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Blumey Award Nominees from South Pointe High School
Blumenthal Performing Arts recently announced the nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress for this year’s High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as The Blumey Awards. Over 330 students completed the audition process and only two nominees from each school are advancing to participate in the 2-day audition workshop hosted by professionals in the industry. The audition workshop will determine the Best Actor and Best Actress winners who will subsequently compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards in July. On May 25th, a 30-minute Blumey Awards Celebration Show will air on PBS Charlotte featuring all the nominees, musical numbers by the students, and the announcement of the winner for Best Actor and Best Actress.
This year’s nominees for The Blumey Awards include four Rock Hill students (in no particular order)…
Savannah McCart - Northwestern High School
Christian Holmes - Northwestern High School
Donovan Mays – South Pointe High School
Molly Neal – South Pointe High School
… we are excited to feature these talented individuals! Below are the two nominees from South Pointe High School. If you missed yesterday’s nominees from Northwestern High School, click here to read about Savannah and Christian.
Donovan Mays
Donovan Mays, junior at South Pointe High School, is an outgoing student who is not afraid to try new things. After a lifetime love of sports, he decided to try theater in the 9th grade and has been hooked ever since. His first involvement in a production was during his freshman year in high school where he played a corpse in the musical Ghost. He learned a lot that first year and has grown in the theater classes learning about improv, speech, monologues, and backstage of theater. ‘My favorite classes are anything to do with theater,” Donovan said, “I love to do it.”
Donovan’s enthusiastic attitude led to his role the following year in the school production of Peter and the Starcatcher. Originally cast in the role of a sailor, Donovan pivoted and stepped up into the role of Prentiss after several cast members had dropped out. Without hesitation, he worked hard to learn the new part. “I had to learn everything about the new character,” Donovan said, “I quickly learned all the lines and stage cues.” South Pointe’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher earned a Superior Rating from the Palmetto Dramatic Association thus granting them a showcase slot at the PDA Festival.
Auditioning for the Blumey Awards was a new experience for Donovan, adding to the overall pressure was the fact he was the very first person called up to perform. “I was the first person to go. They called my name first and I just took a deep breath, told myself here we go and walked up the stairs to the stage to audition,” Donovan said. He felt confident about his performance afterwards but did add “the bright lights were nerve-racking; you couldn’t see the judges in the crowd.”
Virtual rehearsals have started for the Blumey Awards Celebration Show and the two-day workshop has Donovan excited. “I am hyped for the workshop,” he said, “It’s a true experience and honor.” With New York Broadway people, top composers, and established dance teachers, the elite professionals scheduled to teach at the workshop is shaping up to be a great opportunity for the nominees. “It’s a lot to look forward to. It’s not everyday kids like us get to encounter the high-end professionals,” Donovan said.
Donovan is also a member of the football team, enjoys going to Youth Group on Sundays, cooking (he makes a mouthwatering Fettuccine Alfredo dish!), and hanging with his friends. After graduation, he hopes to attend Johnson & Wales University and major in cooking.
Molly Neal
Molly Neal, junior at South Pointe High School, is a native of Rock Hill who has loved theater since a young age. As an introverted child, her parents signed her up for the local theater in Rock Hill, Showtime Company, to break her out of her shell. After her first performance, Annie, it worked. “Theater made me a better person,” Molly said, “It brought a lot of joy into my life.” The director at Showtime Company sparked a fire in her which she still harbors to this day.
Her favorite performance role to date has been Elsa in Frozen Junior. “I normally play funny characters like the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland or the Genie in Aladdin,” Molly said, “I’ve always been the crazy characters so when I got cast as Elsa and got to take on the big role with so many emotions, it taught me a lot about acting and how to relate to the character even when you don’t think there is any relation at all.”
Not only has theater helped Molly become the outgoing and lovable individual that friends describe her; it has also given her life lessons. “I’ve learned that everyone has a voice and everyone has a chance to use that voice,” Molly shared, “There are so many different people in this world and everyone needs to be loved. Not a single person needs to be left behind. I think the joy of storytelling makes people happy. And theater has taught me to love everyone and accept everyone.”
Molly describes the audition process for the Blumey Awards as intense. “You sit and wait for them to call your name, then you have to walk up on stage,” she said, “You have to be on your A-game the whole time.” Molly performed a monologue and song from Oklahoma. When she found out she was nominated for a Blumey Award she said, “it was a surreal moment, it’s a great honor.”
At South Pointe, Molly is part of the IB program and really enjoys her IB English and IB Biology classes. She is a member of the student council, involved in Young Life, and plays the ukulele and banjo. “I just got the banjo for Christmas,” she said, “I love teaching myself to play Bluegrass songs.” One of her favorite singers is Dolly Parton and recently learned to play the song 9 to 5.
Molly is planning to attend college after high school and hopes to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Theater.