May 1, 2023

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES

2023 RISING STAR AWARD NOMINATIONS

Winners Will Be Announced During a LIVE CEREMONY AND LIVESTREAM JUNE 13, 2023

(Millburn, NJ) May 1, 2023– As one of the nation’s leading theaters and recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stotts-Executive Director) has a well-earned reputation for launching both performers and shows to Broadway. Since their inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater have ignited the careers of many notable performers, all of whom attended high school in New Jersey.  Among the early nominees and winners are Academy Award   winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables), Tony Award winners Laura Benanti (Gypsy) and Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Tony nominee Rob McClure (Chaplin), Jelani Remy (Lion King, Ain’t Too Proud), Shanice Williams, star of NBC’s The Wiz Live! and Olivier Award nominee Jared Gertner (The Book of Mormon).

The 2023 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards presented by Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation ceremony will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, June 13, at 7:30pm, featuring presenters from both Broadway and beyond. The ceremony will be livestreamed on Paper Mill’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Among the top nominated high schools, Columbia High School (Essex County) has 13 nominations, Delaware Valley Regional High School (Hunterdon County) earned 12 nominations, Haddonfield Memorial High School (Camden County) received 10 nominations, Summit High School (Union County) has 9 nominations, Moorestown High School (Burlington County) earned 8 nominations, and Ridge High School (Essex County) was awarded 7 nominations. These totals do not account for Student Achievement and Auxiliary Award nominations.

“The talent we see in New Jersey High Schools is outstanding. This year was more competitive than ever.” commented Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse’s Producing Artistic Director. “A record 115 New Jersey high schools participated in this year’s Rising Star Awards and each of them are doing such excellent work. When a school is nominated for a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star award it is a true testament of the hard work they put in to their high school musical. I congratulate them all.”

Past Rising Star nominees and recipients appeared on Broadway in She Loves Me (Laura Benanti), Mrs. Doubtfire (Rob McClure), Aladdin (Josh Dela Cruz, Jonathan Schwartz, Kathryn Allison), Les Misérables (Nikki M. James), Disney’s The Lion King (Jelani Remy), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Julia Knitel), Jersey Boys (Russell Fisher), The Phantom of the Opera (Julia Udine), London’s West End production of The Book of Mormon (Jared Gertner); the Public Theater’s Grounded (Anne Hathaway). Shanice Williams, star of NBC’s The Wiz Live was nominated for a Rising Star Award in 2014.

Paper Mill Director of Education Lisa Cooney explains, “What’s happening in high school musical productions here in New Jersey and around the country is remarkable. Programs like the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards raise the bar and create opportunities for student performers and theater technicians to be recognized for their achievements, while giving them access to thousands of dollars in scholarships and professional training. We consistently hear from top-tier colleges and casting directors that a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award is a significant accolade for an aspiring theater artist.”

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Presented by Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation are modeled after the Tony Awards, and Paper Mill Playhouse’s program serves the entire state of New Jersey, with 115 entered productions from public, private and parochial high schools. Paper Mill Playhouse conceived and created the awards in 1996 to give schools the opportunity to showcase their musical arts programs on a statewide level. The musicals are adjudicated by Paper Mill Playhouse throughout the spring by a group of 70 evaluators, with each school receiving three independent evaluations.  Schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Musical and Leading Actor/Actress nominees perform at the event, and award recipients are presented with an engraved crystal award from Tiffany & Co.

Paper Mill Playhouse also awards $7,000 in scholarships at the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Presented by Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation.  Seven $1,000 cash scholarships are given to outstanding individual students who plan to continue studying theater performance or technical theater in college. Paper Mill Playhouse is pleased to award a prize of $500 to a school receiving the 2023 Educational Impact Award, which acknowledges a school that successfully connects the musical to the district’s curriculum, using the production as a teaching tool for the greater student body and local community.  Through the Rising Star “Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award and a partnership with The Cultural Access Network of New Jersey, a project of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Paper Mill Playhouse will present a cash award of $1,000 to a school to recognize excellence in the promotion and practice of creative inclusion of students and adults with disabilities as performers, designers, musicians and production staff. Additionally, this award seeks to recognize and reward a school that takes steps to ensure their performances are accessible to audiences with disabilities.

Lastly, students receiving final nominations in the lead and supporting acting categories receive a scholarship to Paper Mill Playhouse’s competitive Summer Musical Theater Conservatory, a professional training program, which, along with advanced classes in singing, acting and dance, offers the nominees an opportunity to perform in the season finale concert, “New Voices of 2023: We will Rock You” on July 28 & 29 on the main stage at Paper Mill Playhouse.  Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at PaperMill.org, or calling the box office at 973-376-4343.

Rising Star Awards – Presented by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation are supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. The Hearst Foundations are Paper Mill’s Education & Outreach Partner.

Rising Star scholarships are made possible by Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio, Walt Santner in honor of Janet Sovey, in memory of late father and husband James K. Mosser and the Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship Fund Trust.

The Theater for Everyone Inclusion and Access Award is supported by the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

The Rising Star Awards are made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards are part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance 2023 Stages Festival, made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; OceanFirst Foundation; Fund for the New Jersey Blind; New Jersey Manufacturers; and Customers Bank. www.njtheatrealliance.org/stages

2023 RISING STAR AWARDS NOMINATIONS AND HONORABLE MENTIONS

OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Final Nominations

Columbia HS                                                                                       SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Delaware Valley Regional HS                                                           THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Gloucester County Institute of Technology                                  LES MISÉRABLES

Haddonfield Memorial HS                                                               HEAD OVER HEELS

Moorestown HS                                                                                 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA

Ridge HS                                                                                              NEWSIES

Summit HS                                                                                          SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS                                        CHICAGO

Madison HS                                                                                         LITTLE WOMEN

Westfield HS                                                                                       SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

OUTSTANDING LEADING PERFORMER IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS          CHICAGO                               Talia Fabrizzio as “Roxie Hart”

Clearview Regional HS                                        MAMMA MIA!                      Leah Rose Crossan as“Donna”

Madison HS                                                           LITTLE WOMEN                    Avery Benjamin as “Jo March”

Moorestown HS                                                   R & H’s CINDERELLA            Sofia Giannetto as “Cinderella”

Nutley HS                                                              CHICAGO                               Valeria Flores as “Velma Kelly”

Ridge HS                                                                NEWSIES                                Libby Schmitt as “Katherine Plumber”

Westfield HS                                                         SUNDAY IN THE PARK         Bella Jarecki as “Dot/Marie”

Honorable Mentions

Cherry Hill HS East                                               INTO THE WOODS               Charlotte Lemaire as “Baker’s Wife”

Immaculata HS                                                     SISTER ACT                            Jewelia Taylor as “Deloris Van Cartier”

Saddle River Day School                                     THE ADDAMS FAMILY         Kate Peresvyetova as “Wednesday”

Sayreville War Memorial HS                              THE LITTLE MERMAID         Grace Herrick as “Ariel”

Southern Regional HS                                         42^ND STREET                           Mia Spallina as “Peggy Sawyer”

 OUTSTANDING LEADING PERFORMER IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Columbia HS                                                                         SOMETHING ROTTEN!         Quincy Hampton as “Nick Bottom”

Delaware Valley Regional HS                                             THE ADDAMS FAMILY         Dakota Krouse as “Gomez Addams”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech                                LES MISÉRABLES                   Armon Salgado as “Jean Valjean”

Moorestown HS                                                                   R & H’s CINDERELLA            Lucas Kirmsee as “Prince Christopher”

North Hunterdon HS                                                           LES MISÉRABLES                   Alex Lipinski as “Javert”

Piscataway HS                                                                      THE MYSTERY OF                Najm Muhammad as “Clive/John”

EDWIN DROOD

Westfield HS                                                                         SUNDAY IN THE PARK         Evan Leone as “George Seurat”

Honorable Mentions

Ewing HS                                                                         AIDA                                       Jayden White as “Radames”

Morristown Beard School                                           BE MORE CHILL                    Ari Mandel as “Michael Mell”

Nottingham HS                                                              THE LIGHTNING THIEF         Evan Vistoso as “Percy Jackson”

Ridge HS                                                                          NEWSIES                                Gabriel Subervi as “Jack Kelly”

St. Joseph Regional HS                                                 INTO THE WOODS               Thomas Snyder as “Baker”

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Immaculata HS                                                              SISTER ACT                            Susie Polito as “Mother Superior”

Madison HS                                                                    LITTLE WOMEN                    Lily Bias as “Marmee March”

North Hunterdon HS                                                    LES MISÉRABLES                   Lea Chukrallah as “Eponine”

Ocean County Vocational Tech. School                    SWEENEY TODD                   Shea East as “Beggar Woman”

Randolph HS                                                                  FIDDLER ON THE ROOF       Amanda Diaz as “Hodel”

Sayreville War Memorial HS                                       THE LITTLE MERMAID         Ryan Yuhas as “Ursula”

Summit HS                                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!         Sarah Walsh as “Bea Bottom”

Honorable Mentions

Columbia HS                                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!         Scarlett Choi as “Portia”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech                         LES MISÉRABLE                     Kenikki Thompson as “Eponine”

Haddonfield Memorial HS                                           HEAD OVER HEELS               Mia Bompensa as “Gynecia”

Morris Knolls HS                                                            THE DROWSY CHAPERONE                 Bridget Jacobus as “Drowsy Chaperone”               

Pingry School                                                                 SPRING AWAKENING           Brielle Marques as “Martha”

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Bergen County Academies                          FIDDLER ON THE ROO                         Edward Turner as “Perchik”

Clearview Regional HS                                 MAMMA MIA!                                      Adam Bathurst as “Sam Carmichael”

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                        Owen Umiker as “Will Shakespeare”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech         LES MISÉRABLES                                   Neal Reitano as “Thenard”

Haddonfield Memorial HS                           HEAD OVER HEELS                               Griffin Adams as “Basilius”

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS                          THE DROWSY CHAPERONE                                 David Gomez as “Adolfo”

Summit HS                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Zach Seigel as “Nigel Bottom”

Honorable Mentions

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Scott Barton as “Nigel Bottom”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech         LES MISÉRABLES                                   Johnny Brown as “Marius”

West Milford Township HS                         SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Jason Pritchett as “Will Shakespeare” 

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED ROLE

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS    CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION                    Willow Frazier as “Matron ‘Mama’ Morton”

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Alonzo Gallo as “Minstrel”

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Mac Silverstein as “Brother Jeremiah”

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Miller Asch as “Nostradamus”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech         LES MISÉRABLES                                   Zachary Palais as “Enjolras”

Immaculata HS                                              SISTER ACT                                            Charles Alexis as “Eddie Souther”

Morris Knolls HS                                            THE DROWSY CHAPERONE                                 Elijah Dor as “George”

Mountain Lakes HS                                       GUYS AND DOLLS                                 Nicholas Tripodi as “Nicely Nicely Johnson”

Southern Regional HS                                  42^ND STREET                                           Amanda Muldownsy as “Annie Reilly”

Honorable Mentions

Arts HS                                                            THE WIZ                                 Zahara Jackson as “Evilene”

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY         Jessica McGlothlin as “Alice Beineke”

Immaculata HS                                              SISTER ACT                            Katherine Tami as “Sister Mary Lazarus”

Summit HS                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!         Hefzibah Campos as “Nostradamus”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ENSEMBLE MEMBER

Final Nominations

Bergen County Academies                          FIDDLER ON THE ROOF                       Amaya Romero as “Fruma Sarah”

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY                         Will Gonzalez as “Lurch”

Morristown HS                                              R + H’S CINDERELLA                             Charlotte Cama as “Ensemble”

Ridge HS                                                          NEWSIES                                                Jaidyn Riley as “Mush”

Rumson Fair Haven HS                                 SPAMALOT                                            Connor Olson as “French Guard”

Union HS                                                         MAMMA MIA!                                      Layla Soares as “Lead Dancer”

St. Peter’s Prep                                             LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS                 Gabby Beredo as “Crystal”

Honorable Mentions

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Zoe McKay as “Lady Clapham”

Summit HS                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Ben Strauss as “Shylock”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ENSEMBLE GROUP

Final Nominations

Academy of Performing Arts at UCVTS     CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION                    “Merry Murderesses”

Arts HS                                                            THE WIZ                                                 “Tornado Dancers”

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY                         “Ancestors”

Haddon Township HS                                   JOSEPH (AND…)                                   “Joseph’s Brothers”

Pinelands Regional HS                                  MATILDA                                               “Older Students”

Summit HS                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!                        “Troupe”               

Honorable Mentions

Cedar Creek HS.                                            BIG FISH                                                 “Alabama Lambs”

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         “Troupe”

Highland Regional HS.                                 JEKYLL & HYDE                                      “Red Rat Girls”

Moorestown HS                                            R & H’S CINDERELLA                            “Mice, Cat, Dove”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CHORUS

Final Nominations

Columbia HS                                         SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Haddonfield Memorial HS                 HEAD OVER HEELS

Ridge HS                                                 NEWSIES

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS                 THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

Summit HS                                            SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Union HS                                               MAMMA MIA!

Westfield HS                                         SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

Honorable Mentions

Gloucester County Institute of TechLES MISÉRABLES

Moorestown HS                                   R & H’S CINDERELLA

Wallkill Valley Regional HS                 THE WIZARD OF OZ

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ORCHESTRA

Final Nominations

Bergen County Academies               FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Delaware Valley Regional HS           THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Randolph HS                                       FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Ridge HS                                              NEWSIES

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS               THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

Southern Regional HS                       42^ND STREET

Summit HS                                          SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Honorable Mentions

Carteret HS                                           PIPPIN

Princeton HS                                         NEWSIES

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BY A TEACHER OR OUTSIDE DIRECTOR

Final Nominations

Columbia HS                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Tricia Benn, Bethany Pettigrew

Delaware Valley Regional HS      THE ADDAMS FAMILY                         Clinton Ambs

Gloucester County Inst of Tech.LES MISÉRABLES                                    Katie Knoblock

Haddonfield Memorial HS           HEAD OVER HEELS                               Matt DiDonato

Moorestown HS                            R & H’S CINDERELLA                            Erica Scanlon Harr

Summit HS                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Anne Poyner

Wallkill Valley Regional HS          THE WIZARD OF OZ                             Christine Molnar

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS    CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION                    Steven Collins

Madison High School                                   LITTLE WOMEN                                    Blake Spence

Ridge HS                                                          NEWSIES                                                Tim Lynch

Westfield HS                                                  SUNDAY IN THE PARK                         Daniel Devlin

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS    CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION                    Michael Gilch

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Jacob C. Ezzo

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY                         TJ Hayden, Adrian Camano

Haddonfield Memorial HS                           HEAD OVER HEELS                               Tyler Mills

Moorestown HS                                            R &H’S CINDERELLA                             Amanda Wise Harris

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS                          THE DROWSY CHAPERONE                                 Jan Allen

Westfield HS                                                  SUNDAY IN THE PARK                         John Brzozowski

Honorable Mentions

Cherry Hill HS East                                         INTO THE WOODS                               Heather Lockart

Gloucester County Institute of Tech.        LES MISÉRABLES                                   Anthony Vitalo

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHOREOGRAPHY AND STAGING

Final Nominations

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Tricia Benn, Bethany Pettigrew

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY                         Heather Fleischman

Haddonfield Memorial HS                           HEAD OVER HEELS                               Sara DeRossi

Ridge HS                                                          NEWSIES                                                Rachel Miranda, Jennifer Digiuseppe

Summit HS                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Kelly Mott-Sacks

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS.   CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION                    Jay T. Jenkins

Arts HS                                                            THE WIZ                                                 Gregory Omar Osbourne

Franklin HS                                                     DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS                     Lindsey Della Serra

OUTSTANDING SCENIC ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Louis J. Medrano

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY                         Josh Paul, Eric Fiorito

Haddonfield Memorial HS                           HEAD OVER HEELS                               Bob Shindle

Madison HS                                                    LITTLE WOMEN                                    Anthony Freitas

Moorestown HS                                            R & H’S CINDERELLA                            Andrew    Robinson, Jess Rottcamp

Princeton HS                                                  NEWSIES                                                Jeffrey Van Velsor, Bridget Schmidt

Wallkill Valley Regional HS                          THE WIZARD OF OZ                             Amy Naprstek, Mike Napovier

Honorable Mentions

Bergen County Academies                          FIDDLER ON THE ROOF                       Ryan Howell, Bill Pavlu

Pinelands Regional HS                                  MATILDA                                               Rich Pear

Ridge HS                                                          NEWSIES                                                Jason M. Stewart

Summit HS                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Jordan Janota

Union HS                                                         MAMMA MIA!                                      Brian Toscano

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Cedar Creek HS                                              BIG FISH                                 Tyler Daddario

Clearview Regional HS                                 MAMMA MIA!                      Starlite Audio Visual & Lighting Solutions,

Chris Wood, John Schwab, Nicholas Rossi,

John Rowland

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!         Tara Marie Abbondante

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY         Clinton Ambs, Kacey Burd

Haddonfield Memorial HS                           HEAD OVER HEELS               Matt DiDonato, Jack Novak,

Camila Manskopf

Madison HS                                                    LITTLE WOMEN                    Cameron Filepas

Moorestown HS                                            R & H’S CINDERELLA            Dee Dugan, Chris Miller

Wallkill Valley Regional HS                          THE WIZARD OF OZ             Michael Kimmel, Lisa Weinshrott

Honorable Mentions

Morristown Beard School                           BE MORE CHILL                    Nicholas Marmo

Princeton HS                                                  NEWSIES                                Sasha Stepanova

Ridge HS                                                          NEWSIES                                Colin Berry

Westfield HS                                                  SUNDAY IN THE PARK         Jack Frankola

OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Columbia HS                                                   SOMETHING ROTTEN!                         Barbara Canace

Delaware Valley Regional HS                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY                         Lisa Cartwright, Scaramouche  Costumes

Haddonfield Memorial HS                           HEAD OVER HEELS                               Sabrina Windt

Moorestown HS                                            R & H’S CINDERELLA                            Erin Cramer

Ridge HS                                                          NEWSIES                                                Bonnie Grube

Sayreville War Memorial HS                       THE LITTLE MERMAID                         Cynthia Gallagher

Summit HS                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!                        Bonnie Grube

Wallkill Valley Regional HS                          THE WIZARD OF OZ                             Christine Molnar

Westfield HS                                                  SUNDAY IN THE PARK                         Hannah Stavin, Suzanna Rogers

Honorable Mentions

Franklin HS                                                                     DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS     Amy Rice

Madison HS                                                                    LITTLE WOMEN                    Linda Spence, Blake Spence

Marlboro HS                                                                   SEUSSICAL                             Anthony Greco

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS                                          THE DROWSY CHAPERONE                 Joanna Sprague

Watchung Hills Regional HS                                        SINGING IN THE RAIN          Gail DiCicco

OUTSTANDING HAIR AND MAKE-UP ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Atlantic County Institute of Tech                               SEUSSICAL                             Leah Cacopardo, Erin Hanna,

Debe Carpenter, Catherine Chambers

Elizabeth Volpe

Delaware Valley Regional HS                                      THE ADDAMS FAMILY         Carrie Snodgrass

Gloucester County Institute of Tech                         LES MISÉRABLES                  Caitlin Geisser

Franklin HS                                                                     DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS     Amy Rice

Haddonfield Memorial HS                                           HEAD OVER HEELS               Dawn Sheidt

Sayreville War Memorial HS                                       THE LITTLE MERMAID         Grace English, Malaya Emory

Wallkill Valley Regional HS                                          THE WIZARD OF OZ             Christine Molnar

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS                    CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION    Derek Alfano

Cherry Hill HS East                                                         INTO THE WOODS               None Listed

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

(20 finalists, 10 recipients will be announced)

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS                    CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION    Lilly Resnick, Production Stage Manager

Bergen County Academies                                          FIDDLER ON THE ROOF       Sofia Merie Maravillas,

Production Stage Manager

Bergen County Academies                                          FIDDLER ON THE ROOF       Marketing Team

Carteret HS                                                                     PIPPIN                                    Nia Serrano, Dance Captain

Cedar Grove HS                                                             THE PROM                             Katarina Leno, Prop Crew Chief

Eastern Regional HS                                                     FROZEN                                  Mazie O’Keefe, Costume Head, Wigs

Eastern Regional HS                                                     FROZEN                                  Team Sven, Puppet Build and Operation

Hillsborough HS                                                             LEGALLY BLONDE                 Sinara Sood, Producer

Madison HS                                                                    LITTLE WOMEN                    Skye Coen, Production Stage Manager

Morristown HS                                                              R + H’S CINDERELLA             Ava Zappulla, Student Director

Mount Olive HS                                                             MAMMA MIA!                      Olivier Kacprowicz, Emilie Felix,

Ensemble Captains

Princeton HS                                                                  NEWSIES                                Isabella Kolleeny, Lead Painter, Costumes

Princeton HS                                                                  NEWSIES                                Azlyn Haley, Head Carpenter

Princeton HS                                                                  NEWSIES                                Sasha Stepanova, Lighting Designer

Randolph HS                                                                  FIDDLER ON THE ROOF       Gavin Emdur, Emma Carothers, Dramaturgy

Summit HS                                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!         Costume Crew

Summit HS                                                                      SOMETHING ROTTEN!         Grace Coyle, Hair, Makeup

Westfield HS                                                                  SUNDAY IN THE PARK          Set DesigCrew

Westfield HS                                                                  SUNDAY IN THE PARK         Ryan Karlin, Production Stage Manager

Westfield HS                                                                  SUNDAY IN THE PARK         Sophie Havens, Music Director

Honorable Mentions

Princeton HS                                                                  NEWSIES                                Lily Raphael, Production Stage Manager

Princeton HS                                                                   NEWSIES                                Colin Lansky, Sound, Projections

THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACT AWARD

Final Nominations

Carteret HS                                           PIPPIN

Cedar Grove HS                                    THE PROM

Hillsborough HS                                   LEGALLY BLONDE

Jonathan Dayton HS                            HEATHERS: SCHOOL EDITION

Madison HS                                           LITTLE WOMEN

Morristown HS                                     R + H’S CINDERELLA

Ridge HS                                                 NEWSIES

Weehawken HS                                    SISTER ACT

RISING STAR “THEATER FOR EVERYONE” INCLUSION AND ACCESS AWARD

Final Nominations

Atlantic County Institute of Technology                          SEUSSICAL

Butler HS                                                                               ALL SHOOK UP

Eastern Regional HS                                                            FROZEN

Madison HS                                                                           LITTLE WOMEN

Jose Marti STEM Academy                                                 URINETOWN

Lakeland Regional HS                                                          SHREK

Moorestown HS                                                                   R & H’S CINDERELLA

Morristown HS                                                                     R + H’S CINDERELLA

Mount Olive HS                                                                    MAMMA MIA!

Perth Amboy HS                                                                   INTO THE WOODS

Ridge HS                                                                                 NEWSIES

Secaucus HS                                                                          THE PROM

Weehawken HS                                                                    SISTER ACT

West Milford Township HS                                                SOMETHING ROTTEN!

OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS                          Steven Collins

Butler HS                                                                               Kelsie Daniels

Ewing HS                                                                                Christine Monaco Caldwell

Madison HS                                                                           Blake Spence

Manasquan HS                                                                     Madison Schille

Mount Olive HS                                                                    Jodi Bosch

Pingry School                                                                        Alan Van Antwerp

Princeton HS                                                                         Julianna Krawiecki

Ridge HS                                                                                 Tim Lynch

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (Executive Director). A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including Disney’s Newsies, Les Misérables, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Bandstand. The theater is also the home to an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year. As one of the nation’s premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. We acknowledge that our theater stands on the traditional land of the Lenni-Lenape, and we honor the Indigenous people who inhabited it for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

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