Eleven Student Critics Chosen For Inaugural Student Critic Program - CLICK HERE

Charlotte, NC – Eleven student critics have been chosen to participate in the inaugural Student Critic Program in association with the 2^nd Annual Blumey Awards presented by Wells Fargo.  The Student Critic Program is launched as a part of The Blumey Awards with support from The Charlotte Observer.

Eleven student critics will each attend and review three high school musicals from among those presented by the 32 participating in this year’s Blumey Awards.  Their reviews will be posted on The Charlotte Observer website.  These student critics will also participate in a writing seminar hosted by The Charlotte Observer and Observer theater critic Lawrence Toppman.

Of these eleven Student Critics, one will be awarded “The Charlotte Observer Student Critic Award” at The Blumey Awards, chosen by the editors at The Charlotte Observer.

This year’s student critics include:  Alexis Williams and Michael Julliard from Charlotte Christian School; Lauren Andersen, Charlotte Bedell and Lindsey Fisher from Covenant Day School; Hannah Silver from Carolina Youth Choral Players; Porter Yelton from Gaston Day School; Malin Curry from Independence High School; Alison Krug and Leslie Porfeli from Jay M. Robinson High School; Erin Reed from Northwest School of the Arts.

The Student Critic Program was born out of a desire to reach as many area students as possible through The Blumey Awards.  This new program provides an opportunity for students interested in pursuing literature, journalism or professional writing to be an integral part of The Blumey Awards. 

This new program was offered exclusively to students from the 32 area high schools that are participating in this year’s Blumey Awards.

Eleven students were chosen in a competitive application process that included teacher recommendations and student writing samples.

About The Blumey Awards

Created by Blumenthal Performing Arts, The Blumey Awards is designed to recognize and celebrate the best in high school musical theater and foster even greater achievements in the future.  Thirty-two schools from the Charlotte region are competing this year, up from 20 during the inaugural ceremony.

The Blumey Awards is produced by Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Education Department and is presented by Wells Fargo.  US Airways, The Doctor Family Foundation and The Leon Levine Foundation provide additional support. Charlotte joins more than 30 other cities, including Pittsburgh, Houston and Atlanta, in hosting annual high school musical theater awards programs.  

The schools competing include: Ardrey Kell, Butler, Cannon, Carolina Youth Choral Players, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, Central Cabarrus, Charlotte Catholic, Charlotte Christian, Charlotte Latin, Covenant Day, Cox Mill, Cuthbertson, East Gaston, Gaston Day, Independence, Jay M. Robinson, Kings Mountain, Lincolnton, Marvin Ridge, Mount Pleasant, Myers Park, Nation Ford, North Gaston, North Lincoln, Northwest Cabarrus, Northwest School of the Arts, Northwestern, Providence, Rocky River, South Mecklenburg, South Point and Weddington.

For more information on The Blumeys, visit BlumenthalArts.org/BlumeyAwards.