Yesterday afternoon at the Benedum Center, Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh announced 81 nominations in 13 categories for the 16th annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater.

Winchester Thurston's "Hot Mikado" led all schools with 13 nominations, an unprecedented six of those for individual actors. North Catholic and Pine-Richland followed with eight nominations; North Allegheny and Schenley with seven; and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with five. Five schools, including perennial contender Woodland Hills, had four nominations, with nine schools gathering one or two and 11 schools left with none.

There are six fewer awards this year, because costumes, sets and lights are no longer divided by budget level. But all awards categories now have six nominations, keeping the nominations total at 81.

A panel of 28 judges (arts educators and administrators, critics, entertainment professionals and performers) met for seven hours May 5 to compare and evaluate performances by the 31 Allegheny County schools in this year's competition. Their scoring was tabulated by Deloitte & Touche USA, LLP.

The winners will be announced at the Kelly Awards gala, 7:30 p.m. June 3, at the Benedum, where the nine schools nominated for best musical will perform excerpts. Gene Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, will again participate, and students from all 31 schools will join for the traditional closing number.

Comcast will show the gala live on the Lightboard at Theater Square in Katz Plaza at the corner of Seventh Street and Penn Avenue. It will later be available on Comcast On Demand in the Your Town Section.

New this year will be four merit-based Gene Kelly Scholarships of $2,750 each for high school seniors who have been accepted to a school for the performing or technical arts. The 31 schools have been invited to nominate one student each to audition on May 15. The scholarships are funded by Virginia Nicklas and W.I. Patterson Charitable Fund.

Tickets are already sold out but inquiries may be made at 412-456-6666.

2006 KELLY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Schools entered: Baldwin, "My One and Only"; Bishop Canevin, "Footloose"; Central Catholic, "Guys and Dolls"; Chartiers Valley, "Damn Yankees"; Deer Lakes, "Anything Goes"; Eden Christian Academy, "Cinderella"; Hampton, "Oliver!"; Keystone Oaks, "Singin' in the Rain"; Langley, "The Wildest!"; McKeesport, "Anything Goes"; North Allegheny, "Guys and Dolls"; North Catholic, "The Wiz"; North Hills, "Wonderful Town"; Northgate, "Good News!"; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, "Seussical"; Penn Hills, "Guys and Dolls"; Perry Traditional Academy, "Disney's Beauty and the Beast"; Pine-Richland, "The Pirates of Penzance"; Plum, "Hello, Dolly!"; Quaker Valley, "Bye Bye Birdie"; Riverview, "The King and I"; Robinson Township Christian, "The Sound of Music"; Schenley, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"; Serra Catholic, "Children of Eden"; South Park, "Pippin"; Springdale, "Once Upon a Mattress"; St. Joseph, "Jesus Christ Superstar"; Taylor Allderdice, "The Wiz"; Vincentian Academy, "Annie"; Winchester Thurston, "Hot Mikado"; and Woodland Hills, "Pippin."

Scenic Design: Baldwin, Hampton, McKeesport, Pine-Richland, Robinson Township Christian, Winchester Thurston.

Costume Design: North Catholic, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Perry Traditional Academy, Pine-Richland, Schenley, Winchester Thurston.

Lighting Design: Chartiers Valley, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Serra Catholic, Winchester Thurston, Woodland Hills.

All-Student Orchestra: Hampton, North Allegheny, Perry, Pine-Richland, Plum, Schenley.

Supporting Actor: Aaron Bova (Moonface Martin), McKeesport; Michael D'Emilio (Mikado), Winchester Thurston; Bradley Glasser (Charles), Woodland Hills; Jeff Hahn Jr. (Nicely Nicely), North Allegheny; Peter Randolph (The Wizard), North Catholic; Mike Washabaugh (Cogsworth), Perry.

Supporting Actress: Christina Bordini (Meg), Chartiers Valley; Ellen Caparosa (Catherine), Woodland Hills; Phalan DePante (Katisha), Winchester Thurston; Sarah Jane Kirkland (Narrator), Schenley; Jennifer Machen (Puitti-Sing), Winchester Thurston; Sarah Wahl (Lina LeMont), Keystone Oaks.

Ensemble: North Allegheny, North Catholic, OLSH, Pine-Richland, Schenley, Winchester Thurston.

Crew/Technical Execution: Hampton, McKeesport, North Catholic, Perry, Pine-Richland, South Park.

Choreography: McKeesport, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Schenley, Winchester Thurston, Woodland Hills.

Direction: North Catholic, OLSH, Pine-Richland, Riverview, Schenley, Winchester Thurston.

Actor: Christopher Devita (Ko-Ko), Winchester Thurston; Zachary Drylie (The King), Riverview; Justin Fortunato (Billy), Baldwin; Billy Hepfinger (Sky), North Allegheny; Noah Levin (Nanki-Poo), Winchester Thurston; Nathan Sudie (Father), Serra Catholic.

Actress: Nicole Dohoda (Ruth), North Hills; Alexandra Jahn (Adelaide), Penn Hills; Alix Keil (Lola), Chartiers Valley; Mary Lamb (Dorothy), North Catholic; Lindsay Machen (Yum-Yum), Winchester Thurston; Mallory Praskovich (Gertrude), OLSH.

BEST MUSICAL

Low Budget Level: OLSH, Robinson Township Christian, Winchester Thurston.

Medium Budget Level: Chartiers Valley, North Catholic, Schenley.

High Budget Level: Hampton, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland.