Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards recognizes the artistry, dedication, and collaboration that bring New Jersey’s high school musical productions to life!
MORE THAN 100 PERFORMANCES Participated IN 2026 ADJUDICATION
This year, 114 New Jersey high schools across 19 counties participated in full adjudication of their productions from February to April, 2026. These performances were attended by a team of 55 passionate and skilled adjudicators specializing in music, dance, design, education, and more. Each production receives in-depth feedback and insights to support the continued development of all theatrical disciplines within the school’s community. Participating educators across the state can use this feedback to continue developing professional skills and pedagogical techniques from year to year.
We ROLLed OUT THE RED CARPET: JUNE 9, 2026
Live Broadcast
Pre-Show and Backstage
DIGITAL PROGRAM
Learn more about the participating schools and their productions:
Participating Schools List Participating Schools Map
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Design
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
Paul Canada, Gill St. Bernards, Dracula
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGN
Lee Amorrosso, Gill St. Bernards, Dracula
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING DESIGN
Cameron Filepas & Daania Fakhar, Madison High School, Alice by Heart
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SCENIC DESIGN
Anthony Freitas, Madison High School, Alice by Heart
Creative
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHOREOGRAPHY
Heather Fleischman, Delaware Valley Regional High School, The Spongebob Musical
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION
Brent Geyer & Trey Shore, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Guys and Dolls
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION
Blake Spence, Madison High School, Alice by Heart
Performance
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUDENT ORCHESTRA
Summit High School, Big Fish
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CHORUS
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Guys and Dolls
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE GROUP
“The Orphans” in Annie, Ridgewood High School
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED ROLE
Melina Gonzalez as “Auntie” in Side Show, Jose Marti STEM Academy
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED SUPPORTING ROLE
Shaine Wilson-Gibson as “Benny” in In the Heights, Ewing High School
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED SUPPORTING ROLE
Mya Glasofer as “Vi Moore” in Footloose, Eastern Regional High School
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED LEADING ROLE
Luciano Guidetti as “Joe Gillis” in Sunset Boulevard, Paramus High School
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED LEADING ROLE
Chloe Geuther as “Princess Fiona” in Shrek the Musical, Wallkill Valley Regional High School
OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Madison High School, Alice by Heart
Spotlight Awards
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ENSEMBLE MEMBER
Jacob Zacks, Princeton High School
OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Mary Ann Wright, Ridgewood High School
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Michael Berry, Princeton Day School
Eddie Fox, Weehawken High School
Athena Halewicz, Madison High School
Leah Harrell, Spotswood High School
Ben Jacobson, Ocean Township High School
Marayah Marinho, Ocean Township High School
Maddison McZorn, Cicely L Tyson Community School for Fine and Performing Arts
Props Team, Princeton High School
Ainsley Valerio, Summit High School
Jacob Zacks, Princeton High School
THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACT AWARD
New Jersey United Christian Academy, Little Women
THE “THEATER FOR EVERYONE” INCLUSION AND ACCESS AWARD
Moorestown High School, All Shook Up
OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD
Annie Raczko, Spotswood High School
See You Next Year
Registration for the 2027 Rising Star Awards will open in December 2026.
Thank You to Our Program Supporters
We are deeply grateful to the generous supporters who make the Rising Star Awards possible. The program is presented by the Investors Foundation and the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, with additional support from Mark Lavigne, LLC.
Rising Star Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio, Walt Santner in honor of Janet Sovey, James K. Mosser, and the Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship Fund Trust. The Theater for Everyone Inclusion & Access Award is supported by the Cultural Access Network. We also thank Hearst Foundations, the Education & Outreach Partner of Paper Mill Playhouse, for their steadfast commitment to arts education and to the students and communities we serve.
Our work is also made possible by funds from New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
