With anxiety filling the air, the cast and crew along with other students of Mrs. Melissa Gehrke, the theatre director and teacher at Liberty, gathered together in her classroom to watch the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Award nominations, also known as the SLHSMTAs. This year a total of 44 schools participated, which is an increase from the 36 from the previous 2023 SLHSMTAs.
While crowding around with the Fox 2 News broadcasting on the screen, it was announced that Liberty’s recent production of ‘Twelfth Night’ was nominated for Outstanding Musical: Level One. There are a total of five schools nominated for Outstanding Musical: Level One, with Festus High School, Highland High School, Hazelwood Central High School, and Oakville High School also being nominated.
It is insane and I wish the other people could feel the amount of joy in this room right now. There was so much love that was put into this show, so it is amazing we get to perform it one last time.
— Barnes
Being nominated for Outstanding Musical means that the nominated schools we be able to perform a short melody from their show alongside the other schools in the category at the award ceremony, which will be held at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on May 24.
“I couldn’t be happier,” sophomore Mak Barnes said. “It is insane and I wish the other people could feel the amount of joy in this room right now. There was so much love that was put into this show, so it is amazing we get to perform it one last time.” Barnes played the Countess Olivia in “Twelfth Night.”
This is the second year in a row that Liberty has submitted for the SLHSMTA, and is also the second year they have been nominated for Outstanding Musical, as last year they were nominated for their production of “Bright Star.”
Outstanding Musical is not the only award that Liberty has been nominated for this year. Mr. Carter Datz, the choir teacher and music director for the theatre department, was nominated for Outstanding Musical Direction. Only six schools were nominated for this category. Along with that, juniors Ace Mitchell and Avery Bowen were nominated for Outstanding Scenic Design & Execution, which only five schools were nominated for.
“I think this was our best show that we have ever done,” junior Brandt Cleppe said. “It was stressful last year when we went to the Fox, but it was so fun and such a cool experience.” Cleppe has been a part of Liberty’s theatre program since his freshman year.
Make sure to go support Liberty on May 24 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Tickets will be on sale soon.
