Formerly known as The Gershwin Awards, the Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance celebrate the work of New York area high school students in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island and Westchester.

The awards are being renamed in Rees' honor "because of the breadth and depth of his body of work as a performer—onstage in musicals and plays, on television and in film, as well as offstage as a writer, director, designer and producer."

The Roger Rees Awards is “a musical theatre showcase featuring ensemble and solo performances by students nominated by his/her high school for a panel of judges, industry professionals, family and friends.”

The Roger Rees Award for Excellence in Student Performance will be held May 22 at the Beacon School in Manhattan. The Best Actor and Best Actress winners will then represent Greater New York at the 8th National High School Musical Theatre Awards June 27 at the Minskoff Theatre.

Mr. Rees, who died July 10, 2015, at the age of 71, most recently appeared on Broadway in last season’s The Visit with Chita Rivera. In 1982 Rees won the Tony Award for The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He was Tony-nominated for his work in Indiscretions and for co-directing Peter and the Starcatcher.