Bravo! 15 Freddy Nominations for Parkland's 'Phantom'

Parkland's 'Phantom of the Opera' is nominated for 15 Freddy Awards, including Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical. Parkland ties with Freedom High School for most nominations.

Parkland High School's production of "Phantom of the Opera" is nominated for 15 Freddy Awards, including Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical. Parkland tied Freedom High School, which had staged "Les Miserables," for the most nominations.  Parkland's nominations came in scenery, performance, costuming, lighting and other categories. William Marshall is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and the Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance. Elizabeth Stirba is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Rebecca Stahl is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and Adam Groff is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a …

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2013 FREDDY Awards Performance Schedule Announced

The 2013 program will feature 30 schools, including a first time appearance by Lehigh Valley Christian High School who will present Annie in April.

Freddy Awards Mark 10 Years at State Theatre

Parkland High School took home two Freddy Awards at 10th ceremony.

The 2012 Freddy Awards were both about the present and the past. As they have for the last 10 years, the awards recognize the best in local high school theater, with hundreds of performers packed into Easton's State Theatre to be honored for their acting, singing, dancing and stagecraft. But the awards also looked back on the Freddys of the past, with a closing production number performed in part by previous winners, and with an appearance by a pair of documentary filmmakers who'd chronicled last year's awards. The evening's big winner was Freedom High School in Bethlehem, which was up for 17 nominations this year, and took home six awards for its production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," including the top prize, Outstanding Production of …

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moderate Republican

8:23 am on Saturday, May 26, 2012

Receiving 2 Freddy awards is great! What is happening is that everybody is "up to par", throughout the Lehigh Valley!   more ›

Parkland's 'Dolly' Wins 2 Freddy Awards

Parkland's 'Hello Dolly' picks up Freddy awards for outstanding performance of an orchestra and outstanding use of scenery.

Parkland High School's production of "Hello Dolly" took home two awards at the 10th annual Freddy Awards at the State Theatre in Easton Thursday night. The show was broadcast live on WFMZ Channel 69. Parkland won for outstanding orchestra and outstanding use of scenery. Parkland had been nominated for 12 awards, including the overall outstanding production of a musical. Freedom High School, which had the most nominations with 17, took home that award for its show "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Allentown Central Catholic picked up the outstanding overall production by a smaller school for "Seussical." 

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Parkland Stages Romp 'Hello Dolly!'

Payton Sherry stars as New York matchmaker Dolly Levi in Parkland High School's production of "Hello Dolly."

Updated: This story has been updated to include the cast list and director's comments. Parkland High School's spring musical production of "Hello Dolly!" takes theater-goers on a whirlwind race around New York at the turn of the 20th century with beloved matchmaker Mrs. Dolly Levi (played by Payton Sherry). Directed by Frank Anonia, the show has many memorable tunes: "Put On Your Sunday Clothes," "It Only Takes A Moment" and the title song "Hello, Dolly!" Patch was on hand for rehearsals and brings you a sneak peek at the production. This year, even Parkland administrators are getting into the act. Superintendent Richard Sniscak and High School Principal Harrison Bailey are among more than two dozen adminisrators who will appear in a song …

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Life in the Slow Lane

Freddy Awards Changed the Arts Landscape

Freddy tradition helped make high school ‘theater geeks’ cool.

Back in the early '90s, my husband and I watched his niece perform in her high school’s endless production of “Li’l Abner.” The 3¾-hour show strained familial bonds to the point where during intermission -- at the 2½-hour mark – Rick told me that he’d give his niece $50 if she promised to never be in another high school musical. Fast forward to 2008, when friends got us tickets to Emmaus High School’s version of “Les Misérables.” The musical was riveting. The production, set, voices, choreography and acting were way beyond what I’d expect from a high school. While credit for the quality of the shows rightly goes to the directors and students, the fact that so many more people look forward to the high school musical season is largely thanks…

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Rosemary B

4:45 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012

Agreed, Carol. Try being a Catholic High School with a really limited budget. Schools like Parkland spend more on renting their scenery alone then we do on 2 shows put together! For us, every nomination is considered a win!   more ›

State Theatre Announces Schools In Freddy Competition

Parkland High School will participate with its production of "Hello Dolly" in April.

Parkland High School is among a record number of 30 schools that will be participating in the State Theatre's 2012 Freddy Awards, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The State Theatre on Wednesday released the list of participating schools, including for the first time, Nazareth High School. Parkland will present its musical production, "Hello Dolly," on April 12, 13 and 14 at the high school, 2700 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., South Whitehall. The Freddy Awards recognizes accomplishments in the production and performance of musical theater in high schools in Lehigh and Northampton counties, as well as Warren County, N.J. In 2011, Parkland High School students, nominated for 15 awards, brought home four awards for its production …

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Freddy Documentary On Oprah Network

It features students from Parkland, Emmaus and Freedom high schools.

"Most Valuable Players," the documentary about the Freddy Awards that was shot entirely in the Lehigh Valley, will make its television debut at 9 tonight, Sept 8. The documentary will air on Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. It features students from Parkland High School, as well as Freedom and Emmaus high schools who competed in the 2008 Freddys. Students and teachers recently reunited at the State Theatre to discuss their experiences in their high school musicals on the road to the Freddys.

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Freddy Winners Film Documentary For Oprah Network

Past thespians meet at State Theatre for shoot Friday.

They sat in a semi-circle of nine chairs with an audience of family members behind them. On stage, at the State Theatre in Easton Friday night, the TV cameras filmed and the bright lights shined. But there were no signs of stage fright. After all, these are performers. Come Sept. 8 at 9 p.m., when their documentary airs on Oprah Winfrey's OWN network, these students from Freedom, Parkland and Emmaus high schools will become MVPs. "Most Valuable Players," the documentary about the 2008 Freddy Awards that was shot entirely in the Lehigh Valley, will make its television debut. What will follow is what took place in the theater Friday: Students and teachers "reunited" for a discussion panel to relive their experience as they competed in the …

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Jenae Holtzhafer

7:49 am on Saturday, August 27, 2011

I have to agree with Bill. After following EHS for almost two months as they practiced, performed, and were then nominated for multiple Freddy awards for their production of "Phantom of the Opera," I can honestly say the students' sights were NOT set on winning. They were just so excited to have the opportunity to perform again, in the beautiful State Theatre, where everyone could join together …   more ›