Roll out the red carpet for the Cappies awards gala

Actors, musicians, writers, and technicians clad in evening gowns and tuxedos will stroll the red carpet May 5 at the Eighth Annual Greater Philadelphia Cappies Gala, the region's preeminent event recognizing student accomplishments in theater.

The event will be held at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.

Thirty-seven high schools in the Philadelphia region participate in the program. High school journalism students, known as Cappies critics, write reviews of the schools' shows throughout the year. The critics then vote for the award winners. The awards are presented in categories ranging from lighting, sound, set, and costume design, to comic actor, dancer, vocalist, and lead actor. The coveted Play and Musical awards top the event.

Since October, 236 critics have written 1,240 reviews, which have been evaluated by teachers. The best have been published in more than a dozen local newspapers and online by the Philadelphia Inquirer and philly.com.

A limited number of tickets for the Greater Philadelphia Cappies Gala are available at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center's box office between 2 p.m, and 4 p.m. 610-622-1189