MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE STUDENTS SHINE IN THE 12TH ANNUAL SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE JUNE 12-13 AT THE HISTORIC STATE THEATRE

The two-night event recognizes outstanding participants in Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Education with honors and live performances by students

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT THE STATE THEATRE BOX OFFICE, ONLINE AND BY PHONE

MINNEAPOLIS—Hennepin Theatre Trust announced today that the 12th annual SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE, a component of the Trust’s Spotlight Education program, will run June 12-13, 2017 at the historic State Theatre (805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis). Professionally produced, the SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE highlights the hard work and talents of the state’s finest musical theatre students and programs with live performances. Schools and students are honored in categories including individual performances, overall productions and technical achievement.

Tickets are on sale now to the general public at the State Theatre Box Office, charge-by-phone at (800) 982-2787 and online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

DAY DATE TIME VENUE TICKET PRICES

Monday June 12 7 p.m. State Theatre $18

Tuesday June 13 7 p.m. State Theatre $18

A limited number of “Friend of Spotlight” tickets, including priority seating and a donation to the Spotlight Education program, are available for $25 to $100 by ordering at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

All pricing includes a Building Restoration Fee of $1.50.

As the Trust’s premier education program, Spotlight Education supports and honors Minnesota high school students and programs focused on musical theatre. Laura Osnes, a Minnesota native, Broadway performer and former Spotlight Education participant, is the program’s 2016-2017 spokesperson.

Each year, Spotlight Education provides valuable educational, performing and creative experiences for more than 5,000 students in more than 80 schools throughout the state. These activities help foster essential life skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving and self-expression which students carry into their adult lives.

Through Spotlight Education, participating students receive professional training and guidance to enhance their artistic, technical and performing skills. This wide-ranging program has four key components:

• Masterclasses offer an array of training from local theatre professionals and Broadway performers.
• Critical Review teaches students all aspects of musical theatre so that they are able to write professional theatre and performance reviews.
• Production assessments connect high schools with theatre professionals and educators who offer feedback and guidance on the schools’ musical theatre productions throughout the year.
• Spotlight Showcase, the culmination of the year-long program, invites all participating high schools to take center stage and perform before live audiences in one of the Trust’s historic theatres.

The week leading up to the Spotlight Showcase includes rehearsals with professional choreographers, musical directors and technicians. Four students will also be recognized for outstanding performance with the Spotlight Education Triple Threat Broadway Experience, presented by Sun Country Airlines, which represents excellence in dancing, singing and acting, as well as community leadership. The Triple Threat Broadway Experience is an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to meet with industry professionals, participate in workshops and attend Broadway shows.

For a complete list of participating schools and honors, please visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

Spotlight Showcase is made possible by Slumberland Furniture.

The Spotlight Education Triple Threat Broadway Experience is presented by Sun Country Airlines.

Follow Spotlight Education at:

Twitter: @spotlightMN

Instagram: #spotlight_MN

Facebook: Spotlight Education

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST is a nonprofit organization that creates positive change through the arts by bringing together people, businesses and organizations in WeDo™, the West Downtown MPLS Cultural District. We serve the community through our four theatres – the Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century – and our unique arts, culture and education programs. Learn more at HennepinTheatreTrust.org and wedompls.org.

LAURA OSNES most recently starred in the Broadway bound musical The Bandstand at Paper Mill Playhouse. On Broadway, Osnes was last seen as the title role in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Drama Desk Award; Tony, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League Award nominations). She also starred in Bonnie and Clyde (Tony Award nomination), creating the role at Asolo Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award). She appeared as Hope Harcourt in the Tony-winning revival of Anything Goes (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Astaire Award nominations), Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center’s production of South Pacific, and her Broadway debut as Sandy in the most recent revival of Grease.

Other New York credits include The Threepenny Opera (Drama Desk Award nomination), directed by Martha Clarke at the Atlantic Theater Company; Encores! Productions of: The Band Wagon, Randy Newman's Faust, and Pipe Dream; and a one-night-only concert of The Sound of Music at Carnegie Hall. Regional credits include Carousel opposite Steven Pasquale at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. On television, she has been seen on the CBS series “Elementary”, Sondheim: The Birthday Concert at Avery Fisher Hall, HBO's documentary Six By Sondheim, and the Kennedy Center Honors salutes to Barbara Cook (2011) and Dustin Hoffman (2012).

Her many concerts and cabarets include performing with Michael Feinstein, the NY Philharmonic, the NY Pops, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Pasadena Pops and appearing in such venues as Carnegie Hall, The Cafe Carlyle, 54 Below, Lincoln Center, Feinstein’s at the Nikko’s, NJPAC, and the Las Vegas Smith Center. In addition to being heard on several cast recordings, Laura has two solo albums, “Dream A Little Dream: Live at The Café Carlyle” and “If I Tell You: The Songs of Maury Yeston.”

SLUMBERLAND FURNITURE Founded in 1967 in Richfield, Minnesota, Slumberland began as a mattress specialty shop with products and prices designed to make people comfortable. Today, Slumberland Furniture offers living, dining and bedroom furniture from some of America’s top brands, in more than 125 stores across 12 states. Slumberland is committed to improving the life of each customer through community giving, a positive shopping experience, and affordable furniture options that make a house a home.

SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES is a Minneapolis/St. Paul- based commercial airline known for low fares, friendly service and an easy, convenient Terminal 2 experience at MSP International Airport. As Minnesota’s Hometown Airline, Sun Country caters to the frequent and infrequent traveler with a flexible loyalty program, Ufly Rewards, and with service to popular destinations across the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean. Members of Sun Country’s Ufly Rewards program can earn and redeem points on all Sun Country travel including flights, vacation packages, First Class upgrades, preferred seat selection and much more. Learn more at suncountry.com.

**The Spotlight Education program is funded, in part, by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.