Laura Bell Bundy to Host 2011 Orpheum Awards, 5/26

Tony^TM Award nominated actress and country artist, Laura Bell Bundy will host the second annual High School Musical Theatre Awards at the Orpheum Theatre on May 26, 2011.

A native of Kentucky, Ms. Bundy originated the lead role of Elle Woods in the Broadway musical Legally Blonde, for which she received a Tony^TM Award nomination. She also originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in the Tony^TM Award-winning Broadway musical Hairspray and played Glinda in the smash hit Wicked. Prior to that, she originated the role of Tina Denmark in the successful off-Broadway production Ruthless, The Musical!, for which she received the Outer-Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk nominations. Her debut country album Achin' and Shakin' was released in 2010 on Mercury Records - Nashville. Ms. Bundy can currently be seen in a recurring role on the CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother.

The Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards recognize outstanding achievement in all areas of high school theatre programs in the region. Twenty-eight area schools from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas will be represented at the awards this year and over 200 students will perform on stage.

Arlington HS -The Wiz Briarcrest HS -Les Miserables

Christian Brothers HS -Curtains Corinth HS (MS) -All Shook Up

Collierville HS -Hello Dolly! Cordova HS -Sweet Charity

DeSoto Central HS -My Fair Lady Evangelical Christian School- Disney's High School Musical

Germantown HS -The Secret Garden Harding Academy -Fiddler on the Roof

Hernando HS - All Shook Up Horn Lake HS - Oklahoma

Houston HS -All Shook Up Hutchison School -Thoroughly Modern Millie

Lausanne Collegiate - Once Upon a Mattress Memphis University School -The Drowsy Chaperone

Marion HS (AR) - Hairspray Millington Central HS - Five Guys Named Moe

Overton HS - Annie Oxford HS (MS) - The Wizard of Oz

Ridgeway High School - Aida Southern Baptist EC - The Music Man

St. Agnes Academy - Bye Bye Birdie St. Benedict at Auburndale - The Sound of Music

St. Mary's Episcopal School - 42nd Street Tipton Rosemark Academy - Little Women

White Station HS - Grease Wynne HS (AR) - The Phantom of the Opera

Sponsored in part by Thomas & Betts and Sedgwick CMS, The Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards will take place at The Orpheum Theatre on May 26, 2011 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $15-$50. To order, visit our box office downtown, at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, call (901) 525-3000 or go online at www.orpheum-memphis.com.

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