Les Misérables earns 15 Tommy Tune Nominations
April 1, 2015
Klein Drama received 15 Tommy Tune Nominations for their musical production of Les Misérables including Best Musical, Best Leading Actress and Actor.
Nominations were announced March 26 on Channel 13. The awards will be held on April 21 at the Hobby Center.
“There were lots of shouts of joy, hugs, handshakes, and maybe a few tears of joy. It is never expected, but we are always hopeful,” Director Tina Domino said. “There are three judges and it’s ultimately their opinion of the performances they see. We feel lucky.”
The program is no stranger to Tommy Tune nominations. Over the last 10 years, Klein musicals have earned numerous nominations and had many winners, including a few Best Musical nods.
“Finding out that Les Misérables was nominated for 15 Tommy Tune awards was incredibly exciting for everybody,” senior Whitney Wells, who played Cosette, said. “I am beyond honored to have been part of a production that not only worked extremely hard, and gave everything they had, but also put so much emotion and life into conveying such a beautiful story. It’s exciting to know that in a couple of weeks, we will relive a part of that up on the Hobby Center stage.”
Complete List of nominations:
Best Musical
Best Leading Actress- MarShae Morris
Best Leading Actor- Brett Baker, Ian Tonroy
Best Direction- Tina Lee Domino
Best Choreogrpahy- Sarah Harter
Best Crew and Technical Execution
Best Ensamble and Chorus
Best Supporting Actor- Nick Lammey
Best Musical Direction- Keith Markuson and Heather Sharp
Best Orchestra
Best Costume Design- Adam Henjum
Best Lighting Design
Best Scenic Design- Jason Bradshaw
Best Featured Performer- Raheem Maughn
![Dr. Jenny McGown, Klein ISD Superintendent
[photo obtained from www.kleinisd.net/district/superintendent]](https://thebearchat.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/McGown-1-e1661364622757-355x475.jpg)
Dr. Martha Gallien • May 20, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Congratulations to you — each of you students. Tommy Tune would be very proud of you. I live in Klein ISD and follow your activities. I was 7 years behind Tommy Tune, at Lamar High School, in Houston. We both studied under Ms. Ruth Denney. You may have heard of her. She and renowned musician/composer, Norma Lowder, left Lamar High School to become the founders of the High School for the Performing Arts. Then, Ms. Denney went on to Univ. of Texas at Austin to head up their theatre program.
Teachers are so important. You should give your teacher many salutes, for that is the person who is responsible for your road to success. A little note on my teacher and Tommy Tune’s teacher, Ms. Denney:
After more than a dozen years in the classroom, Denney took an administrative job with the Houston Independent School District and set about creating a high school for the arts. In 1971, her dream was realized and she became the first principal of Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, only the third such fine arts magnet school in the nation when it opened.
In addition to Tommy Tune, her students over the years included notable performers including Robert Crutchfield, Robert Foxworth, Carlin Glynn-Masterson, Paula Prentiss, and Jaclyn Smith.
In 1976, Denney became a professor of drama education at the University of Texas. She taught at UT until 1988. At retirement she was named professor emeritus and many of her former students and colleagues helped establish a scholarship in her honor. The Ruth Denney Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Theatre helps benefit theater arts students.
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Many blessings for a brilliant future.
Martha Gallien, PhD
Juvenile Justice
University of Houston-Downtown
Prairie View A&M University
Perhaps one day, one of you will be in one of my classes … maybe even online! I hope so.