Sophomore Katelynn Burger could not continue her four-year long streak of participating in school musicals this year, but that led her to winning the Kelly Critics Award on Saturday at the Gene Kelly Awards.
“I did five musicals throughout middle school and freshman year: Shrek, Xanadu, Mary Poppins, The Lightning Thief, and Mamma Mia!” Burger said.
Her standout role was as the lead antagonist, Miss Andrew, in Mary Poppins, and she had minor or ensemble roles in the others. But Burger was not able to participate in this year’s musical due to other priorities in her personal and academic life.
“Because of my workload and stress levels this year, I wasn’t able to participate in the school musical,” Burger said. “However, that gave me the opportunity to get involved with the Kelly Critics program.”
In the Kelly Critics program, students attend another school’s musical and write a review, which runs in the Post-Gazette. Kelly Critics cannot be involved in their own school’s musical.
The top reviewer wins the Kelly Critic Award, which comes with a $500 prize.
Burger reported on Central and Oakland Catholic High School’s joint musical of The Addams Family. The messages of the performance, cast, and dance were very impressive, Burger said.
“The message of embracing yourself and not confining yourself to other people’s ideas of normalcy has a big impact,” Burger said. “The actors who played Gomez and Uncle Fester were incredible. The dancing stood out to me as well.”
Christopher Rawson, former Post-Gazette theater critic, oversees the Kelly Critics program and runs an online training session for participants.
Burger is a Purbalite News Editor. Her award marks the fifth time in 15 years that a Purbalite staff member has won the Kelly Critics Award. The previous winners are Luke Dowker (Class of 2013), David Shoemaker (2014), and Kevin Hutchinson, who won in both 2022 and 2023.
Burger received the Kelly Critics award on Saturday at the Kelly Awards ceremony at the Benedum. She called the event “one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
The ceremony included a number from each school nominated for Outstanding Musical. Nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress also performed.
“I got to see all of the musicals that were nominated perform a number,” Burger said. “Everything I saw was mindblowing.”
Burger presented an acceptance speech where she thanked her family, friends Evangeline Gillespie and Zoe Quinn, and Purbalite sponsor Keith Harrison.
“They were the first people to get me started writing creatively,” Burger said. “That eventually transitioned into newspaper and where I am now.”
