The road to the Freddys begins deep in winter when trees are bare and concludes in spring when flowers are in bloom.

The 2020 Freddy Awards program leads up to a three-hour ceremony, 7-10 p.m. May 21, State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton, that’s telecast live on WFMZ and streamed on wfmz.com.

The adjudication of musicals presented at the 29 participating schools begins about three months earlier in late February.

Not only judges are on the road to the Freddys. Students and parents are, too.

Parents and students don’t only see the musical at the high school in their home district. Increasingly, folks spread out across the Lehigh Valley region to attend as many as four and sometimes more high school musicals.

The 18th annual Freddys, run by the State Theatre Center for the Arts, recognizes and rewards accomplishments in the production and performance of musical theater in high schools in Lehigh and Northampton counties, and Warren County, N.J. The Freddys are named after J. Fred Osterstock, whose birthdate is May 21.

Tickets to the State Theatre awards ceremony are first made available to participating schools. If tickets remain, they go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. May 18.

There’s an opportunity to see a portion of the Freddys before the annual ceremony.

The 2020 Freddy Preview Night is 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. May 20 at the State Theatre. The dress rehearsal includes performances of opening and closing numbers, lead actor and actress medleys, and overall musical nominees.

A preview party, 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. May 20, in the Easton Hospital Gallery and Annex at the State Theatre, offers a buffet and beverages and a silent auction. Preview party tickets include open seating on the mezzanine level for the dress rehearsal. Tickets are expected to go on sale in March.

The Freddy Awards telecast received regional Emmy Awards in 2005 and 2011; five Emmy nominations; six Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Awards, including the 2008 Award for Outstanding Television Program Designed for Children, and six Associated Press Awards for Public Affairs.

The 2008 Freddy program was the subject of a feature-length film documentary, “Most Valuable Players,” by Canyon Back Films, Los Angeles. The film, released in 2010, is part of Oprah Winfrey Network’s (OWN) documentary film club and is available on DVD and streaming on Netflix.

Since 2003, more than $1.5 million in college scholarships, paid internships and community awards has been awarded to Freddy Awards participating students.

The list of 2020 Scholarship and Community opportunities is at:

http://freddyawards.org/scholarships-community-awards

The musicals, performances schedule and tickets information for the 29 schools participating in the 2020 Freddys were announced Jan. 22.

The list is also available at: www.freddyawards.org.

Check the freddyawards website for updates and changes in ticket information.

February, March

Northwestern Lehigh, ”All Shook Up,” 7 p.m. Feb. 27, 28, 29; 2 p.m. March 1. www.nwlehighsd.org; deutschc@nwlehighsd.org; 610-298-8661, ext. 2267. On sale now.

Moravian Academy, “State Fair,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, 29; 2 p.m. March 1. www.moravianacademy.org. On sale now.

Wilson Area, “Once Upon a Mattress,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, 29; 2:30 p.m. March 1. tiny.cc/wahsdrama; hsdrama@wilsonareasd.org; 484-373-6022. On sale now.

March

Saucon Valley, “Hello, Dolly!,” 7 p.m. March 5, 6, 7; 2 p.m. March 8. www.svsdtheatre.com; thesvpaa@gmail.com; 610.838.7001. On sale now.

Easton Area, “The Pajama Game,” 7 p.m. March 6; 1:30 p.m., 7 p.m. March 7; 2 p.m. March 8. www.facebook.com/EAHSMusicalTheatre/ ; musicaltheater@eastonsd.org. On sale now.

Northern Lehigh, “Urinetown,” 7 p.m. March 6, 7; 2 p.m. March 8; 7 p.m. March 13, 14; 2 p.m. March 15. nltturinetown.brownpapertickets.com; 1-800-838-3006. On sale now.

Salisbury, “Into the Woods,” 7 p.m. March 12, 13, 14; 3 p.m. March 15. salisburytheatre@salisburysd.org; 610-797-4107, ext. 2508. On sale now.

Emmaus, “Hello, Dolly!,” 7 p.m. March 18, 19, 20; 2 p.m., 7 p.m. March 21; 2 p.m. March 22. www.eastpennsd.org/ehs. On sale now.

Southern Lehigh, “Newsies,” 7 p.m. March 18, 19, 20, 21; 2 p.m. March 22. www.slsd.org; southernlehightheatre@gmail.com. On sale now.

Catasauqua, “Crazy for You,” 7 p.m. March 19, 20, 21; 2 p.m. March 22. www.cattysd.org; facebook@catasauquahsdramaclub; 610-697-0111, ext. 21117. On sale now.

Northampton Area, “Cinderella: 2013 Broadway Version,” 7 p.m. March 19, 20, 21; 2 p.m. March 22. www.nahsdramaclub.org; 1-866-967-8167. On sale now.

North Warren Regional, “Legally Blonde,” 7 p.m. March 27, 28; 3 p.m. March 29. General Admission. Purchase tickets at door.

March, April

Bethlehem Catholic, ”Seussical,” 7 p.m. March 27, 28; 3 p.m. March 29; 7 p.m. April 3, 4. bit.ly/becaSeussical. On sale now.

April

Freedom, “Mary Poppins,” 7 p.m. April 1, 2, 3, 4; 2 p.m. April 5. www.showtix4u.com; 610-867-5843, ext. 53912. On sale now.

Salem Christian, “Anne of Green Gables: The Musical,” 7 p.m. April 2, 3; 1 p.m., 7 p.m. April 4. https://salem.booktix.com/ ; drama@salemchristian.org; 610-966-5823, ext. 2. On sale now.

Warren Hills Regional, “Matilda the Musical,” 7 p.m. April 2, 3; 2 p.m., 7 p.m. April 4. www.showtix4u.com/event-details/36600; petrewskin@warrenhills.org; 1-866-967-8167. On sale March 3.

Whitehall, “Cinderella: 2013 Broadway Version,” 7 p.m. April 2, 3, 4; 2 p.m. April 5. www.showtix4u.com/events/whitehalltheater; whitehalltheater@gmail.com; 610-437-5081, ext. 93270. On sale now.

William Allen, “Bring It On,” 7 p.m. April 2, 3, 4; 2 p.m. April 5. www.ticketor.com/wahsboxoffice; bankusj@allentownsd.org; 484-765-5001. On sale now.

Nazareth Area, “On the Town,” 7 p.m. April 2, 3; 2 p.m., 7 p.m. April 4; 2 p.m. April 5. Ticket information to be announced. On sale now.

Belvidere, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” 7 p.m. April 3; 1 p.m., 7 p.m. April 4. bhsbatb.brownpapertickets.com; 1-800-838-3006. On sale March 1.

Bangor Area, “Carrie the Musical,” 7:30 p.m. April 3; 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. April 4; 2 p.m. April 5. www.showtix4u.com/events/bahscarrie; 610-599-7011, ext. 1001. On sale now.

Parkland, “Tuck Everlasting,” 7:30 p.m. April 15, 16, 17, 18; 3 p.m. April 19. www.showtix4u.com/event-details/36151. On sale now.

Allentown Central Catholic, ”The Pajama Game,” 7 p.m. April 16, 17; 2 p.m., 7 p.m. April 18. theatre@acchs.info. On sale March 1.

Liberty, ”Peter Pan,” 7 p.m. April 16, 17; 2 p.m., 7 p.m. April 18. www.showtix4u.com; tickets@showtix4u.com; 888-967-8167. On sale now.

Phillipsburg, “The Wizard of Oz,” 7:30 p.m. April 17, 18; 2 p.m. April 19. https://www.showtix4u.com. On sale now.

Dieruff, “Cabaret,” 7 p.m. April 23, 24; 2 p.m. April 25. www.ticketor.com/dierufftheatre; dieruffboxoffice@yahoo.com; 484-765-5500. On sale now.

Hackettstown, “Seussical,” 7 p.m. April 23, 24, 25; 2 p.m. April 26. shiggins@hackettstown.org; call 908-852-8150. On sale date to be announced.

Warren County Technical, “All Shook Up,” 7:30 p.m. April 23, 24, 25; 2 p.m. April 26. Ticket information website to be announced. On sale April 1.

Notre Dame, “Annie,” 7 p.m. April 24, 25; 2 p.m. April 26. www.showtix4u.com; notredametheatrecompany@ndcrusaders.org; 1-866-967-8167. On sale now.