Bishop Verot High School

The High School Musical Theatre Awards take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 8 at the Barbara B Mann Performing Art Hall at FSW. Patterned after the Tony Awards, the evening features performances by each participating school, along with awards in a number of categories, including Best Overall Production, Best Ensemble and Best Actor and Supporting Actor in both Male-Identifying and Female-Identifying roles.

Watching an actor walk off stage and immediately reappear in a completely different outfit is one of the most captivating moments in theater. Quick costume changes add a layer of intrigue to any theater production. That’s especially true in a show where 35 actors change costumes dozens of times over the span of a couple of hours. That’s what happens in “The Little Mermaid,” which will be performed by Bishop Verot High School March 19-22.

This week, three shows open, two close, 12 continue their runs and there are two limited engagements at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters.

Lehigh Senior High School had a huge night on Friday at the High School Musical Theatre Awards. Its spring show, “Hadestown Teen Edition,” was selected by a panel of five judges as this year’s winner in the coveted category of “Overall Production of a Musical.” The awards didn’t stop there.