Five students who participated in this year’s musical, The Music Man, left for the Long Center in downtown Austin around 6 a.m. to learn if the musical had been nominated for the Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards (GAHSMTA).

GAHSMTA is a program that pays tribute to the value and talent of musical theatre and arts in the community, partnered with the University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts and ZACH theatre.

The categories are: Best Ensemble, Best Technical Executions, Best Orchestra, Best Scene, Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design, Best Choreography, Best Musical Direction, Best Direction, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Featured Performer, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Best Production.

The Music Man has been nominated for 10 out of the 15 possible categories. It has been nominated for: best ensemble, best technical execution, best orchestra, best scene, best musical direction, best direction, and best production.

“Knowing all the nominations we get is really a blessing,” junior Chloe Berlinger said.

Berlinger was nominated for best featured performer, senior Kindra Ferguson was nominated for best actress in a leading role, and senior Gavin Barron was nominated for best actor in a leading role.

“I thought my character was actually up for supporting actress,” Berlinger said, “so when the supporting actresses were all called out, I was a little upset, but then when they called my name I literally just froze and my eyes got really wide, and I just latched onto the seat next to me.”

The Tony-Awards style ceremony will take place at Dell Hall on April 17 at the Long Center. Tickets will be available for cast and crew April 1, $5 for students and $20 for adults.

“I’m really excited to be there with my friends,” Berlinger said. “We create art, essentially, and we like to show people that, and it’s really nice when you’re appreciated for things like that.”