Theater Students Win Big at Tommy Tune Awards

Seniors from two Spring Branch ISD high schools received Theater Under the Stars (TUTS) scholarships on April 16 during an annual celebration of student musical theatre. 

Receiving $3,000 TUTS scholarships were Memorial High’s Katherine Fester and Stratford High’s Mary Kate Goss. They accepted the scholarships in front of 2,500 people at the 12th annual Tommy Tune Awards gala celebration.

Every year, TUTS presents 10 student scholarships to outstanding participants of The Tommy Tune Awards at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts downtown.

The scholarships include the prestigious Ruth Denney Scholarship, named in honor of the legendary Lamar High School drama teacher who mentored Houston famous Broadway entertainer and dancer Tommy Tune.

Students considered are required to submit an application and an essay, in addition to meeting requirements set by the TUTS Scholarship Committee.

Both of this year’s SBISD recipients are leaders in their school theater departments and plan to pursue careers in the fine arts.

This fall, Katherine Fester will attend The University of North Carolina as a scenic technologies and stage properties major.  In addition to the TUTS scholarship, she was recently selected to intern for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston, a nonprofit theater company.

Katherine Fester

Goss won early decision acceptance into Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where she plans to study musical theater. She recently appeared in the starring role in the Stratford Playhouse production of  Almost, Maine as Sandrine.