The Valley Regional High School (VRHS) Drama Program continues its tradition of performance excellence with the Valley Regional Musical Productions (VRMP) of Band Geeks, receiving two notable awards, including the brand new The Future of Theatre Award and the Outstanding Graphic Design Award on June 1 at the Connecticut High School Music Theater Awards (CHSMTA) gala held at the Palace Theater in Waterbury.

Of this new award, Band Geeks Director Ingrid Walsh stated, “The Future of Theatre Award was newly created to inspire all to take uncharted territories and, rather than doing the same shows, to try to produce some new works. We were thrilled. As you know, something new—or change—is very hard to find a populace, as it is incredibly risky. But, they recognized all of our efforts to raise Band Geeks to the stage and deliver it with success. We were truly honored and humbled to be recognized, especially because we all were so attached to the show.”

VRMP would like to send out a special thanks to the following people and companies that supported its Outstanding Graphics Design Award:

A.C. Proctor of Essex Printing (assisted with posters and programs)

Whelen Engineering (printing of programs)

Casey O’Brien of Gull Associates Old Lyme (assisted with costuming)

Tiffany Hopkins (assisted with projection images)

Luther Moen, Ingrid Walsh, and projection students Garrett Boland, Tesla Lowrey, and Roman Daniels (assisted with side projection panel adjustments)

Chris LeQuire and Brad Pitman of VHRS (assisted in creating newscast footage that tied the whole thing together to the end).

Additionally, CHSMTA nominated VRMP’s Band Geeks for three prominent awards: Leading Actress—Maggie Walsh as Laura; Outstanding Sound; and Outstanding Chorus.

One hundred and twenty-one students from VRHS were involved in cast, crew, and pit to produce the newly released musical. The involvement of students represents 20 percent of the entire school population, along with countless volunteer hours of the parents, teachers, and community direct commitment to this long-standing tradition of producing excellence in musicals in the Region 4 School District.

As always, the five performances of the musical were sold out early. As a surprise to all, the creators Tommy Newman and Gordon Greenberg of Band Geeks drove in from New York City along with the original Goodspeed producers to view the final dress rehearsal in March.

The students attended the black-tie gala at the Palace Theater and performed “Lost in the Brass” one last time. VRHS was among 20 other Connecticut high schools involved.