Best Featured Performer winners from HSPVA’s Avenue Q, Kyle Legacion and Emily Scott.

Two students from the High School for Performing and Visual Arts have been honored with a Tommy Tune Award for their performance in the campus’ production of Avenue Q, School Edition.

Students Kyle Legacion and Emily Scott were jointly named best feature performer as the “Bad Idea Bears.”

“Bringing the message of Avenue Q to the stage at HSPVA was very important to me,” said Principal Scott Allen. “The puppet-filled musical tells the tale of finding purpose and meaning in an ever-changing world. The eight Tommy Tune nominations we received this year serve as evidence of the high caliber of programming HSPVA is able to offer students. I am thrilled for Kyle and Emily.”

Because the production was also nominated for Best Musical, seniors Fernando Grimaldo, Chandler Dean, and junior Christian Cortes performed “If You Were Gay” as part of the evening’s entertainment.

(L to R) Christian Cortes and Chandler Dean (Nicky/Nicky’s Arm) and Fernando Grimaldo (Rod) perform “If You Were Gay,” from Avenue Q for HSPVA’s Best Musical Nomination.

Other nominations for the school included: Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design (Richard Hinojosa), Best Costume Design (Ethan Cantu and Natalia Kian), Best Leading Actor (Dillon Glass), Best Direction (Stephanie Wittels-Wachs), and Best Supporting Actor (Dante Rossi).

The Tommy Tune Awards are designed to acknowledge remarkable musical theatre talent at the high-school level and encourage future development.

Tommy Tune is a Lamar High School graduate. He is a performer, director, and choreographer with more than 50 years of stage experience. He has received nine Tony Awards.