Finalists announced for 2019 high school Dazzle Awards Bob Abelman Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal Over the past few months, eligible high school musicals have been in competition for the fourth annual Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards, which honor the most talented high school performers and productions in Northeast Ohio. The goal of the awards program is to inspire excellence in high school musical theater and to recognize the importance of musical theater and arts education within the community. A panel of adjudicators attended one performance at each of the 30 participating schools, provided educational feedback, and determined Dazzle Awards nominees for 14 performance and student-centered production categories. Winners will be announced on May 18 at a gala awards ceremony modeled after the Tony Awards in the Connor Palace Theatre at Playhouse Square. The winner of the Best Actress and Best Actor awards will go on to represent Playhouse Square and Northeast Ohio at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, known as The Jimmy Awards, in New York City on June 24 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. This year’s finalists are listed at: www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/bob_abelman/