By Hannah E. Jones

High school students in 39 schools across 17 Georgia districts are celebrating their nominations for the upcoming 15th annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards — also known as the Shuler Awards. Hosted by ArtsBridge Foundation each year, the organization announced on March 23 the applicants who will progress in the competition.

ArtsBridge is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that serves as the arts education arm of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The ceremony will be televised live from the Cobb Energy Centre on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

After months of deliberation, these students have been selected to progress in the competition with the chance to win an award at the April 20 ceremony. Additionally, ArtsBridge announced eight students who will receive a total of $17,187 in scholarships to further their education and experience in musical theater.

Interest in the awards has skyrocketed over the years. Registration opened in November, and a whopping 52 schools signed up within 10 minutes. 

“It’s a testament to what we know is true — the incredible impact of the arts,” Director of Arts Education Elizabeth Lenhart told SaportaReport in a previous interview about the Shuler Awards. “[During the pandemic,] it was so needed and missing. We saw it firsthand in COVID, the first thing used as a comfort around the globe was people giving music and art to the world for free. [Art] matters.” 

Since then, 51 Georgia-based professionals in the arts sphere traveled around the state to watch and score hopeful theater students in their high school productions. The students were judged on 16 categories, including music direction, set design, costumes, lead performers and more. 

This year, Decatur High School received the most nominations, with 10 students selected for their production of “9 to 5.” Greenbrier High School and Starr’s Mill High School both earned eight nominations each for “Addams Family” and…