Local Talent Shines Behind the Scenes at the Blumey Awards

The Blumey Awards, a yearly event, is popular for its full-house audiences and the high-quality talent it presents. However, the accomplishments of the Blumey Awards alumni working behind the scenes often go unnoticed. These individuals have used the Blumey Awards as a launchpad for their professional theater careers, contributing significantly to the industry.

The Blumey Awards, run by Blumenthal, serve as a platform for young artists interested in technical and theatrical production roles. The organization provides a variety of opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in fields such as arts journalism, costume and set design, music direction, and stage management. Students can attend free workshops with industry professionals and take on unique roles in the awards ceremony.

David Dabbon, the music director who heads the program each year, stresses the need to provide opportunities for not just actors, but also those working behind the scenes. Dabbon, a Broadway composer/arranger, collaborates with apprentices and student musicians who perform with the professional orchestra at the awards ceremony.

James Stryska, a New York-based composer and musician, is one of the beneficiaries of the Blumey Awards. His experiences at the Blumey Awards helped him hone his skills and understand the value of human relationships in his work. He received a Blumey Award for Best Orchestra for Central Academy of Technology & Arts’ production of Sweeney Todd, which he directed and conducted. Stryska also assisted Dabbon in preparing for the Blumey Awards.

Krí Schafer, a 2016 graduate of Lake Norman High School and another Blumey Awards alum, also had the chance to work with Dabbon. Schafer attributes the skills they acquired at the Blumey Awards to their successful career in Hollywood as a screenwriter, actor, and film score composer. Schafer first encountered Dabbon in 2015 as a nominee for Best Actress for The Drowsy Chaperone. The next year, Schafer returned to the Blumey Awards as Dabbon’s music directing assistant, composing transition music for the live band at the awards ceremony. Schafer thanked Blumenthal for recognizing students professionally through the Blumey Awards, giving them a chance to display their hard work.

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