Tuesday night, high school drama students from around the metro area will get together at the Cobb Energy Center for their version of the Tony Awards.

It's also the biggest night of the year for kids who live for the footlights.

These kids have been rehearsing a complex song-and-dance number which is the opening production for this year’s Shuler Hensley Awards.

“I always like coming back and working with kids because that is how I started,” said Tony-Award winner Shuler Hensley. “I began my career in high school at Westminster.”

Hensley lends his name -- and his presence -- to the awards each year, coming home to the Atlanta area to give back to the community.

High School Theater is booming, he says.

“High school musical theater is the fastest growing extra-curricular activity, only second to Friday night football.”

And he’s pretty sure theater will overtake even football pretty soon.

“Last year there were maybe 130 involved in the opening number, and this year there are over 400.”

The Shuler Hensley Awards kick off Tuesday night at the Cobb Energy Center and it is a night hundreds of kids will always remember.

“To see these kids sheer love of theater, for no other reason to be a part of it , is sort of inspiring.”