A record 31 high schools from Northampton, Lehigh and Warren Counties will participate in the 24th annual Freddy Awards, with spring musical performances beginning in less than a month
The ceremony honoring student theatrical productions will take place Thursday, May 21, and will be broadcast live on WFMZ Channel 69 and streaming on WFMZ+. The program represents an all-time high for participation in the awards, according to officials at Easton State Theatre, which hosts the ceremony.
“We are welcoming an all-time high number of high schools to the program this year,” said Shelley Brown, the theatre’s president and CEO. “The format will remain the same, but with more schools, the energy in the room will be higher than ever.”
Kori Lotito, Freddy Awards coordinator, said the record participation reflects the region’s commitment to performing arts.
“Seeing 31 schools participate is a true testament to the importance this area places on the performing arts,” Lotito said.
Twenty-eight schools participated last year.
The participating schools will present productions ranging from Disney’s Frozen and The Phantom of the Opera to Something Rotten! and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Performance dates run from late February through late April.
Award nominations will be announced Thursday, May 7, at noon. The awards ceremony will air live at 7 p.m. on May 21.
A complete list of participating schools, their productions, performance dates and ticket information is available at the state theatre’s Freddy Awards page.
Up first for this season are Northwestern Lehigh High School’s production of Something Rotten! and Wilson Area High School’s production of Anastasia: The Musical, both premiering on Feb. 26.