Student Submissions
Along with the adjudication of high school productions, the Blue Star Awards program offers multiple opportunities for student involvement. Several award categories are open to all participating students.
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Rising Star Scholarships are awarded to high school students who made outstanding contributions to their high school's musical theatre program. These students may have been performers, technicians, production coordinators, stage managers, and/or filled any other role within their musical theatre department. Scholarships will be awarded across multiple grade levels: One Sophomore Award ($500), One Junior Award ($500), and One Senior Award ($1,500). This application process may be initiated by a student or teacher.
The following must be uploaded as part of the online form:
- Resume of work, volunteer, and theatrical activities
- Student Essay: In 500 words or less, describe your experiences and contributions to your musical theatre program at your high school, including what life lessons you learned because of these experiences.
- Recommendation Letter (can be from a teacher, coach, director, etc.): In 500 words or less, describe the student’s participation in and contributions to your school’s musical theatre program during their high school career.
Application will close after January 27, 2025.
The Rising Star Scholarships are funded thanks to the Mary Elizabeth Martin Scholarship Trust US Bank N.A., Trustee.
Questions? Contact education@kcstarlight.com for assistance.
About the category:
The Ceremony Ensemble category provides a path for students to perform in the Blue Star Awards Ceremony and have the opportunity to receive a monetary award to support future training.
Two separate in-person audition sessions are offered. Those auditioning need only attend one of the sessions. For students unable to attend an in-person session, a virtual submission path is available.
Who:
High school students who attend any of our participating schools may audition. The student did not have be part of their school’s submitted musical to be eligible to audition. This is a student-initiated process.
When:
Session #1
Thursday, February 6, 4:30 p.m.
Session #2
Saturday, February 22 at 11:30 a.m.
Virtual Audition Option
Students unable to attend either of the above auditions may submit a taped audition. RSVP must be received by Monday, February 10. Details will be emailed on February 11, with video submissions due by Monday, February 17.
We will move as quickly as possible, but we cannot guarantee an end time for either in-person session. With this information in mind, any issues this may cause must be addressed with Starlight’s Community Engagement Department prior to the audition date.
RSVP Instructions
An RSVP is required 24 hours prior to the audition. RSVP here. Please review the tentative rehearsal schedule prior to submitting an RSVP. Students must attend rehearsals and perform in the Blue Star Awards Ceremony to be eligible for this category.
Items to Prepare
Those auditioning will participate in an individual vocal audition and a group dance audition. Requirements are as follows:
- Memorize 1-minute cut of a Broadway musical song that shows off your vocal ability. Starlight will provide an accompanist.
- Wear clothes and shoes suitable for a group dance audition; tennis shoes are acceptable. Students will not be allowed to be barefoot or in only socks during the dance call.
Items to Bring to the Audition:
Sheet music must be marked accurately with the start/stop of the the song cut and in the correct key, as the accompanist will not transpose.
Location
Starlight Theatre
4600 Starlight Road
Kansas City, MO 64132
Arrival instructions will be sent the week prior to auditions.
Rehearsal Information:
For the selected nominees, attendance at rehearsals will be mandatory for participation. Below is the tentative timeline for rehearsals. If auditioning for this category, the student is acknowledging they will make themselves available for these dates.
Sunday, May 4, (3:00-5:00 p.m.) - vocal rehearsal
Saturday, May 10 (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) – choreography rehearsal
Tuesday, May 13 (6:30 – 7:30 p.m.) – tech rehearsal on stage
Thursday, May 15 (evening) – Ceremony
Questions? Contact education@kcstarlight.com for assistance.
Blue Star Awards student council members serve as ambassadors and student advisors for the Blue Star Awards program. Activities may include: planning various non-competitive opportunities, assisting in the selection of event elements for the Blue Star Awards Ceremony, and providing insight on ways in which the Blue Star Awards can further benefit all students. The student council meets once a month (excluding November) with additional opportunities for engagement throughout the year. The meetings will be held indoors at Starlight Theatre. In case of weather, council members will be notified of a virtual option via Zoom. Note: student council members do not have involvement with the adjudication process. Applicant must be a sophomore, junior, or senior at a participating Blue Star Awards school during the 2024-2025 school year. This application process may be initiated by a student or teacher.
Scheduled Council Meetings
(Held at Starlight Theatre)
- Monday, October 28: 4:00-5:30 p.m. (Welcome meeting with light refreshments)
- Monday, December 16: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
- Monday, January 27: 400-5:30 p.m. (Bring-a-Friend meeting)
- Wednesday, February 12: 5:00-6:00 p.m.
- Monday, April 14: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
- Ceremony rehearsal: TBD
The application will close after October 4.
In addition to these scheduled meetings, other events may occur throughout the year. Attendance is expected, barring schedule conflicts.
Questions? Contact education@kcstarlight.com for assistance.
This award recognizes students who have given their time and talent in a backstage capacity (i.e. stage manager, crew head, board operator, etc.) or design field (i.e. lighting, scenic, costume, etc.). Multiple students may be considered together for this award; however, no more than three students who worked equally on the same aspect/s will be considered in tandem. This application process may be initiated by a student or a teacher. Students at all high school grade levels may be considered.
The following must be uploaded as part of the online form:
- Student Essay: In one page, detail your involvement with your school’s theatre program, address what you learned from the experience, and offer specifics about your applicable backstage and/or design contributions (if multiple students are being considered together, they may write one essay as a group or write individual essays and combine them into a single document).
- Recommending Teacher Letter: In 500 words or less, provide details about the student’s/students’ contributions to your theatre program and why you feel the student/s should be considered for the award
- Digital portfolio of support materials pertaining to the student’s area/s of expertise (i.e. run sheets, renderings, plots, sketches, stage manager prompt book, etc.)
- All support materials must be in a digital format. Photos or scans are preferred.
Application will close after January 27, 2025.
Questions? Contact education@kcstarlight.com for assistance.
This award recognizes students who contributed to the direction, music direction, and/or choreography of the production. Students at all high school grade levels may be considered. This application process may be initiated by a student or teacher. To qualify, the student/s had to have taken full responsibility for directing one or more scenes, teaching and working with performers/musicians in learning one or more songs, and/or creating and teaching the choreography for one or more songs. Multiple students may be considered together for this award; however, no more than three students who worked equally on the same aspect/s will be considered in tandem. This application process may be initiated by a student or teacher. Students at all high school grade levels may be considered for this award.
The following must be uploaded as part of the online form:
- Student Essay: In one page, detail your contributions to the production as well as what they learned from the experience (offering specifics about the applicable scene/s and/or song/s); if multiple students are being considered together, they may write one essay as a group or write individual essays and combine them into a single document.
- Recommending Teacher Letter: In 500 words or less, provide details about the student’s/students’ contributions and why you feel the student/s should be considered for the award
- Digital portfolio of support materials pertaining to the student’s area/s of expertise
- All support materials must be in a digital format. Photos or scans are preferred.
Application will close after January 27, 2025.
Questions? Contact education@kcstarlight.com for assistance.
This award highlights the creativity of students working in the areas of lighting design, scenic design, costume design, hair and makeup design, graphic design/publicity, direction, and choreography. After the Dream Production musical is announced on December 13, students will have three weeks to complete and submit a design/creative brief, artist statement, and initial design/creative work for the production. Students at all high school grade levels may be considered for this award. This application process may be initiated by a student or teacher.
Application will close after December 9, 2024.
Questions? Contact education@kcstarlight.com for assistance.
The National High School Musical Theatre Awards™ (the Jimmy Awards) celebrates the best of the best in high school musical theatre from across the nation.
Through an audition process, six Blue Star Awards nominees will be selected, with each receiving a $500 monetary award. Nominees will rehearse and learn a character medley to perform at the Blue Star Awards Ceremony. A second audition for the six nominees will take place prior to the Ceremony. Two winners will be announced to represent the Blue Star Awards in New York City. Starlight's two students compete against other high school students from across the United States for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress, as well as other honors and scholarships. In addition to the awards ceremony, students participate in a ten-day professional training intensive with notable theatre professionals.
To be eligible to audition, a student must perform a qualifying role in an adjudicated production at a Blue Star Awards participating school. If a school performs after the audition dates, the student must be cast in that role prior to auditions and will remain eligible as long as they perform in their school’s adjudicated production. The Jimmy Awards list of qualifying shows and roles is available here.
Three separate in-person audition sessions are offered at Starlight. Those auditioning need only attend one of the sessions. An RSVP is required by January 31.
When:
Session #1
Saturday, February 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Session #2
Tuesday, February 18 at 4:30 p.m.
Session #3
Sunday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m.
We will move as quickly as possible, but we cannot guarantee an end time for in-person sessions.
RSVP Instructions
An RSVP is required by January 31, to audition. RSVP here.
Please review the tentative rehearsal schedule prior to submitting an RSVP. Students must attend rehearsals and perform in the Blue Star Awards Ceremony to be eligible for this category. Arrival instructions will be sent the week prior to auditions.
Items to Prepare and Bring
Those auditioning will participate in an individual vocal audition. Requirements are as follows:
- Memorize a 1-minute or less cut of a song from their school role
- Memorize a 1-minute cut of a Broadway solo not from your school’s musical
- Bring a copy of your sheet music. Sheet music must be marked accurately with the start/stop of the cuts in the correct key, as the accompanist will not transpose.
Rehearsal Information:
For the selected nominees, attendance at rehearsals will be mandatory for participation. Below is the tentative timeline for rehearsals. If auditioning for this category, the student is acknowledging they will make themselves available for these dates.
Sunday, April 27 (2:00-5:00 p.m.) – Intros, paperwork, solo song selection
Tuesday, April 29 (4:00-7:00 p.m.) – Headshots, medley rehearsal
Saturday, May 3 (10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) – Rehearsal
Thursday, May 8 (5:00.-7:00 p.m.) – Rehearsal and mock audition
Saturday, May 10 (3:00-5:00 p.m.) - Nominee audition day
Wednesday, May 14 (6:30-7:30 pm.) – Onstage medley rehearsal
Thursday, May 15 (evening) - Ceremony
Students interested in this category are encouraged to attend an informational session on Zoom. The online call will take place on Tuesday, January 28, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. The Zoom meeting link for this call is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81712564678 (Meeting ID 817 1256 4678).
Questions? Contact education@kcstarlight.com for assistance.
The Blue Star Awards are generously supported by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, an anonymous donor with support from Jeff Ayers, Southwest Airlines, travel sponsor for the Jimmy Awards, and Starlight's community engagement program benefactors.
