McCluer Receives 14 Nominations in 2011 Cappies

McCluer High School hopes to have a big night of wins during the 2011 Cappies award program as it has 14 nominations in 23 categories, including creativity, costumes and makeup. The school looks to build on its previous successes of two awards each year in 2009 and 2010. 

The Cappies awards are given in every category from Best Actor and Actress in a Musical to Best Set, Props and Stage Crew. 

The Cappies, short for the Critics and Awards Program, trains high school theater and journalism students as critics. The student critics attend shows at other schools and write theater reviews, which then are published in local news outlets. At the end of the year, the critics vote for awards that are presented at the formal Cappie Awards Gala.

“The event is very much like the Tony awards,” Judi Greene said, co-founder and chair of the St. Louis Cappies and Marquette High School theatre director. “The kids get all dressed up. The school critics are the ones who vote. They're in control.” 

Greene first heard about the Cappies program while at a state conference, which aroused her interest. “What they were doing intrigued me,” Greene said. “I got in touch with the national group. The next thing I know, Mike Isaacson of Fox Associates contacted me and wanted to support the group. The Fox hosts welcome events for us still, and the Muny supports us as well.”

Now in its sixth season, the St. Louis Cappies includes 17 private and public high schools from St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties, down from last year's total of 24 schools. Some schools opted out this year due to budget concerns, Greene said. It costs a school $150 to participate.

This year, the awards ceremony takes place on May 22 at Missouri Baptist University and will feature performances from several schools along with guest speakers, including local professional actors and high school principals. But the Cappies represent far more than just a star-studded awards gala for the students.

“It's great to see kids from the inner city become friends with kids from the county,” Greene said. “There are so many residual benefits for these kids.” 

Sophomore Alexis Tucker received a nomination for her starring role as Dorothy in McCluer’s performance of earlier this year, which she said she greatly enjoyed in a previous interview with Florissant Patch. 

"I like the experience because it's like a professional show with great costumes and makeup," Tucker said.