High School thespians compete in inaugural Lucie Arnaz Awards

The inaugural Lucie Arnaz Awards, held today in Palm Springs, pitted young thespians from public and private high school theater programs throughout the desert against one another for a chance to compete nationally in New York City next month.

Laurel Bollard, of Shadow Hills High School and William Webster, of Musical Theatre University at Rancho Mirage High School, won the right to represent the Coachella Valley at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards.

The East Coast trip will include an all-expenses-paid week of classes and competitions.The pair were up against other young actors in the region, including students from Cathedral City High School, La Quinta High High, Musical Theatre University at Rancho Mirage High School, Palm Springs High School, Rancho Mirage High School and Shadow Hills High School.

Students presented two vocal selections to a six-member panel at Palm Springs’ Purple Room. Arnaz — an actress-singer-producer and daughter of the late Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz — and her husband, Laurence Luckinbill — an actor, playwright, and director — were judges, along with Kaye Ballard, Michael Childers, Patricia Welsh and Martin Wiviott.

Organizers hope the awards will become an annual event that will operate on a much larger scale starting next year, with a “Tony Award-style” celebration hosted by Broadway celebrities, with multiple awards to be presented to schools, students, and teachers.