Young musical theater stars shine in Wisconsin Public Television's (WPT) broadcast of Overture's High School Musical Theater Awards, featuring talented high school performers from Southern and Central Wisconsin. The one-hour program premieres 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13 on WPT and Milwaukee PBS; the program will also be available to stream online at wpt.org at broadcast.

Overture's High School Musical Theater Awards broadcast celebrates excellence in musical theater by featuring top performances from the 8th annual awards ceremony, held in June at Madison's Overture Center for the Arts. Award-winning performers include full-cast production numbers, as well as lead and supporting performers.

The program encourages, recognizes and honors excellence in high school musical theater. Educators and industry professionals reviewed productions at more than 80 high schools in 23 counties, providing valuable feedback. School and student achievements are honored and featured at the awards show.

"Overture's High School Musical Theater Awards showcases the incredible musical talent coming out of Wisconsin's high schools," said WPT producer Deb Piper. "The students and the schools raise the bar of excellence every year. Their hard work is celebrated in this wonderful night of song and dance at Overture Hall in Madison. WPT is proud to partner with Overture Center for the Arts to share this talent with our viewers across the state."

Among the schools featured in this year's Overture's High School Musical Theater Awards broadcast include New Berlin Eisenhower High School, Lake Mills High School, Shorewood High School, Arrowhead Union High School, Marshfield High School, McFarland High School, Dominican High School, Whitefish Bay High School, Stoughton High School, Brookfield East High School, Oconomowoc High School, Janesville School District, Oak Creek High School, Verona Area High School, Brookfield Academy, Central Wisconsin Educational Theatre Alliance, Monona Grove High School, Parker High School, Whitnall High School, Edgewood High School, Fond du Lac High School, Holmen High School, St. Ambrose Academy, Middleton High School and Craig High School.

Overture's High School Musical Theater Awards is part of WPT's multiyear Young Performers Initiative, which celebrates Wisconsin's young artists and those who inspire them. Overture's High School Musical Theater Awards program is an educational initiative that recognizes, honors and encourages excellence in musical theater production among area high school students.

Funding for Overture's High School Musical Theater Awards is provided by Julie and Larry Midtbo, Mary Ellyn and Joe Sensenbrenner, A. Paul Jones Charitable Trust, and Friends of Wisconsin Public Television.
Wisconsin Public Television is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.

-END-