In agreeing to lend his name and presence to the Awards, Mr. Tune said: "High school theatre was extremely important for me in helping to shape my later career. I was fortunate to be encouraged at Lamar by a great teacher, Ruth Denney. The recognition provided by these awards can provide the encouragement that a gifted student may need to become a successful professional."

MISSION
Theatre Under The Stars' TOMMY TUNE AWARDS were created to provide recognition and reward for excellence in the production of musical theatre by high school students and their teachers in the Houston area. Achievement in musical theatre demands an exceptional amount of diligence, discipline, commitment, and imaginative effort, and this program is to honor these accomplishments and to encourage students and teachers to greater levels of excellence. 

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Awards will be given for excellence in the following categories for productions of musicals during a specified period within each academic year: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Musical Direction, Best Ensemble, Best Orchestra, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer, Best Costume Design, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Crew & Technical Execution.

Theatre Under The Stars will also present, to an individual every year, the Ruth Denney award honoring a lifetime of achievement in theatre education. Ruth Denney is a widely known and honored theatre educator. She taught drama at Lamar High School for almost 20 years and founded Houston's High School for the Performing Arts in. From 1976 to 1988, Denney was a member of the departmental faculty at the University of Texas where she taught, directed, chaired committees and served as head of the drama education area until her retirement in 1988.

Theatre Under The Stars has contacted more than 100 Houston area high schools in over 16 independent school districts. A panel of qualified theatre professionals will be assembled to attend musical productions in Houston area schools that choose to enter the competition. Each production will be viewed and evaluated by a panel of three judges, who will award points according to guidelines that will endeavor to be as objective as possible. At the end of the designated season, these evaluations will be tabulated and a consensus among judges will be reached as to the Awards recipients. The program will culminate in an annual Awards Ceremony to be held at Sarofim Hall in Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tommy Tune and other distinguished artists and producers will be present to present the awards. Excerpts from the honored high school productions will be rehearsed and presented before an audience of 2,650 with the full production values of a major Broadway production.