‘Gypsy’ cleaned up at the MACYs

Tom Titus

Everything’s coming up roses for the Academy for the Performing Arts

at Huntington Beach High School following the 32nd annual MACY (Music and

Arts Commendations for Youth), Awards.

The academy’s production of “Gypsy,” which was directed by Tim Nelson,

shared the top award for high school musicals with Fullerton Union High

School’s staging of “42nd Street” and both the show’s Mama Rose and Gypsy

Rose Lee took home the MACYs’ highest individual honors.

That would be Kellie Nitkin as the ultimate stage mother and Katherine

McLaughlin as her “plain” daughter Louise who became the highest-paid

stripper in show business. But these weren’t the only big winners at the

MACY festivities, not by a long shot.

The show also earned a “highest achievement” award for David Harwell,

who played Herbie in “Gypsy.” Outstanding achievement honors went to “D”

Pull and Evonne Sturm, while Jesse Gonzales was honored for achievement.

Special recognition was accorded several members of the “Gypsy” cast

-- Allison Gibbons, Madison Mitchell, Melissa Mitchell, Mindy Patrick,

Jill Prout and Rachel Scott. And Nicole Weber took home a “bright spot”

award -- created for performers who “bring something special to a minor

role.”

Not to be overlooked were the ensemble performers of “Gypsy,” who were

voted a highest achievement award -- as was the Academy for the

Performing Arts orchestra. All in all, the Huntington Beach production

was one of the most honored of the day with 15 awards.

The annual celebration of high school musical theater unfolded at

Fullerton College’s Plummer Auditorium and feature excerpted performances

from 16 different local school musicals. Additionally, professional

singer John Huntington and the cast of “Forbidden Broadway” entertained

the packed house and Estancia High School graduate Paul Klees flew in

from Chicago to emcee the show for the 18th time.

The MACYs originally were established in Los Angeles in 1971 by John

and Lee Childress, who sought to recognize the contributions of high

school-level musical theater. When they moved to Orange County a few

years later, they brought the MACYs with them.

“The 32nd MACY Awards show is a celebration of the talent, hard work,

dedication, energy and boundless enthusiasm of everyone who has

participated in the wonderful musical theater productions of our

schools,” the Childresses declared.

All of these qualities were on display at the awards show --

traditionally held during the afternoon preceding Broadway’s Tony Awards.

It’s not a great stretch of the imagination to imagine that Nitkin,

McLaughlin or some of their “Gypsy” cast mates might be accepting the

latter recognition in a few years.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.