About Jerry Baber

Mr. Jerry Baber was a renowned theatre director in Fort Bend ISD and started the theatre department at Clements High School, where we see many of his traditions still alive today within International Thespian Society Troupe 3689, including SDOAPS, or student directed one act plays, and CIA- the Clements Improv Association. When it came time to open Kempner High School, Mr. Baber moved over and started Troupe 4385, bringing many of the traditions from CHS with him. Prior to his death in 2002, he also co-founded Playhouse 90 in Rosenberg, finding even more ways to impact his community artistically. 

Mr. Baber is remembered for his immense talent, unique sense of humor, and big heart. He was a wonderful theatre director and an inspiring role model. There is not a better person to honor as the namesake for our FBISD Theatre awards. 

History of the Award Show

To showcase the outstanding talent of theatre students throughout the District, Fort Bend ISD’s theatre programs host the Jerry Baber Awards ceremony in May at Dulles High School’s Rodgers Auditorium (550 Dulles Avenue, Sugar Land 77478). The event kicks off with a red carpet entrance followed by the awards ceremony. Throughout the night, each honored school will present one piece of their choosing from either their Fall Show production or musical.

To select the event nominees and winners, FBISD’s high school theatre directors choose student judges through an application process at the beginning of the school year. Each judge attends one or more of the qualifying shows throughout the school year and scores each show based on pre-selected criteria. The judges’ ballots are tallied to produce the nominees and winners.

2023-2024 Winners

Baber Awards Play:

1. Best Play – Bright Ideas at Kempner High School
2. Best Ensemble – Play – Over the River and Through the Woods at Hightower High School
3. Miles Tanner - Best Lead Performer - Play – Bright Ideas at Kempner High School
4. Jerome Johnson - Best Lead Performer – Play – Over the River and Through the Woods at Hightower High School
5. Dorothy Warner - Best Lead Performer - Play – Clue at Dulles High School
6. Isabella Fish - Best Supporting Performer – Play – Bright Ideas at Kempner High School
7. Olivia Leinen- Best Supporting Performer – Play – Crimes of the Heart at Elkins High School
8. Nelly Awad, Gabe Garza, and Mo Brow - Best Scenery – Play – Clue at Dulles High School
9. Nilah Pettway - Best Costume– Play – Over the River and Through the Woods at Hightower High School
10. ETC Production Crew – Best Properties – Play – Crimes of the Heart at Elkins High School
11. Sofia Claros - Best Lighting – Play – Bright Ideas at Kempner High School
12. Zachary Davis - Best Sound – Bright Ideas at Kempner High School

• Zarya Smith - Best Publicity – Play – These Shining Lives at Austin High School

Baber Awards Musical:

1. Best Musical – Chicago at Dulles High School
2. Best Ensemble - Musical – Chicago at Dulles High School
3. Best Chorus - Musical – Chicago at Dulles High School
4. Best Choreography - Musical – Chicago at Dulles High School
5. Isabella Fish - Best Lead Performer - Musical – Mean Girls at Kempner High School
6. Ally Demaris - Best Lead Performer - Musical – Mamma Mia! at Ridge Point High School
7. Miles Tanner - Best Supporting Performer - Musical – Mean Girls at Kempner High School
8. Joshua Gutierrez - Best Supporting Performer - Musical – Mean Girls at Kempner High School
9. Myles Green - Best Supporting Performer - Musical – The Lion King at Hightower High School
10. ETC Production Crew - Best Scenery - Musical – The Addams Family at Elkins High School
11. Tatiana Rachuk - Best Costume - Musical – Chicago at Dulles High School
12. ETC Production Crew - Best Properties - Musical – The Addams Family at Elkins High School
13. Reese Sterling, Oyinkansola Oso, Juleymie Giron - Best Lighting - Musical – Pippin at Bush High School
14. Aryana Rodriguez - Best Lighting - Musical – Chicago at Dulles High School
15. Ashton Harris– Best Sound - Musical – The Lion King at Hightower High School
16. Rowen Wickliffe - Best Publicity – Musical – Chicago at Travis High School
17. Travis Springfield – Honorary Jerry Baber Award