Award-winning CHS drama department does it again
By Steve Godfrey
May 25, 2012
Photo by River Street Photography, www.riverstreetphoto.com
For the second year in a row, actor Cody Lippert has been nominated for an award by The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
Photo by River Street Photography
The Cashmere High School drama department has once again impressed the judges from The 5th Avenue Theatre with its production of "Singin' in the Rain." Gene Kelly would be proud.
Last year at this time the Cashmere High School drama department was celebrating recognition from The 5th Avenue Theatre for the musical production of "Beauty and the Beast".
The three adjudicators from the Seattle theater awarded that effort with the Educational Impact Award. They also nominated Cody Lippert for the “Outstanding Actor in a Featured Ensemble Role.”
Here we go again!
Fast forward to today, throw a different production into the mix, and the results are similar. Only this time, there’s more.
The adjudicators returned from the soggy west side this February to see the drama program’s production of “Singin’ in the Rain”, and they apparently were impressed. So much so, in fact, they showered the production with not two, but six awards/nominations:
• The entire cast, crew and orchestra – will receive the Educational Impact Award
• The entire cast – Honorable Mention for Outstanding Chorus
• “All I Do Is Dream of You” Girls (Hannah Capelo, Erica Elias, LariAnn Hixssen, Dani Kenoyer, and Ashlyn Lewis) – Honorable Mention for Outstanding Ensemble Group
• Alexander Robertson - Honorable Mention for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role, for his role of Cosmo Brown
• Gavin Burnett – will receive the Special Student Achievement Award for his design and running of the rain set
• Cody Lippert – nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Non-singing Role, for his role of Roscoe Dexter, the movie director
Drama director Susan Gubsch is excited, and rightfully so. “I am so proud of everyone who helped make ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ such a success,” she said.
Click here to see all the nominations at The 5th Avenue Theatre website.
This will be Cody Lippert’s second trip to the famous Seattle theater as an award nominee. Many of us who have seen him act know why.
Especially his teacher.
“Cody lights up the stage the moment he makes an entrance,” Gubsch said. “His comedic timing is such a natural gift!”
The 5th Avenue Theatre’s “Excellence in High School Musical Theater” awards night is Monday, June 4. Director Gubsch plans to attend with a group of Cashmere drama students, staff, and parents.
But one award in particular stands out with special meaning for the outstanding director.
“I am especially pleased with our Honorable Mention for Outstanding Chorus, as the whole cast won that award,” Gubsch said. “Last year they complimented us on our chorus’ characterization and harmony, but wanted us to work on our vocal energy and breath support.”
The constructive advice paid dividends.
“The cast worked hard on that this year and the result is an award,” Gubsch said. “It’s nice to see when hard work pays off.”
