Most Valuable Players (2010)

Documentary about the Freddy Awards, similar to Broadway's Tony Awards, that gives high school musical theater geeks one night of the year to shine in a Pennsylvania town that devotes all its resources to high school sports.

Director:

Matthew D. Kallis

Writer:

Christopher Lockhart

Stars:

John Andreadis, Frank Anonia, Shelley Brown

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
John Andreadis	...	Himself
Frank Anonia	...	Himself
Shelley Brown	...	Herself
Rita Cortez	...	Herself
Zachary Gibson	...	Himself
Corey Jones	...	Himself
Amanda Kostalis	...	Herself
Jill Kuebler	...	Herself
Vic Kumma	...	Himself
Deena Linn	...	Herself
Ali Mosser	...	Herself
Mark Stutz	...	Himself
Jennifer Wescoe	...	Herself
Katie Wexler	...	Herself

Storyline

Across the USA, high school sports are regularly lavished with funding, publicity and scholarships, while the theater kids struggle to put on the school musical hoping for some attention of their own. But in the sports crazy Lehigh Valley, PA, the theater kids are given one night of the year to take center stage. Illustrating that the performing arts encourage the same teamwork, camaraderie and confidence as sports, MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS culminates with a race to the Freddy Awards - the "Super Bowl" of high school musical theater.

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Taglines:

Meet a new kind of high school all-star....

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy | Drama | Family | Musical

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 August 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canyonback Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Premiered on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network on September 8, 2011 as part of the OWN Documentary Club.

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Quotes

John Andreadis: Dad's crying? Dad doesn't cry.

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to Marge Simpson.

User Reviews

Most Valuable Players Scores

Most Valuable Players is one of the most joyful documentaries I have ever seen. Without a doubt, there were some amazing docs at this year's Docuweek (LA), but it was MVP that really stood out for me. Although Docuweek is not by their own admission a film festival and no awards are given, in my opinion this film takes top prize.

The film opens accessing support for the arts in sports crazy Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. And it doesn't look good. A newspaper editor states that more column inches are devoted to sports than any thing else in his newspaper, and millions are spent to maintain sports facilities, with little to nothing being spent on the arts. But as we learn from this entertaining doc, high school theater is also a team sport.

The film follows three high schools: Freedom, Emmaus and Parkland, and their talented students leading up to the Super Bowl of local musical theater, the Freddy Awards. The brainchild of State Theater CEO Shelly Brown, the annual Freddy's bring together 27 area high schools, as they compete for Tony like honors. All of which, including the nominations, is broadcast live on TV and streamed on the Internet to huge audiences.

Freedom High soccer standout and drama geek, John Andreadis, illustrates that there is no conflict between sports and the arts, when adults step aside and let the kids find their way. His parents are supremely understanding and supportive once they realize that the two disciplines are compatible. His drama teacher Jennifer Wesco makes sure that every one of her drama students understands that they do theater for themselves first and foremost, not for trophies and accolades. Parkland High director, Mark Stutz and Emmaus director Jill Kuebler are wonderfully honest and open cheerleaders for their students, as their two schools battle it out at the Freddy's, each with 16 nominations for their competing Les Mis productions.

It's the kids that profoundly demonstrate that their love for theater transcends all when they join together at what is truly their theater all-star game, The Freddy's.

Director Matthew D. Kallis and his writer Christopher Lockhart have made a doc that really scores. For many of these students the Freddy's will be the pinnacle of their theater arts careers, but it's the high school programs that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.