On Sunday, Sept. 23, the winners of the National High School Musical Theater Awards will be revealed during the finale of a three-part PBS documentary called Broadway or Bust, the first installment of which aired last night.
Language on the PBS website describes the documentary thus: “Part competition, part performance, and part non-fiction drama, the series starts in regional competitions, where judges select the best performers in the country. The 60 finalists then descend on Broadway, where they plunge into the eye of the theatrical storm for one intense week of rehearsals, coaching, mentoring, performance and competition. The week culminates in The National High School Musical Theater Awards, a one night, star-studded event held at the Minskoff Theatre in New York.”
While that event took place on June 25, the results of the competition will be announced during the finale of the PBS documentary.
Among the competition participants was Alli Kramer, who graduated last spring from Amity Regional High School. Kramer won the “Outstanding Leading Female” category at the Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards, which took place on June 4.
Reached by e‑mail in Dublin, Ireland, where she’s studying business through a Northeastern University program, Kramer talked about participating in the competition.
“At the Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards I was asked to choose a song from Legally Blonde to sing in full costume. I chose to sing “So Much Better,” one of the main songs Elle sings in the show. … At the end of the night the winner … was announced and I couldn’t believe the name I heard was mine. It was just an honor to be nominated.”
Kramer was also surprised to learn that she had 48 hours to decide what songs she’d perform at the national competition a few weeks later.
While she “was not a finalist” in New York, Kramer said she “was so honored to be performing up there and so happy for the kids who were finalists. They truly deserved it.”
At Amity Regional High School, Kramer said, Andrea Kennedy and Robert Kennedy “taught me so much about the theater and how to become the best actress and singer I can be. I’ve spent so many hours of rehearsal with them and they’ve made me grow so much as a person and performer. Andrea was not only my director in the musicals, but was also my voice teacher for a year; and Rob was my director and acting coach since I took his acting classes in school.”
Kramer was also influenced, she said, by her “voice coaches, Rose Cappola and Scott Handley, who … nurtured me and my voice since the fifth grade.”
“My parents also have been extremely supportive of my performances and have come to every single show and paid for every lesson,” she said.
Asked about her favorite roles, Kramer cited “Eponine in Les Miserables and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.”
“Eponine was my first role I ever got in high school,” Kramer said. “I auditioned my sophomore year, never even having seen Les Miserables before and was so excited when I got a call-back for Eponine — and was even more ecstatic when I found out I got the part as a sophomore my first year auditioning. … Elle Woods was also one of my favorite roles because she was the most difficult character I’ve had to play. … Elle was also the most rewarding character because she changed me as a person, as well. … The character allowed me to find myself and bring (that) into the show.”
While she admires the versatility actresses like Sutton Foster and Meryl Streep bring to the roles they play, Kramer is keeping her career options open.
“My goal at the moment,” she said, “is to get a degree in business. I’m not sure what my concentration is going to be yet, but I also want to have a minor in musical theater and then go to graduate school at a later time if I still have the theater bug. … I will try to audition for as many musicals and plays at Northeastern as I can and will continue to sing, dance, and act as much as possible. If I choose not to be a performer in my later years, I definitely would love to be involved in the business aspect of theater and show business.”
As far as the National High School Musical Theater Awards are concerned, Kramer knows who won the competition but “won’t spoil it” for those who want to find out during the September 23 finale of PBS’ Broadway or Bust.