Gene Kelly Awards
The Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater, named after the actor/director Gene Kelly, are given out yearly by the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and the University of Pittsburgh. The award was founded in 1991 and celebrates excellence in the musicals of the Pittsburgh area's high schools. For Best Musical, there are three levels based on budget. The organization also offers scholarships to high school seniors involved in any aspect of the show. As of 2011, there are 29 participating schools. In 2009, the Gene Kelly Awards spawned the National High School Musical Theater Awards, nicknamed "The Jimmys", which the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera co-produces with Nederlander Presentations. The Awards were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Categories
- Best Scenic Design
- Best Costume Design
- Best Lighting Design
- Best All-Student Orchestra
- Best Execution of Choreography
- Best Crew/Technical Execution
- Best Ensemble
- Best Execution of Direction
- Best Execution of Music Direction
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Musical
Participating schools
- Avonworth High School
- Baldwin High School
- Bishop Canevin High School
- Brashear High School
- Central Catholic High School
- Chartiers Valley High School
- Deer Lakes High School
- Elizabeth Forward High School
- Hampton High School
- Keystone Oaks High School
- Moon Area High School
- North Hills High School
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School
- Pine-Richland High School
- Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School
- Plum High School
- Propel Braddock Hills
- Riverview High School
- Serra Catholic High School
- Sewickley Academy
- Shady Side Academy
- Springdale Jr-Sr High School
- St. Joseph High School
- Steel Valley High School
- Taylor Allderdice High School
- Thomas Jefferson High School
- West Allegheny High School
- Westinghouse Arts Academy
- Winchester Thurston School
- Woodland Hills High School
Former participants
- Brashear High School
- Bethel Park High School
- Brentwood High School
- Carlynton High School
- East Allegheny High School
- Fox Chapel Area High School
- Montour High School
- McKeesport Area High School
- North Allegheny High School
- North Catholic High School
- Northgate Junior – Senior High School
- Peabody High School
- Perry Traditional Academy
- Quaker Valley High School
- Robinson Township Christian School
- Schenley High School
- Serra Catholic High School
- Seton-La Salle High School
- Shady Side Academy
- South Park High School
- South Allegheny High School
- Upper St. Clair High School
- Vincentian Academy
- West Mifflin Area High School
Nominees and winners
2019 nominees and winners
| Category | Nominee | Role | School | Musical |
| Best Scenic Design Budget Category I | --- --- | --- --- | Deer Lakes Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Propel Braddock Hills | Mamma Mia! Once Upon a Mattress Once On This Island |
| Best Scenic Design Budget Category II | --- --- | --- --- | Elizabeth Forward Moon North Hills | Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! Tuck Everlasting |
| Best Scenic Design Budget Category III | --- --- | --- --- | Baldwin West Allegheny Woodland Hills | Mame The Addams Family Mamma Mia! |
| Best Costume Design Budget Category I | --- --- | --- --- | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Seton-LaSalle St. Joseph | Once Upon A Mattress Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat In The Heights |
| Best Costume Design Budget Category II | --- --- | --- --- | Avonworth Elizabeth Forward Hampton | Disney's The Little Mermaid Mamma Mia! Chicago |
| Best Costume Design Budget Category III | --- --- | --- --- | Penn Hills West Allegheny Woodland Hills | The Addams Family The Addams Family Mamma Mia! |
| Best Lighting Design Budget Category I | --- --- | --- --- | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Propel Braddock Hills Seton-LaSalle | Once Upon A Mattress Once On This Island Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |
| Best Lighting Design Budget Category II | --- --- | --- --- | Chartiers Valley Hampton Moon | Sister Act Chicago Mamma Mia! |
| Best Lighting Design Budget Category III | --- --- | --- --- | Penn Hills Pine-Richland Woodland Hills | The Addams Family Guys and Dolls Mamma Mia! |
| Best All-Student Orchestra | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Hampton North Hills Pine-Richland Pittsburgh Allderdice Pittsburgh CAPA Westinghouse Arts Academy | Chicago Tuck Everlasting Guys and Dolls Leader of the Pack Sister Act Footloose |
| Best Ensemble | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Elizabeth Forward Moon Penn Hills West Allegheny Westinghouse Arts Academy Woodland Hills | Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! The Addams Family The Addams Family Footloose Mamma Mia! |
| Best Crew/ Technical Execution | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Elizabeth Forward Moon North Hills Our Lady of Sacred Heart Westinghouse Arts Academy Woodland Hills | Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! Tuck Everlasting Once Upona Mattress Footloose Mamma Mia! |
| Best Execution of Choreography | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Central/Oakland Catholic Elizabeth Forward North Hills Westinghouse Arts Academy West Allegheny Woodland Hills | Chicago Mamma Mia! Tuck Everlasting Footloose The Addams Family Mamma Mia! |
| Best Execution of Direction | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Elizabeth Forward Moon North Hills Penn Hills West Allegheny Woodland Hills | Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! Tuck Everlasting The Addams Family The Addams Family Mamma Mia! |
| Best Execution of Music Direction | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Elizabeth Forward Moon North Hills Penn Hills West Allegheny Woodland Hills | Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! Tuck Everlasting The Addams Family The Addams Family Mamma Mia! |
| Best Supporting Actor | Declan Allwein Harrison Bash Tyler Dumas Samuel Kagle Noah Kendall Austin Peters | Nicely-Nicely Johnson Fester Addams Hugo Eddie Souther Willard Hewitt Mr. Mushnik | Pine-Richland Penn Hills North Hills Chartiers Valley Montour Pittsburgh Brashear | Guys and Dolls The Addams Family Tuck Everlasting Sister Act Footloose Little Shop of Horrors |
| Best Supporting Actress | Angelina Guadalupe Olivia Jesse Angel Palladini Rhiannon Passmore Lindsey Sabo Kaylee Skumburdes | Rosie Mulligan Daniela Dragon Sr. Mary Lazarus Alice Beineke Sr. Mary Patrick | Elizabeth Forward St. Joseph Quaker Valley Pittsburgh CAPA West Allegheny Chartiers Valley | Mamma Mia! In The Heights Shrek The Musical Sister Act The Addams Family Sister Act |
| Best Actor | Eric Dickey Trent Edwards Joseph Fish James Fedor Tyler Hepler Preston Proctor | Beast Ren McCormack Billy Flynn Scarecrow Sky Masterson Shrek | Sewickley Academy Westinghouse Arts Academy Hampton Serra Catholic Pine-Richland Riverview | Beauty and the Beast Footloose Chicago The Wizard of Oz Guys and Dolls Shrek The Musical |
| Best Actress | Alyssa Brinza Amariana Busa Diana Craycroft Annie Mihm Ruby Sevcik Morgan Traud | Princess Winnifred Miss Adelaide Maria Roxie Hart Fiona Mame Dennis | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Pine-Richland Steel Valley Central/Oakland Catholic Quaker Valley Baldwin | Once Upon A Mattress Guys and Dolls The Sound of Music Chicago Shrek The Musical Mame |
| Best Musical Budget Category I | --- --- | --- --- | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Propel Braddock Hills Westinghouse Arts Academy | Once Upon A Mattress Once On This Island Footloose |
| Best Musical Budget Category II | --- --- | --- --- | Elizabeth Forward Moon North Hills | Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! Tuck Everlasting |
| Best Musical Budget Category III | --- --- | --- --- | Penn Hills West Allegheny Woodland Hills | The Addams Family The Addams Family Mamma Mia! |
2018 nominees and winners
2017 nominees and winners
2016 nominees and winners
2015 nominees and winners
2014 nominees and winners
2013 nominees and winners
2012 nominees and winners
2011 nominees and winners
2010 nominees and winners
2009 nominees and winners
2008 nominees and winners
2007 nominees and winners
The award winners from each category are bolded.| Category | Nominee | Role | School | Musical |
| Best Scenic Design | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Baldwin Chartiers Valley Pine-Richland Plum South Park Woodland Hills | Bye, Bye, Birdie Sweet Charity Cats The Wizard of Oz Jesus Christ Superstar Les Misérables |
| Best Costume Design | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | North Catholic Pine-Richland Plum Robinson Township Christian St. Joseph Woodland Hills | Pippin Cats The Wizard of Oz The Music Man A Year With Frog and Toad Les Misérables |
| Best Lighting Design | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Central Catholic Chartiers Valley North Allegheny Pine-Richland Plum Woodland Hills | Grease Sweet Charity Oklahoma! Cats The Wizard of Oz Les Misérables |
| Best All-Student Orchestra | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Allderdice Baldwin North Allegheny Pine-Richland Plum Shaler | Bye, Bye, Birdie Bye, Bye, Birdie Oklahoma! Cats The Wizard of Oz Grease |
| Best Choreography | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Bishop Canevin North Catholic North Hills Plum Vincentian Academy Winchester Thurston | The Boyfriend Pippin Thoroughly Modern Millie The Wizard of Oz Guys & Dolls Urinetown |
| Best Crew/ Technical Execution | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | North Hills Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Pine-Richland Riverview Serra Catholic Woodland Hills | Thoroughly Modern Millie Working Cats The Wizard of Oz The King and I Les Misérables |
| Best Ensemble | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Chartiers Valley McKeesport North Catholic Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Winchester Thurston Woodland Hills | Sweet Charity Crazy for You Pippin Working Urinetown Les Misérables |
| Best Direction | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Chartiers Valley North Catholic North Hills Plum Winchester Thurston Woodland Hills | Sweet Charity Pippin Thoroughly Modern Millie The Wizard of Oz Urinetown Les Misérables |
| Best Supporting Actor | Gerard Michael D'Emilio Phil Franks Jeff Markovich Vincent Myers Peter Randolph Francesco Salpietro | Officer Lockstock Moonface Martin Tom Patrick Marius King Charles Munkustrap | Winchester Thurston Keystone Oaks Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Woodland Hills North Catholic Pine-Richland | Urinetown Anything Goes Working Les Misérables Pippin Cats |
| Best Supporting Actress | Anne Arezina Emily Bull Teressa Lagamba Samanta Lerda Jennifer Machen Natalie Schaefer | Berthe Maggie Darlene Love Bombalurina Little Sally Grizabella | North Catholic Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Schenley Pine-Richland Winchester Thurston Pine-Richland | Pippin Working Leader of the Pack Cats Urinetown Cats |
| Best Actor | Justin Fortunato Kurt Giammatti Tim Morgan Connor Mrozowski Corey O'Connor Brad Pietryga | Albert Peterson Fred Graham Jesus Bobby Strong Oscar Scarecrow | Baldwin Hampton South Park Winchester Thurston Chartiers Valley Plum | Bye, Bye, Birdie Kiss Me, Kate Jesus Christ Superstar Urinetown Sweet Charity The Wizard of Oz |
| Best Actress | Christina Bordini Maggie Carr Nicole Dohoda Alix Keil Sarah Jane Kirkland Madison Micucci | Nickie Lilli Vanessi Millie Charity Ellie Laurie | Chartiers Valley Hampton North Hills Chartiers Valley Schenley North Allegheny | Sweet Charity Kiss Me, Kate Thoroughly Modern Millie Sweet Charity Leader of the Pack Oklahoma! |
| Best Musical Budget Category I | --- --- | --- --- | Deer Lakes St. Joseph South Park | 42nd Street A Year With Frog and Toad Jesus Christ Superstar |
| Best Musical Budget Category II | --- --- | --- --- | Chartiers Valley Plum Winchester Thurston | Sweet Charity The Wizard of Oz Urinetown |
| Best Musical Budget Category III | --- --- | --- --- | North Hills Pine-Richland Woodland Hills | Thoroughly Modern Millie Cats Les Misérables |
2006 nominees and winners
The award winners from each category are bolded.| Category | Nominee | Role | School | Musical |
| Best Scenic Design | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Baldwin Hampton McKeesport Pine-Richland Robinson Township Christian Winchester Thurston | My One and Only Oliver Anything Goes Pirates of Penzance The Sound Of Music Hot Mikado |
| Best Costume Design | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | North Catholic Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Perry Traditional Pine-Richland Schenley Winchester Thurston | The Wiz Seussical Beauty And The Beast Pirates of Penzance Joseph Hot Mikado |
| Best Lighting Design | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Chartiers Valley North Allegheny Pine-Richland Serra Catholic Winchester Thurston Woodland Hills | Damn Yankees Guys & Dolls Pirates of Penzance Children of Eden Hot Mikado Pippin |
| Best All-Student Orchestra | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Hampton North Allegheny Perry Pine-Richland Plum Schenley | Oliver Guys & Dolls Beauty and the Beast Pirates of Penzance Hello Dolly Joseph |
| Best Choreography | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | McKeesport North Allegheny North Catholic Schenley Winchester Thurston Woodland Hills | Anything Goes Guys and Dolls The Wiz Joseph Hot Mikado Pippin |
| Best Crew/ Technical Execution | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | Hampton McKeesport North Catholic Perry Pine-Richland South Park | Oliver Anything Goes The Wiz Beauty and the Beast Pirates of Penzance Pippin |
| Best Ensemble | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | North Allegheny North Catholic Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Pine-Richland Schenley Winchester Thurston | Guys & Dolls The Wiz Seussical Piratez of Penzance Joseph Hot Mikado |
| Best Direction | --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- | North Catholic Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Pine-Richland Riverview Schenley Winchester Thurston | The Wiz Seussical Pirates of Penzance The King and I Joseph Hot Mikado |
| Best Supporting Actor | Aaron Bova Michael D'Emilio Brad Glasser Jeff Hahn Peter Randolph Mike Washabaugh | Moonface Martin Mikado Charlemagne Nicely Nicely Johnson The Wiz Cogsworth | McKeesport Winchester Thurston Woodland Hills North Allegheny North Catholic Perry | Anything Goes Hot Mikado Pippin Guys & Dolls The Wiz Beauty and the Beast |
| Best Supporting Actress | Christina Bordini Ellen Caparosa Phallon DePante Sarah Jane Kirkland Jennifer Machen Sarah Wahl | Meg Catherine Katisha Narrator Pitti-Sing Lina LeMont | Chartiers Valley Woodland Hills Winchester Thurston Schenley Winchester Thurston Keystone Oaks | Damn Yankees Pippin Hot Mikado Joseph Hot Mikado Singin' In The Rain |
| Best Actor | Christopher Devita Zachary Drylie Justin Fortunato Billy Hepfinger Noah Levin Nathan Sudie | KoKo The King Billy Buck Chandler Sky Masterson Nanki-Poo Father | Winchester Thurston Riverview Baldwin North Allegheny Winchester Thurston Serra Catholic | Hot Mikado The King and I My One and Only Guys & Dolls Hot Mikado Children of Eden |
| Best Actress | Nicole Dohoda Alexandra Jahn Alix Keil Mary Lamb Lindsay Machen Mallory Praskovich | Ruth Miss Adelaide Lola Dorothy Yum-Yum Gertrude | North Hills Penn Hills Chartiers Valley North Catholic Winchester Thurston Our Lady of the Sacred Heart | Wonderful Town Guys & Dolls Damn Yankees The Wiz Hot Mikado Seussical |
| Best Musical Budget Category I | --- --- | --- --- | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Robinson Township Christian Winchester Thurston | Seussical The Sound Of Music Hot Mikado |
| Best Musical Budget Category II | --- --- | --- --- | Chartiers Valley North Catholic Schenley | Damn Yankees The Wiz Joseph |
| Best Musical Budget Category III | --- --- | --- --- | Hampton North Allegheny Pine-Richland | Oliver Guys & Dolls Pirates of Penzance |