High Life: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Mater Dei Musical Is a Winner

Mater Dei High School’s production of “Carousel” won the MACY award, Irvine High School’s “Into the Woods” was selected most spectacular production, and Esperanza’s “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” won the Teatro del Arte award at the 21st annual MACY Awards presented June 2 at South Coast Community Church in Irvine.

Lee and John Childress founded MACY (Music and Arts Commendation for Youth) in 1971 as a way to recognize the accomplishments and hard work of performing arts students. The MACY program is a 1991 recipient of a Disneyland community service award.

Among the county high schools and students receiving awards this year:

* Estancia High’s “South Pacific” received the Childress award.

* El Toro’s “South Pacific” was the Irvine Orton Music award winner.

* Esperanza also received the Visiting Judges’ Choice award and the Covington award.

* Mater Dei’s Ryan Orr won for best actor.

* Estancia’s Stephanie Burden received the best actress award.

* Estancia’s Colby Donn French and Irvine’s Aaron Hendry tied for best supporting actor.

* Mission Viejo’s Brandi Karren (“Oklahoma”) and Estancia’s Terri Mowrey tied for best supporting actress.

* Irvine’s Eric Anderson was the MACY Award Winner Emeritus.

Other schools and their productions that competed: Brea-Olinda (“Guys and Dolls”), Canyon (“Guys and Dolls”), El Dorado (“Music Man”), Newport Harbor (“Can-Can”), San Clemente (“Fiddler on the Roof”), Santa Margarita (“Fame”), Sunny Hills (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Trabuco Hills (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Tri-School Theatre of Cornelia Connelly, Rosary and Servite (“West Side Story”) and Woodbridge (“Anything Goes”).

Aspect, a foreign student exchange program, is looking for families to play host this summer to students, ages 14 to 18, who are coming from Denmark and Finland to spend a month in Anaheim.

The students will be taking part in educational and cultural activities from June 24 through July 21. They speak English, have their own spending money and are fully insured.

If you are interested in having a student stay with your family, call Dottie Smith, local coordinator for Aspect, at (714) 956-3783.

“The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again.”