Calabasas High School Actors Earn Honors From The Music Center

CALABASAS, CA – Two Calabasas High School student actors have been named semifinalists in The Music Center’s annual scholarship and artistic development program.

Senior Cassidy May Benullo and sophomore Jesse Brasler are among 112 Southern Californians to make it to the semifinalist stage of the 35th Annual Spotlight Program. As part of the honor, they’ll be able to attend a class taught by highly regarded actors and each receive a $500 scholarship, according to a news release.

The pair are performing in Calabasas High School Theater’s production of “Singin’ in the Rain” from March 21-25. Brasler stars as Don Lockwood and Benullo as Kathy Selden.

The Spotlight program offers Southland teens expert advice, coaching, auditions, classes and scholarships in seven categories each year: acting, ballet, dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental.

Semifinalists will audition in front of a panel of judges, who will select the two top finalist performers in each category, for a total of 14 grand prize finalists. The finalists will perform at an event at The Music Center on June 8 and each receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Other scholarship opportunities include an honorable mention in each category and ten students in each category will receive the Merit Award.

Among past Spotlight participants are Misty Copeland, the first African American principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre; pop artists Adam Lambert and Josh Groban; and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers (“Bridgerton," “Green Book”).