Online Competition for NJ High School Musical Performers

The Axelrod in Deal wants to award scholarship money and honor high schoolers who may not have been able to perform in their musicals due to Covid-19.

We are all so sad that theaters are dark, but that’s not stopping the Axelrod Performing Arts Center from turning the spotlight on high school musical theater students. Introducing the NJ High School AXE Awards!

The AXE Awards are an online singing competition for high school performers in Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex Counties whose musicals were “axed” by COVID-19.

The amazing Artistic Director of the Axelrod, Andrew DePrisco, says, “The only thing more traumatic than the postponement of the Tony Awards and the Oscars is the disappointment of all of those high school thespians who will never got to play their roles on stage because their shows were ‘axed’ by COVID-19. These new awards will allow our talented New Jersey young actors to shine, and also give six fantastic winners scholarship money.”

You have until May 8th to get your submission in.

The finalists of the NJ High School AXE Awards will be announced on Friday, May 15. Then online voting will run through May 29.

This online video singing competition is for high school seniors and underclassman, offering a prize of $1000 in four categories for seniors, plus $500 for the winning underclassman (male and female). The award money is being contributed by Cabaret for Life in memory of Amy Fredericks, a local musician, music director, and music teacher.

Here's who's eligible:

-- Any high school student in Monmouth, Ocean or Middlesex Counties.

-- Any senior who was cast in a leading or supporting role in a 2020 high school musical whether the show went up or not!

-- Any underclassman (freshman, sophomore or junior) who was cast in a leading, supporting or featured role in a 2020 High School Musical– as long as the character in the show had his own song.

Categories:

-- Best Actor in a Musical

-- Best Actress in a Musical

-- Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

-- Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

-- Best Non-Senior Actor in a Musical

-- Best Non-Senior Actress in a Musical

For info on how to register and submit your video clip, CLICK HERE.

All video submissions will be reviewed by a panel of theater professionals from the

Axelrod Performing Arts Center. Five finalists will be selected in each category. The videos for all finalists will be posted on the Axelrod website and on social media. The online community will then be able to vote for the best nominee in each category.

Finalists will be announced Fri., May 15th.

Online voting begins Monday, May 18th and runs through Friday, May 29th.

The 5 winners will be announced on Tues., June 2nd.

Break a Leg!