APA and Edison students get musical theater accolades

Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts and Edison High School participated in the 43rd annual MACY awards May 25 at Segerstrom Hall in the Center for the Arts.

It was the first time the show went on without co-founder Lee Childress, who started the program with her husband in 1969. Childress died last year at 95.

The MACY — Music and Arts Commendations for Youth — awards recognize high school musical theater from throughout Orange County. Forty-two schools participate.

Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts won the Teatro Extraordinaire award for “Hello Dolly,” and the students portraying the roller skaters in “Xanadu” earned the Ensemble award.

For their work in “Hello Dolly,” Alex Jean and Devon Matthews won Outstanding Achievement awards. Devin Cortez, Lily Bryson, Sarah Marion and Shiloh Orr were awarded the Highest Achievement awards.

For their work in “Xanadu,” Lily Bryson and Shiloh Orr earned Outstanding Achievement awards and Devin Cortez, Kristen Daniels and Sarah Marion won Highest Achievement.

Edison High School students were honored for their work in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Brennan Lund, Jordan Thomas, Monica Overton and Sarah Regli were recognized with Outstanding Achievement awards.

—Alicia Lopez

Twitter: @ALopezCityEd