2023 Jester Awards
MTWichita is thrilled to host the 21st annual Jester Awards and celebrate the amazing theatrical productions of high schools across Kansas during the 2022-2023 school year. Despite challenges and limitations with health and safety protocols in the 2021-2022 school year, this program sent 61 judges to view 147 performances involving more than 2,900 students and 49 schools across the state of Kansas.
This year’s awards ceremony will take place Sunday, May 7th at Century II Convention Hall. The event will start at 3:00 PM with doors opening at 2:00 PM
Applications for schools interested in participating during the 2022-2023 school year are due September 16, 2022; all performances must be held prior to March 27, 2023.
For additional information about the application requirements and award nominations click here! A summary of criteria for each nomination category can be found here!
About the Jester Awards Program
In 2002, Music Theatre Wichita launched a the Jester Awards to honor excellence in high school musical theatre. With a skilled and dedicated team of judges attending dozens of performances, the Jester Awards have won praise for successfully increasing awareness and pride in the achievements of local young people.
The Jester Awards program recognizes the extraordinary amount of work, creativity, and dedication that faculty and students pour into their high school theatrical productions. Recognition is given to casts and crews, directors and designers – all who work to stage these great works of musical theatre. Within practical limitations regarding number of schools and distance from Wichita, every effort is made to be as inclusive as possible. Recent participants include a great many Wichita area schools, and schools extending across Kansas such as Garden City, Hays, Salina, and Pittsburg, and more!
The program has grown exponentially each year since its inception thanks to the support of founder Belden Mills and his wife Anna, the Lois K Walls Jester Fund at MTWichita, and the Naftzger Fund for the Fine Arts.
Jester Adjudicators
Theatre-loving volunteers are needed as adjudicators for our Jester Program. Volunteers attend several high school productions throughout the year, and provide feedback to help determine Jester Award Nominees and Honorees.
If you are interested in volunteering as a Jester adjudicator please complete this form!
If you need additional information, email Joshua Larson, Education Director.
2022-2023 Jester Productions
FALL PRODUCTIONS
Pratt High School
Little Women
Fri, Sept. 9th @ 9:00 AM
Sat, Sept. 10th @ 7:30 PM
Sun, Sept. 11th @ 2:00 PM
McPherson High School
The Addams Family
Thurs, Sept. 29th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Sept. 30th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Oct. 1st @ 7:00 PM
Northeast Magnet High School
Zombie Prom
Thurs, Oct. 27th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Oct. 28th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Oct. 29th @ 2:00 PM
Abilene High School
The SpongeBob Musical
Thurs, Nov. 3rd @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 5th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 6th @ 3:00 PM
Thomas More Prep-Marian
Rock of Ages, Teen Edition
Thurs, Nov. 3rd @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 5th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 6th @ 2:00 PM
Clearwater High School
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Sat, Nov. 5th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 6th @ 2:30 PM
Sacred Heart High School
Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale
Fri, Nov. 4th @ 7:00 PM
Sat. Nov. 5th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 6th @ 2:00 PM
Andale High School
Seussical
Wed. Nov. 9th @ 7:00 PM
Thurs, Nov 10th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov 12th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov 13th @ 2:00 PM
Scott Community High School
Honk!
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:30 PM
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:30 PM
Wichita Collegiate School
Grease
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Buhler High School
Bright Star
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 13th @ 2:00 PM
Sterling High School
Annie Get Your Gun
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:30 PM
Fri. Nov. 11th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:30 PM
Rock Creek High School
Into The Woods
Thurs, Nov. 10 @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 2:00 PM
Arkansas City High School
White Christmas
Thurs, Nov 10th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 2:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Southeast of Saline High School
Bye Bye Birdie
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:30 PM
Hays High School
Seussical
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:30 PM
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 2:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Labette County High School
She Loves Me
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 2:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Smoky Valley High School
Newsies
Thurs, Nov. 10th @ 7:30 PM
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:30 PM
Peabody-Burns High School
The World According to Snoopy
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 3:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 13th @ 3:00 PM
Andover High School
The Addams Family
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 2:00 PM
Augusta High School
Mamma Mia!
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
El Dorado High School
Seussical
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 13th @ 2:00 PM
Halstead High School
Beauty and the Beast
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
The Independent School
Matilda
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:30 PM
Sun, Nov. 13th @ 2:30 PM
Liberal High School
Beauty and the Beast
Fri, Nov. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 13th @ 2:00 PM
Newton High School
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Fri, Nov 11 @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov 12 @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov 13 @ 2:00 PM
Hugoton High School
The Little Mermaid Jr.
Sat, Nov. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 13th @ 3:00 PM
Northwest High School
The Music Man
Thurs, Nov. 17th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 19th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 20th @ 2:00 PM
Emporia High School
Beauty and the Beast
Thurs, Nov. 17th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 18th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 19th @ 7:00 PM
Wichita East High School
We Will Rock You
Fri, Nov. 18th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 19th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 20th @ 2:00 PM
Winfield High School
Ranked: A Musical
Fri, Nov. 18th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 19th @ 7:30 PM
Sun, Nov. 20th @ 2:00 PM
Andover Central High School
Back to the 80s
Fri, Nov. 18th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 19th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 20th @ 7:00 PM
Fredonia High School
Mamma Mia!
Fri, Nov 18 @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov 19 @ 7:00 PM
WINTER/SPRING PRODUCTIONS
Salina Central High School
Mamma Mia!
Fri, Jan. 27th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Jan. 28th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Jan. 29th @ 2:30 PM
Washburn Rural High School
9 to 5
Thurs, Feb. 9th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb. 10th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Feb 12th @ 2:00 PM
Bishop Caroll High School
Guys and Dolls
Fri, Feb. 10th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 11th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Feb 12th @ 2:00 PM
Sun, Feb. 12th @ 7:00 PM
Topeka West High School
Sister Act
Thurs, Feb. 16th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb. 17th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 18th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Feb 19th @ 2:00 PM
Topeka High School
Amelie: Teen Edition
Thurs, Feb. 16th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb. 17th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 18th @ 7:00 PM
Goddard High School
Sound of Music
Thurs, Feb. 16th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 18th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Feb 19th @ 3:00 PM
Maize Public Schools
Legally Blonde
Thurs, Feb. 16th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb. 17th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 18th @ 2:00 PM
Sat, Feb 18th @ 7:00 PM
Trinity Academy
Newsies
Thurs, Feb. 23rd @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Feb. 24th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 25th @ 2:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 25th @ 7:00 PM
Pittsburgh High School
The SpongeBob Musical
Wed, Mar. 8th @ 7:00 PM
Thurs, Mar. 9th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Mar. 10th @ 7:00 PM
Junction City High School
Chicago
Thurs, Mar. 9th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Mar. 10th @ 7:00 PM
Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Hello, Dolly!
Thurs, Mar. 23rd @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Mar. 24th @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Mar. 25th @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Mar. 26th @ 2:00 PM
Independence High School
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Fri, Mar. 24th @ 7:30 PM
Sat, Mar. 25th @ 7:30 PM
Sun, Mar. 26th @ 2:30 PM
Seamen High School
Oklahoma!
Thurs, Mar. 30th @ 7:00 PM
Fri, Mar. 31st @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Apr. 1st @ 7:00 PM
Garden City High School
Jekyll and Hyde
Fri, Mar. 31st @ 7:00 PM
Sat, Apr. 1st @ 7:00 PM
Sun, Apr. 2nd @ 2:30 PM
