Each year for the past decade, students from Tarrant County's finest theater programs have competed in the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards, given annually for outstanding performances in high school musicals.

While the individual winners in a variety of categories get $500 in scholarships, the awards also give instant credibility and prestige to theater programs -- something akin to district championships in football.

Theater directors and students fully understand what's at stake. Directors are choosing to tackle more difficult shows, spending tens of thousands of dollars on productions that include intricate choreography, labor-intensive sets and complex lighting sequences. Serious-minded students spend hours practicing, some using voice and dance coaches, to give them a leg up during auditions.

Offstage, booster clubs sell corporate sponsorships, produce glossy programs -- complete with student photos and bios -- and peddle a variety of merchandise at performances.

The bar has definitely been raised, theater watchers say.

"The caliber of the shows has gone out the roof," said Norma Burks, Buckley head judge and program coordinator. "If you go to some of these shows, you would think you'd seen something on Broadway."

Stacie Martinsen, theater director at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, said the Buckleys have "had a huge effect on high school theater. Knowing we are going to be adjudicated, I think everyone knows we're going to take it up a notch because we are going to be looked at."

Even Buckley, a Tony Award-winning actress, has taken notice: "The qualities of the productions are getting better and better."

Lots of people, lots of time

When students audition for high school musicals, they are committing to weeks of practices that can be highly regimented and include time on the weekend, especially as performances draw near. And it's not just actors: Dozens of students get involved building sets, working lights, making costumes and playing in the orchestra.

It's the same scenario -- minus the orchestra -- for one-act plays, a separate competition that is sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League.

Birdville High School performed the 1950s-era Bye Bye Birdie in January, an endeavor that included a 60-member cast and 30-member orchestra. The cast rehearsed about two hours every day after school, on Saturdays and during winter break before performing to sold-out crowds, theater director Christopher Williamson said.

In addition to building sets, learning songs and memorizing lines, some in the Carroll cast of White Christmas had to learn to tap dance.

At Central High School in the Keller district, where students are rehearsing the one-act play Glory Days, boys in the cast arrive before school for conditioning exercises -- so they can better look the part of steelworkers. Central finished second in the Class 5A state competition last year.

"Competitions breed success," said David Stevens, the Keller district's fine arts director. "When you know there's a prize at the end, you're going to work harder, make things better and put out quality theater and musical theater. It's that recognition, exposure and positive PR that everyone hopes to achieve."

JESSAMY BROWN, 817-390-7326

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