{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreickl7krngj4if4xgwiupgpvzzlchrhvimrgr5xbtcwjrizgwgp3vu",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:32yqtbia6lv2vidmgdpu4b6b/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf7qwg24er72"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreidfncn5zcdjd3f2gkkbhmfebzgx3l24pziy7ofs2ka5g7xawzokza"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 242662
  },
  "description": "Upcoming local high school performances include hit musicals like Shrek, Hadestown, Les Miserables and Mary Poppins",
  "path": "/see-upcoming-high-school-shows-along-with-a-new-award-show/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-19T14:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://binghamtonian.news",
  "tags": [
    "_Binghamtonian_",
    "_If you appreciate this publication, please consider subscribing for free or becoming a paid supporter for $6/mo!_",
    "Whitney Point’s Bye Bye Birdie",
    "Susquehanna Valley’s The Snow Queen.",
    "_Anything Goes_",
    "_Matilda_",
    "_High School Musical_",
    "Greater Binghamton High School Musical Theatre Awards",
    "_within a 50 mile radius of the City of Binghamton_",
    "_Eleven high schools_",
    "_Syracuse_",
    "_Rochester_",
    "_Northeast Pennsylvania_",
    "_Lehigh Valley_",
    "_workshop_",
    "_Jimmy Awards_",
    "_Interested students can apply here_",
    "_the Greater Binghamton High School Musical Theatre Awards website_",
    "_Tickets and Information_",
    "_Vestal CSD Facebook_",
    "_Chenango Forks CSD Facebook_",
    "_Show Information_",
    "_Windsor CSD Facebook_",
    "_Norwich CSD Facebook_",
    "_Chenango Valley CSD Facebook_",
    "_Facebook Event_",
    "_Maine-Endwell CSD Facebook_",
    "** _Binghamtonian_**",
    "** _paid supporter_**",
    "** _giving a donation_**",
    "_Facebook_",
    "_Instagram_",
    "_Terms of Use and Privacy Policy_",
    "_Sign up here_"
  ],
  "textContent": "> _Binghamtonian_ _is a reader-supported, writer-owned publication aimed at connecting residents of the Greater Binghamton Area with their community.\n>\n>  ❗_ _If you appreciate this publication, please consider subscribing for free or becoming a paid supporter for $6/mo!_\n>\n> _Want to see something explored in this newsletter? Please let me know at_ _info@binghamtonian.news_\n\n> ** _Want to skip to the schedule of upcoming high school shows? Click here_**\n\nVESTAL – The Binghamton area is not lacking in the slightest for live theatre.\n\nBut sometimes the best place to find creativity and passion on the stage is in the area's high schools as they put on their spring musicals.\n\nBroome County’s first high school musical weekend kicks off on February 20-22 with Whitney Point’s Bye Bye Birdie and Susquehanna Valley’s The Snow Queen.\n\nTioga, Waverly and Owego-Apalachin already kicked off the season for Tioga County with _Anything Goes_, _Matilda_ and _High School Musical_, respectively.\n\nAnd this year comes with an added twist, and extra celebration.\n\nThe inaugural Greater Binghamton High School Musical Theatre Awards and a corresponding workshop will take place on the weekend of May 23 and 24.\n\nJessica Brookes, an Apalachin native, saw the impact a regional high school theatre award program can have while living in Memphis acting and teaching. She said she teamed up with local vocalist Michelle Kearly Tompson and reached out to Professor Tommy Iafrate at Binghamton University to set up the program.\n\n“It's just building excitement and momentum for arts, even at the high school level,” Brookes said.\n\n“We've got folks from schools going into other schools and just trying to get things more connected, because I think this area is very rich in terms of talent and theatre and performing arts projects, but sometimes it feels like they happen in isolation.”\n\n## Celebrating and Learning\n\nA lot of work goes into these high school productions.\n\nAfter what can sometimes be months of rehearsal, the handcrafting of stages and costumes, many hours put in by the faculty volunteers and the effort of dozens of students – these shows typically culminate in only two or three performances.\n\nDuring the season, adjudicators from the local theatre world will visit participating school productions to evaluate for categories like overall musical production, lead and supporting performances, ensemble, choreography, technical design and more.\n\nA calendar of local high school theatre for the 2025-2026 school year. Susquehanna Valley will be performing The Snow Queen instead of The Spongebob Musical. | Graphic by Nicole Cole (Harpursville), Courtesy Kristi Ruffo\n\n“The awards ceremony will not serve as a competition, but rather a celebration,” the event's website says.\n\nNew York State high schools _within a 50 mile radius of the City of Binghamton_ were eligible and contacted by the organizers, Brookes said.\n\n_Eleven high schools_ across the region will be participating: Candor, Chenango Valley, Cortland, Groton, Ithaca, Moravia, Norwich, Odessa-Montour, Tully, Watkins Glen and Whitney Point.\n\nWhile a new idea to this area, nearby regions like _Syracuse_, _Rochester_, _Northeast Pennsylvania_ and the _Lehigh Valley_ host or have hosted in the past their own high school-level regional musical theatre awards.\n\nBrookes said schools that opted out cited being unsure of the award aspect or wanting to see how this year goes before participating in the future.\n\nTwo students from each participating school will attend a two-day _workshop_ at Binghamton University to participate in masterclasses on topics like song interpretation and mock auditions with professors and theatre professionals. The event culminates in the award ceremony and accompanying performances.\n\n“It's really giving the kids a peek into what the college experience would be like,” Brookes said.\n\n“And getting to meet a large group of kids from all over that love what they love and do what they do.”\n\nShe says at this point organizers are doing a lot of problem-solving and collaborating to make sure the event goes well for the students.\n\nThe competition is not currently eligible for the national _Jimmy Awards_, but organizers hope they can become eligible in the future.\n\nThe program announced it still has 20 spots open spots for individual performers from non-competition schools in the area to participate in the workshops and masterclasses. _Interested students can apply here_.\n\nThose interested in adjudicating or sponsoring the program can apply on _the Greater Binghamton High School Musical Theatre Awards website_.\n\n## **See upcoming regional high school productions**\n\n### **🐦Whitney Point**\n\n**Bye Bye Birdie**\nFeb. 20-21\n _Tickets and Information_\n\n### **👸Susquehanna Valley**\n\n**The Snow Queen**\nFeb. 20-22\n _Tickets and Information_\n\n### **🍅Binghamton**\n\n**Something Rotten!**\nMarch 6-8\n _Tickets and Information_\n\n### **🇺🇸Vestal**\n\n**1776 the Musical**\nMarch 12-15\n _Vestal CSD Facebook_\n\n### **🦁Chenango Forks**\n\n**The Wizard of Oz**\nMarch 13-15\n _Chenango Forks CSD Facebook_\n\n### **🏝️Johnson City**\n\n**Once on This Island**\nMarch 13-15\n _Show Information_\n\n### **🫏Windsor**\n\n**Shrek The Musical**\nMarch 12-14\n _Windsor CSD Facebook_\n\n### **🎺Norwich**\n\n**Hadestown**\nMarch 14-15\n _Norwich CSD Facebook_\n\n### **💃Candor**\n\n**Mamma Mia!**\nMarch 14-15\n _Tickets and Information_\n\n### **🎺Union-Endicott**\n\n**Hadestown**\nMarch 19-22\n _Tickets and Information_\n\n### **🇫🇷Chenango Valley**\n\n**Les Misérables**\nMarch 20-22\n _Chenango Valley CSD Facebook_\n\n### **🫏Newark Valley**\n\n**Shrek The Musical**\nMarch 20-21\n _Facebook Event_\n\n### **🥁Greene**\n\n**The Music Man**\nMarch 27-29\n _Tickets and Information_\n\n### **☂️Maine-Endwell**\n\n**Mary Poppins**\nApril 17-19\n _Maine-Endwell CSD Facebook_\n\n* * *\n\n## **🎠🙏Thank you for reading!**\n\n_❗Have an idea for the newsletter? Something you want to see? Want to partner? 🎫Have an event you want listed?__Please reach out!_\n\n**_If you like this post, please share_**** _Binghamtonian_**** _with your friends & consider becoming a _**** _paid supporter_** _**** or _** _giving a donation_**** _today to keep this publication alive & independent!_**\n\n_Also! Follow us on_ _Facebook_ _and_ _Instagram_\n\n _Terms of Use and Privacy Policy_\n\n _❓Was this sent to you?__Sign up here_",
  "title": "See upcoming high school shows, along with a new award show to celebrate them",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-21T23:56:14.827Z"
}