More than 2,000 high school students, teachers and parents from across Washington packed Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre for the seventh-annual high school musical theater awards on June 8.

An enthusiastic crowd filled the room and cheered as the award recipients were announced in 21 categories ranging from Outstanding Overall Musical Production to Outstanding Program Design. Nominees, dressed in costume, presented numbers and performed medleys from their school shows.

Representing Sequim High School was Andrew King.

King performed as the Beast in "Beauty and the Beast" and was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Play director Christy Rutherford watched proudly from the audience.

"He was fabulous," Rutherford said about King's performance on stage in front of the large crowd.

"The audience erupted into cheers and clapping.

"I'm sure there were a lot of people

wondering, 'Why didn't he win?'"

Henry Nettleton, from Bellarmine Preparatory School of Tacoma, won the award for his performance as Joseph in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

"I'm sure he was disappointed; we were all a little disappointed, but it was so much fun to see the other high schools' productions and the competition we are up against," Rutherford said.

"The kids are so honored to be recognized the way athletes are."

Isaac Boekelheide, also from Sequim High School, took the stage with more than 100 others at the beginning of the ceremony to introduce each school.

Boekelheide, playing Lumiere in "Beauty and the Beast," received an honorable mention for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

Since its inception, the musical theater awards program has grown from 31 productions and 3,100 students in 2003 to 82 productions and 8,200 students this year.



Ashley Miller can be reached at ashleyo@sequimgazette.com.