Two Newark High School Drama Club members _ Addison Burgess, a senior and Kylie Gravino, a junior, will be competing along with 38 other top notch high school student performers from the region in the annual Stars of Tomorrow NYC Bound competition May 21st hosted by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League. Read More View Image
Burgess, who portrayed Paulette Bonafonte and Gravino, who played Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” in March were among the 40 students with leading roles in their high school productions chosen from a field of 200 performers by Stars of Tomorrow evaluators to compete at the West Herr Auditorium Theatre May 21st in hopes becoming the Rochester representative at the National High School (The Jimmys) in NYS at the end of June.
“Newark participates in the Rochester Broadway Theatre League Stars of Tomorrow adjudication program,” explained Director Emily Howard and NHS English 11 teacher. “Each year adjudicators attends performances and provide constructive feedback to individuals and the ensemble based on a variety of categories under the umbrella of voice, acting, dance, and technical theatre.”
Individuals are adjudicated based on these categories:
Storytelling ability
Emotional authenticity
Believability onstage
Character development
Consistency of character
Relationships to others
Expressions and reactions
Diction and projection
Pitch, tone and rhythm while singing
Song delivery - emotion and phrasing
Diction and projection
Execution of choreography / movement
Physicality (connection to character)
Energy and pacing
Overall stage presence
“Actors in these roles must decide in advance if they would like to be considered for an additional competition that would lead to them potentially representing Rochester in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy’s),” Howard continued. “Addison and Kylie threw their hats into the ring. Over 300 students were in eligible leading roles across the Rochester region. Forty performers were selected among the 200 students who said ‘yes’ to the potential opportunity. Addison and Kylie landed in that top 40 and they will audition May 21st to continue to advance.”
Watch Stars of Tomorrow video announcement here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2875223549476493
Gravino, who portrayed Sophie last year in the NHS Drama Club production of “Mamma Mia,” competed in a similar select group of 40 students in the annual Stars of Tomorrow NYC Bound competition in 2025.
Burgess and Gravino will also perform along with other cast members from “Legally Blonde” at the Stars of Tomorrow Recognition Ceremony May 8th at the West Herr Theatre in Rochester.