*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* *CONTACT:* Mark A. Zimmerman, Theatre Director MZimmerm@akron.k12.oh.us (330) 873-3408 Playhouse Square Cindi Szymanski (216) 640-8660 cindi.szymanski@playhousesquare.org *Akron School for the Arts Accepted to Participate in the Inaugural Playhouse Square High School Musical Theatre Awards* *(Wednesday, February 10, 2016 – Akron, Ohio) – *The Akron School for the Arts will participate in the inaugural Playhouse Square High School Musical Theater Awards with their upcoming production of *Disney’s The Little Mermaid*. With the aim of inspiring performance and recognizing the importance of musical theatre and arts education in Northeast Ohio high schools, the program is affiliated with the National High School Musical Theatre awards (“The Jimmy Awards”) presented by the Broadway league Foundation. “It is exciting to be included in this first-time program,” says theatre director Mark A. Zimmerman. “Our students are already working hard to share their talent with our audience and welcome the challenge of competing at a regional level.” The Firestone Theatre production of *Disney’s The Little Mermaid* will appear on the Firestone High School stage for five performances starting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Additional performances of *Disney’s The Little Mermaid* will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25, and at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2016. General admission tickets for *Disney’s The Little Mermaid* are $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door. Reserved, VIP tickets are $16.00. Advanced and VIP tickets are available for purchase online at BrownPaperTickets.com. The Playhouse Square High School Musical Theater Awards program offers arts education opportunities throughout the school year and culminates with “The Dazzle Awards,” an awards showcase modeled after the Tony Awards, on May 21, 2016. “Dazzlers” will be presented to outstanding musical theatre productions and students in 13 categories, including Best Musical, Best Actor/Actress, Best Student Orchestra, best Costume Design, and Best Scenic Design. Nominations and awards will be based on the evaluations of an independent panel of adjudicators. The winners of the Best Actor and Actress categories will represent Northeast Ohio at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in June 2016. “We are thrilled to bring regional and national recognition to the incredible high school musical theatre talent in Northeast Ohio,” said Daniel Hahn, vice president of community engagement and education at Playhouse Square. Firestone Theatre is the award-winning play-production component of the Akron School for the Arts housed at Firestone High School. Firestone Theatre was named an “Outstanding School” by the Educational Theatre Association in 2013. The curricular track of Firestone Theatre is accessible to all rising ninth-grade students via open enrollment and a formal audition. More information about the Playhouse Square High School Musical Theater Awards is available atplayhousesquare.org/dazzleawards. -- Mark A. Zimmerman, Theatre Director The Akron School for the Arts Harvey S. Firestone High School 333 Rampart Avenue Akron, Ohio 44313 330.873.3408 www.FirestoneTheatre.com