COUNTYWIDE : MACYs’ Enchanted Evening for Students

The Tony awards honoring Broadway’s best weren’t the only prizes presented Sunday night for theatrical achievement. At South Coast Community Church in Irvine, more than 1,500 people showed up for the 20th annual MACY Awards, which honor Orange County high school students for excellence in musical theater.

Irvine High School was the biggest winner receiving numerous accolades for its production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” including the night’s most prestigious award, the MACY.

Other big winners were Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach for its production of “Man of La Mancha” and Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista for its performance of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

The Music and Art Commendation for Youth awards were founded 20 years ago by Corona del Mar residents Lee and John Childress.

“We started this program to give recognition to all this wonderful talent,” said Lee Childress, a former actress and publicist. “This is our gift to the youths who devote all of their time and energy to these musicals.”

The couple spent spent $5,000 on this year’s show. John Childress calls the MACYs a “labor of love.”

Musical numbers from such well-known productions as “Grease,” “Guys and Dolls,” “The Wiz,” and “Annie” were performed during the show, but the evening was filled with more than song and dance. Irvine High students Martin Noyes and Eric Kerns performed a scene from “Elephant Man” to thunderous applause.

In all, 150 trophies were handed out for overall productions, individual performances, and scholarships.

Allen Moon, a senior at El Dorado High School in Placentia, gave a sample of his lead role performance in the school’s production of “Li’l Abner” and also won a scholarship. Moon said the MACY Awards are a highlight of the year for many of his fellow students.

“I think it’s really great of them to do this for us,” Moon said. “High school musicals don’t get any recognition except for this one night.”