10th Anniversary of Blumey Awards: Local Star Thanks Program and New Fund to Support Emerging Talent

The Blumey Awards, a regional high school musical theater awards program by the Blumenthal Performing Arts, is marking its 10th year. The awards have been a stage for young artists to display their skills and have encouraged many to follow their passion in the arts. Lance Toppin, the 2023 Best Actor winner and a senior at Charlotte Country Day School, thanked the Blumey Awards for the chance to participate and the motivation he got from past winners.

In the past ten years, the Blumey Awards have entertained audiences and provided valuable experiences for participants. Many former nominees and winners have made notable achievements in various fields, including Broadway and Hollywood. They have been nominated for awards like the Grammys, Tonys, and VMAs, and have appeared on magazine covers. The Blumey Awards have been a stepping stone for these artists.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, all proceeds from the January 13th event at Belk Theater will support the new Blumey Inspire Fund. This fund aims to offer grant opportunities for high school students to pursue learning opportunities, buy equipment, or fill other needs. The goal is to ensure that financial obstacles do not hinder the development of emerging talent. Andie Maloney, Blumenthal’s Vice President of Education, stated that the fund is about empowering young artists and supporting musical theater programs.

The Blumey Inspire Fund is personally significant for Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Thomas Laub, a Charlotte native and two-time Blumey Award Best Actor nominee. Laub, who founded Runyonland Productions at the University of Michigan, thinks the fund will improve access to arts education in the Carolinas. He attributes his success to the opportunities he had in Charlotte, a city that has produced many successful theater professionals.

In its first ten years, the Blumey Awards have seen three of its participants win at the national high school musical theater awards, the Jimmys. These wins were by Amina Faye in 2016, Reneé Rapp in 2018, and Bryson Battle in 2021. The success of Charlotte participants has led to a joke about changing the Jimmys' rules to prevent them from winning again. The Blumey Awards continue to be a stage for young artists to display their talent and encourage others to pursue their passion in the arts.

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