RIDGEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL students Megan Gibert and Logan Summers won awards at this year’s 5th Avenue Awards. Photo courtesy of Ridgefield School District
Ridgefield High School students Megan Gibert and Logan Summers received awards at the 5th Avenue 2014 Awards, a ceremony honoring high school musical theater throughout Washington state put on by the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
Evaluators from around Washington attended 121 high school musical theater productions to select the student nominees for the awards.
“The 5th Avenue Awards are our state’s Tony Awards for high school musical theater,” said Bob Meek, Ridgefield High School’s drama and choir teacher.
Gibert, a junior during the 2013-14 school year, received an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role playing Jo March in the high school’s performance of “Little Women.” Gibert started performing in plays four years ago with the Christian Youth Theater in the summer before performing in the high school’s production of Guys and Dolls in eighth grade.
“I like being able to put on a different face for a while and portray someone else,” she said. “I find a lot of things I have in common with the character, and, often, I discover new things about myself, too.”
Summers, a freshman during the 2013-14 school year, received an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role by playing Laurie Laurence, also in “Little Women.” This year was Summers’ first time performing in drama.
“I’ve wanted to be an actor for some time because I thought it’d be cool to change costumes and live in that kind of world,” he said. “I think one of the coolest parts of acting is seeing our classmates get into their parts with us.”
Both students point to Meek as helping them hone their acting skills and win their awards.
“Meek’s a great director because he encourages us to explore our characters and develop our own roles,” said Gibert.
Summers agreed, saying, “Meek is hilarious. It’s obvious he loves what he does.”
The 5th Avenue Theatre announced the winners May 20 and presented the awards in a ceremony June 9 at Benaroya Hall.
The 5th Avenue Theatre supports several education and outreach programs for youth, students and the community including the annual 5th Avenue Awards. More information can be found on their website at www.5thavenue.org.
