The TAMY Awards

The TAMY Awards are a high school musical theatre award ceremony, modeled on the Tony Awards, presented by Mount Wachusett Community College’s Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. They send undercover staff to assess high school performances in the area that have been submitted. After watching all the shows, the judges decide on what performances and performers to nominate for different categories. When it began sixteen years ago for the 2006-2007 school year, LHS was nominated and won the awards for Technical Excellence in Lighting and also Best Stage Crew for their performance of High School Musical. Interestingly, High School Musical, the Disney Channel Original Movie, came out in January of 2006, which means that LHS’s performance happened less than a year after it premiered on Disney Channel. Talk about relevant. 

This year, for the first time since 2010, LHS Drama submitted to the awards. It was announced on May 10th that LHS Drama was nominated for a total of twelve awards. Adam DeCoste, LHS’s Theatre Director, broke the submitting hiatus for multiple reasons. After the success of last year’s musical Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, DeCoste noticed “How much joy flowed from the wings and how proud the performers and crew were during the performance weekend. The community reception for both shows (Cinderella and Chicago) was wonderful. I thought that we could get more recognition and something more to celebrate by submitting to the TAMYs. I was unfamiliar with the process, but the music director and Ms. Benson actually encouraged me to submit.” 

Our production of Chicago was nominated for Best Overall Production in the Small School Division, defined as having less than 799 total enrolled students. Also in the Small School Division (SSD) was the nomination for Best Chorus, as well as Best Dance Ensemble. The opening number “All That Jazz” was nominated for Best Production Number (SSD). As usual, thanks to our amazing stage crew and tech, Chicago was nominated for Technical Excellence: Lighting (SSD) and for Sound (SSD). A nomination for Best Costumes, Hair, and Make-up, thanks to our awesome student team of Grace Coppola, Sheilagh Senecal, and Alex Silks, also went to us. For the SSD, the house was nominated for Best House Experience. The photo opportunity with a cell from Cell Block Tango was definitely a factor. The Not-Your-Average Chorus Member award, which goes to one ensemble member from each submitted show is Ella Byrne-Cabot (Class of 2023). 

Mia Clements (Class of 2025) was nominated for Best Performance in a Leading Role as Velma Kelly. Tom Glorioso (Class of 2026) was nominated for Best Featured Performance for his portrayal of Mary Sunshine. At the TAMY Awards Gala this Sunday, May 21st, Mia Clements will perform “All That Jazz.” 

At the Gala, which will also be livestreamed on the Theatre at the Mount website, the winners will be announced. Stay updated by following the LHS Drama official Instagram @LHS.Drama. 

Sources:

“Tamy Awards.” Mount Wachusett Community College, 16 May 2023, mwcc.edu/campus-life/tam/tamy-awards/. 

“History of Theatre at the Mount” Mount Wachusett Community College, 16 May 2023, mwcc.edu/campus-life/tam/history/

“2006-2007 TAMY Award Winners.” Mount Wachusett Community College, 16 May 2023, mwcc.edu/campus-life/tam/tamy-awards/winners-06-07/

“Nominations: 2022-2023 TAMY Awards” Mount Wachusett Community College, 16 May 2023, mwcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nomination-List-2022-2023-corrected-5-9-2023.pdf

“TAMY Awards Brochure” Mount Wachusett Community College, 16 May 2023, https://mwcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TAMY-BROCHURE-2022-2023.pdf