Arts & Entertainment

Quaker Valley Senior Wins Gene Kelly Award for Best Actress

Rachael Houser receives recognition at the Gene Kelly Awards. Quaker Valley was nominated in eight categories for the spring production of "Anything Goes."

Larissa Dudkiewicz, Patch Staff

Posted Sun, May 26, 2013 at 6:28 am ET

Quaker Valley High School's musical "Anything Goes" took home the Best Actress award Saturday at the Pittsburgh CLO's 23rd annual Gene Kelly Awards.

Rachael Houser, senior, won best actress for her role as Reno Sweeney in the musical "Anything Goes." This was her second consecutive win after receiving the best actress nomination last year for her role as Sarah in the spring musical, "Guys and Dolls."

The annual competition showcasing excellence in high school musical theater productions was held Saturday, May 25, at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh.

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Quaker Valley received recognition in eight categories, including nominations for Best Actress; Best Supporting Actor: Peter Heres, sophomore; for the role of Lord Evelyn Oakleigh; Best Supporting Actress: Katie Manuel, junior; for the role of Erma; Best Musical; Best Scenic Design; Best Crew/Technical Execution; Best Choreography; and Best Direction.

Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, including Rachael, performed during the awards show. This year, the Best Actor and Best Actress award winners will travel to New York City on July 1 for the National High School Musical Theater Awards.

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The Gene Kelly Awards competition recognized nearly 30 schools this year.

The award is named for iconic Hollywood movie star and Pittsburgh native Gene Kelly, who is most notably remembered for “Singin' in the Rain,” the titular song in the classic musical comedy, “Singing in the Rain.”

The recipients of the 2013 Gene Kelly Awards are:

Best Scenic Design

Budget Category I