supporting Performer: Parker Underwood (Lumiere)
Technical Achievement: Matthew Rice
Lighting Design: Bill VanWyhe
Program Design: Miriam Climenhaga & Matthew Rice
Lobby Display: Liberal High School (Nikkie Frydendall & Isabelle Sullenger)