An exciting announcement rang out across Facebook and YouTube in early March as this year’s nominees were selected for the fifth annual Palm Awards.

The nominees were selected from 19 plays and 21 musicals performed at Rio Grande Valley-area high schools. The Palms first rolled out the red carpet in 2017. The awards are the brainchild of former Pharr-San Juan-Alamo theater directors Michael Alebis and Gilbert Zepeda Jr. 

Alebis and Zepeda fashioned the Palms after the Tony Awards. They highlight theater arts education in the Valley and showcase talent from on stage, behind the stage, and starring theater students and their directors. The Palms trophies won’t be the only ones shining on May 10 at the McAllen Performing Arts Centers.

The stars of the night, the nominees, will sparkle as they pose for pictures and prepare for the night’s performances and award-winning speeches.  

“Good morning, world, and all who inhabit it,” John Garza, president of The Palms Board, said to guests at a March 9 nomination breakfast, as he credited SpongeBob SquarePants for the greeting.

Garza provided guests with an overview of the judging system for The Palms, as well as the development of a national panel of judges who are charged with selecting the ultimate winners in each category. This year, judges from the University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, Kansas State University and George Washington University will conduct workshops for Valley theater students prior to The Palms. Garza referred to these partnerships as “a pipeline for recruitment.”

Giving Back

Gilbert Zepeda III is a PSJA North High School graduate who now works as a FOX Sports producer in Los Angeles. He is also an advisory member for The Palms board. He does so as a way to honor his father, Gilbert Jr., the former PSJA theater director. 

“I’ve been able to get studio networks and industry professionals to help create awareness of the Palm Awards and this thriving theater community,” Zepeda III said.

He wants to see more Valley students on the national stage, not only in theater. 

“Representation matters,” he said. “Seeing a similar image of yourself represented in film, television and news gives a realistic aspiration for careers to our Valley youth.” 

Letty Adame also serves on the board and provides the nonprofit organization an office at her business, API Real Estate Business Center. She along with Zepeda III and Adame praised Valley businesses for supporting the awards in contributing to The Palms Scholarship Fund. 

“Last year, the Palms provided a scholarship for college or to attend a professional workshop to the winners in each category,” Garza said. “Scholarships range from $500 to $1,500. Last year, we gave out $25,000 in scholarships.”

Business Impact

Zepeda envisions more support in the years ahead. He says the efforts of local businesses can lead to more journalism and theater industry professionals coming to the Valley to mentor Palm awards students. Adame, meanwhile, sees the Palms as helping the local economy.

“The direct impact is the local spending on purchasing supplies to make the outfits for the play or musical, buying the supplies to build the set, wages paid to photographers, judges, videographers and sound and light crews,” she said. “The day of the big event in May, speakers, attendees, cast and crew members, and family and friends … they all spend money at nearby hotels, restaurants, beauty salons and boutiques.” 

The community, both businesses and individuals, can further support the Palms by sharing the organization’s Facebook posts and YouTube videos. Tickets, now on sale, are also available for purchase to the event. Ticket prices range from $20 to $30. For more information, visit the Palm Awards Facebook page or send an email to info@palmawards.com.

The Palms has developed strong partnerships with the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, Warner Bros. and a growing number of stars. This year, for the first time, Telemundo 40 will broadcast the Palm Awards live.

This will give McAllen and the Valley international exposure,” Garza said. “We work hard to create and foster these relationships, and our economy is getting a boon from the Palm Awards.”