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Dalton Public Schools Shine at the 16th Annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards

Dalton, GA – Dalton Public Schools students and programs have once again demonstrated excellence on the stage, garnering prestigious awards and recognition at the 16th Annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (GHSMTA) presented by ArtsBridge Foundation in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting.

The “Shuler Awards 2024,” a live co-production with GPB, served as the platform for announcing the winners of the "Sweet 16" edition of the GHSMTA. A celebration of the finest high school musical theatre talents across the state, this year's event featured 75 participating schools culminating in a televised Awards Show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, hosted by Tony Award-winning actor, Shuler Hensley.

Fashioned after Broadway's Tony Awards, the GHSMTA winners represent the pinnacle of high school musical theatre in Georgia, with this year's awardees hailing from 10 public and private schools across seven counties.

Among the standout performers was Hayden Poe, a Dalton High School student, who clinched the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor for his remarkable portrayal in "Fiddler on the Roof." Poe's talent and dedication have earned him the honor of representing Georgia in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as The Jimmy Awards, organized by the Broadway League. Poe will showcase his talents at the Minskoff Theatre in New York on June 24.

DHS students Kinsley Stephens and Ellis Stephens also garnered noteworthy acclaim for their performances. Kinsley was nominated for Best Supporting Performer in "Fiddler on the Roof," while Ellis received an Honorable Mention for Best Featured Performer in the same production.

Apart from individual honors, Dalton High School was commended for its dedication to fostering Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (I.D.E.A.) within its musical theatre program. The school was honored with the Standing Ovation Award for "Fiddler on the Roof," recognizing its proactive approach in collaborating with a student cultural consultant to ensure respectful portrayal of Judaism and to prevent misappropriation, thereby enhancing authenticity in their performance.

For more information on the "Shuler Awards 2024," please visit GPB.org/Shuler2024.

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