2019 RISING STAR AWARDS NOMINATIONS AND HONORABLE MENTIONS

OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL Final Nominations Delaware Valley Regional HS ................................................................ URINETOWN Hopewell Valley Central HS ................................................................... CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION Howell HS ..................................................................................................... THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Madison HS ................................................................................................. BRIGHT STAR Morristown HS ............................................................................................ THE ADDAMS FAMILY St. Joseph Regional HS ............................................................................ BRIGHT STAR Summit HS ................................................................................................... PIPPIN Honorable Mentions Academy of the Holy Angels ................................................................ ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Gill St. Bernard's School .......................................................................... MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS Westfield HS ................................................................................................ SWEET CHARITY

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Final Nominations Gloucester County Institute of Technology...SEUSSICAL ....................................................Mikayla Gilham as “Gertrude McFuzz” Hopewell Valley Central HS .................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..Maeve Merzena as “Roxie Hart” Hopewell Valley Central HS .................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ....Caroline Herbert as “Velma Kelly” Immaculate Heart Academy ................................DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ...Jenna Clover as “Belle” St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ...............................................Kassi McMillan as “Alice Murphy” Toms River HS North ..............................................PIPPIN .............................................................Yna Tresvalles as “Leading Player” Westfield HS ..............................................................SWEET CHARITY .........................................Nicole Player as “Charity Hope Valentine” Honorable Mentions Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ...............................................Abigail Daniels as “Alice Murphy” Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................Brenna Thornton as “Morticia Addams” Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................Briana Gilyard as “Leading Player”

Presented by

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OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Final Nominations Eastern Regional HS ................................................THE MUSIC MAN .......................................Caleb Schneider as “Harold Hill” Franklin HS ..................................................................WEST SIDE STORY .....................................Richard Francese as “Tony” Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ...............................................Jaron Cole as “Jimmy Ray Dobbs” Memorial HS ..............................................................THE WHO'S TOMMY.................................Jason Concepcion as “Tommy” Newark Academy .....................................................THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD ....Zach Kessel as “Clive Paget/John Jasper” Nutley HS ....................................................................NEWSIES ........................................................Eric Sebek as “Jack Kelly” Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................Mitchell Sink as “Pippin” Honorable Mentions Chatham HS ...............................................................THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME ........Ronan Green as “Quasimodo” Colts Neck HS ............................................................BIG FISH .........................................................Thomas Kaiser as “Will Bloom” Jonathan Dayton HS ...............................................URINETOWN ................................................Will Silva as “Bobby Strong” St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ...............................................Patrick Buckley as “Jimmy Ray Dobbs”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Final Nominations Academy of the Holy Angels ...............................ONCE UPON A MATTRESS .....................Rianna LeHane as “Lady Larken” Howell HS ....................................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE ...................Vicky Fleisch as “The Drowsy Chaperone” Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ...............................................Alex Mroczko as “Margo Crawford” Millburn HS ................................................................GUYS AND DOLLS .....................................Halle Lipton as “Miss Adelaide” Pingry School .............................................................RENT................................................................Dorothea Miller as “Maureen” Somerville HS ............................................................PIPPIN .............................................................Sophie Belkin as “Catherine” Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................Annie Milsten as “Fastrada” Honorable Mentions Mater Dei HS .............................................................TUCK EVERLASTING ..................................Sarah Dolan as “Mae Tuck” Moorestown HS ........................................................9 TO 5 .............................................................Ann Comegno as “Roz Keith” West Milford Township HS ..................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................Mia Grizzuti as “Wednesday Addams”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Final Nominations Academy of the Holy Angels ...............................ONCE UPON A MATTRESS .....................Luke Berninger as “Sir Harry” Delaware Valley Regional HS ..............................URINETOWN ................................................Will Pearce as “Officer Lockstock” Haddon Township HS ............................................LES MISÉRABLES: SCHOOL EDITION ........Joey Tabasco as “Marius” Howell HS ....................................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE ...................Joseph Grisanzio as “Adolpho” Nutley HS ....................................................................NEWSIES ........................................................Luke Surretsky as “Crutchie” Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................Harry Saroff as “Charlemagne” Whippany Park HS ...................................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ....Antonio Porciello as “Amos Hart” Honorable Mentions Delaware Valley Regional HS ..............................URINETOWN ................................................Hunter Trstensky as “Caldwell B. Cladwell” Memorial HS ..............................................................THE WHO'S TOMMY.................................Geovanni Perez as “Captain Walker” Morris Hills HS...........................................................A FUNNY THING…FORUM ....................Robert McKnight as “Hysterium”

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OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED ROLE

Final Nominations Academy of the Holy Angels ...............................ONCE UPON A MATTRESS .....................Marissa Dellapi as “Jester” Gill St. Bernard's School ........................................MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS .............................Allyson Stevens as “Katie” Haddon Township HS ............................................LES MISÉRABLES: SCHOOL EDITION ......... Caroline Quattro as “Madame Thenardier” High Tech HS .............................................................EVITA ...............................................................Sara Bartoszek as “Peron's Mistress” Howell HS ....................................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE ...................Briana Brabham as “Trix the Aviatrix” Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................Caroline Abut as “Berthe” Honorable Mentions Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS .........THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................Melody Stubbs as “Alice Beineke” Colts Neck HS ............................................................BIG FISH .........................................................Michah Schachet-Briskin as “Amos Calloway” Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................Julia Bozza as “Alice Beineke”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ENSEMBLE MEMBER

Final Nominations Bridgewater-Raritan HS .........................................CINDERELLA .................................................Nick Cook as “Herald” Fair Lawn HS ..............................................................WORKING .....................................................Abigail Montesino as “Grace Clements” Gloucester County Institute of Technology...SEUSSICAL ....................................................Angelina Canavan as “Boy” Hackensack HS ..........................................................HELLO, DOLLY! ............................................Tyler Wild as “Ermengarde” Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ...............................................Anna McCarthy as “Mama Murphy” St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ...............................................Alana Malanga as “Mama Murphy” Westfield HS ..............................................................SWEET CHARITY .........................................Sean Marner as “Big Daddy Brubeck” Honorable Mentions Columbia HS ..............................................................MARY POPPINS ..........................................Phoebe Dybner as “Bird Woman (understudy)” Columbia HS ..............................................................MARY POPPINS ..........................................Franca Rosenblatt as “Bird Woman” Princeton Day School .............................................LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS ...................Bruno Cucchi as “The Customer/Skip Snip”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ENSEMBLE GROUP Final Nominations Hopewell Valley Central HS .................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..“The Merry Murderesses” Immaculate Heart Academy ................................DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ...“The Silly Girls” Lakeland Regional HS ............................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..“The Merry Murderesses” North Brunswick HS ................................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..“The Merry Murderesses” Northern Valley Regional HS @ Old Tappan.......... CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..“The Merry Murderesses” Union HS .....................................................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..“The Merry Murderesses” Westfield HS ..............................................................SWEET CHARITY .........................................“Dance Hall Girls” Honorable Mentions Millburn HS ................................................................GUYS AND DOLLS .....................................“Hot Box Girls” River Dell HS ..............................................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..“The Merry Murderesses”

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OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CHORUS Final Nominations Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS .......................................... THE ADDAMS FAMILY Academy of the Holy Angels ................................................................ ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Chatham HS ................................................................................................. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Hopewell Valley Central HS ................................................................... CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION Morristown HS ............................................................................................ THE ADDAMS FAMILY Summit HS ................................................................................................... PIPPIN West Morris Central HS........................................................................... BRIGHT STAR Honorable Mentions Howell HS ..................................................................................................... THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Jonathan Dayton HS................................................................................. URINETOWN St. Joseph Regional HS ............................................................................ BRIGHT STAR

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ORCHESTRA Final Nominations Hopewell Valley Central HS ................................................................... CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION Madison HS ................................................................................................. BRIGHT STAR Morris Hills HS ............................................................................................ A FUNNY THING…FORUM Morristown HS ............................................................................................ THE ADDAMS FAMILY Newark Academy ...................................................................................... THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS .................................................................... MAMMA MIA! Summit HS ................................................................................................... PIPPIN Honorable Mentions Howell HS ..................................................................................................... THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Toms River HS North ............................................................................... PIPPIN West Morris Central HS........................................................................... BRIGHT STAR

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BY A TEACHER OR OUTSIDE DIRECTOR Final Nominations Delaware Valley Regional HS ..............................URINETOWN ................................................. Clinton B. Ambs Hopewell Valley Central HS .................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ... Katie Rochon Howell HS ....................................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE .................... Stephen Kazakoff Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Blake Spence Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Katie Adams St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Eric Sciotto Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................. Anne Poyner Honorable Mentions Academy of the Holy Angels ...............................ONCE UPON A MATTRESS ...................... Katie Collins Gill St. Bernard's School ........................................MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS .............................. Paul H. Canada, Todd Ross Westfield HS ..............................................................SWEET CHARITY .......................................... Daniel Devlin

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OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION Final Nominations Delaware Valley Regional HS ..............................URINETOWN ................................................. Daniel Wells, Thomas Hayden Fair Lawn HS ..............................................................WORKING ...................................................... Charles Santoro Howell HS ....................................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE .................... Regina McAllen, Anthony Limaldi Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. David Gallagher St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Richard Todd Adams, Edward F. Ginter Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................. Daniel King, Steve Rapp Union HS .....................................................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ... Laura Muller, Melissa Abbate Honorable Mentions Chatham HS ...............................................................THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME .. Ken Bryon, Brian Conti Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Dan Malloy, Russ Batsch Sayreville War Memorial HS ................................WEST SIDE STORY ...................................... James H. Craft, Dr. Paul Caruso

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHOREOGRAPHY AND STAGING Final Nominations Franklin HS ..................................................................WEST SIDE STORY ...................................... Irazema Rivera High Tech HS .............................................................EVITA ................................................................ Trista DeFilippis Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Chelsea Gower Northern Valley Regional HS @ Old Tappan.......... CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ..... Alison Owusu Nutley HS ....................................................................NEWSIES ......................................................... Cara Conte Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................. Kelly Mott-Sacks Union City HS ............................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE .................... Ariane Ryan Honorable Mentions Academy of the Holy Angels ...............................ONCE UPON A MATTRESS ...................... Ariane Ryan Howell HS ....................................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE .................... Lisa Arrechi St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Eric Sciotto Westfield HS ..............................................................SWEET CHARITY .......................................... Samantha Hahn-Simpson

OUTSTANDING SCENIC ACHIEVEMENT Final Nominations Delaware Valley Regional HS ..............................URINETOWN ................................................. Joshua Paul Gill St. Bernard's School ........................................MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS .............................. Paul H. Canada Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Anthony Freitas Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Michael Hession Mountain Lakes HS .................................................INTO THE WOODS ..................................... Rob Lavagno, Anthony Vazzano Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ..................................MAMMA MIA! .............................................. Jeffrey Allen, Rob C. Dietze Westfield HS ..............................................................SWEET CHARITY .......................................... Roy Chambers, Jack Frankola Honorable Mentions Chatham HS ...............................................................THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME .. Fourth Wall Scenic Union HS .....................................................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ... Brian Toscano West Morris Central HS .........................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Jeff Hogan

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OUTSTANDING LIGHTING ACHIEVEMENT Final Nominations Delaware Valley Regional HS ..............................URINETOWN ................................................. Clinton Ambs, Skyler Krouse Fair Lawn HS ..............................................................WORKING ...................................................... Curtis Shields Harrison HS ................................................................JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH ............ Colin Shields Madison HS ................................................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Jen Fok, Tyler McKinnon Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Michael Hession Mountain Lakes HS .................................................INTO THE WOODS ..................................... Anthony Vazzano Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................. Leo Hidalgo Honorable Mentions Ridge HS ......................................................................DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL .... Dallas Harvey St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Curtis Reik West Morris Central HS .........................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Timothy Meola

OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT Final Nominations Columbia HS ..............................................................MARY POPPINS ........................................... Barbara Canace, Carol Rutledge Gill St. Bernard's School ........................................MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS .............................. Paul H. Canada Harrison HS ................................................................JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH ............ Mary Pat Shields Hopewell Valley Central HS .................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ... Jordan Brennan, Annabelle Mason,

Quinn Merzena, Anna Nartinm, Keuka Davus

Howell HS ....................................................................THE DROWSY CHAPERONE .................... Jacquie Revier Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Katie Adams, Mollie Lyn Berman Mountain Lakes HS .................................................INTO THE WOODS ..................................... Kandy Delgado Honorable Mentions Chatham HS ...............................................................THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME .. Barbara Fertakos Eastern Regional HS ................................................THE MUSIC MAN ........................................ Michelle Heyers, Mary Jane Bowne Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................. Katherine Winter

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OUTSTANDING HAIR AND MAKE-UP ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS ........THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Steven Collins, Christine Ruhnke Gill St. Bernard's School ........................................MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS .............................. Alicia Amoroso, Lee Amoroso,

Valerie Collins, Venus Nedd, Ally Stevens

Harrison HS ................................................................JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH ............ Colin Shields Hopewell Valley Central HS .................................CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ... Kelly Cianfano, Jeanne Turpault Morristown HS ..........................................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Olivia Bilbault, Arianna D'Andrea Summit HS ..................................................................PIPPIN .............................................................. MJ Arias, Brianna Johnston West Milford Township HS ..................................THE ADDAMS FAMILY .............................. Michael Tlatelpa Honorable Mentions Columbia HS ..............................................................MARY POPPINS ........................................... TK Mountain Lakes HS .................................................INTO THE WOODS ..................................... Carrie Kelleher, Sofia Giustozzi,

Josephine Hadjiloucas, Greta Donnelly, Brooke Harry

St. Joseph Regional HS ..........................................BRIGHT STAR ................................................ Dee Spencer

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (19 finalists, 10 recipients will be announced)

Final Nominations Bridgewater-Raritan Regional HS ................... CINDERELLA .................................................... Chloe Dittlof, Technical Director Carteret HS .............................................................. FOOTLOOSE .................................................... Lheantzy Polycarpe, Dance Captain Carteret HS .............................................................. FOOTLOOSE .................................................... Patricia Vitug,

Student Assistant Music Director Madison HS ............................................................. BRIGHT STAR .................................................. Erin Quinn, Assistant to the Directors Moorestown HS ..................................................... 9 TO 5 ................................................................ Erin Cramer, Stage Manager Morristown HS ....................................................... THE ADDAMS FAMILY ................................. Deanna Swanson, Graphic Designer Morristown HS ....................................................... THE ADDAMS FAMILY ................................. Ashe Gobin, Production Stage Manager Morristown HS ....................................................... THE ADDAMS FAMILY ................................. Marissa Aloia, Student Director Mount Olive HS ..................................................... 9 TO 5 ................................................................ Megan Bodmer, Leslie Spinosa,

Dance Captains Perth Amboy HS .................................................... 9 TO 5 ................................................................ Brandon Rivera, Stage Manager Ridge HS ................................................................... DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ....... McKenna Moore, Stage Manager Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ............................... MAMMA MIA! ................................................ Sarah Gorman,

Pit Orchestra/Keyboardist Summit HS ............................................................... PIPPIN ................................................................ Set Crew Summit HS ............................................................... PIPPIN ................................................................ Austin Ruffino, Sound Crew Head Summit HS ............................................................... PIPPIN ................................................................ Sophie Li, Stage Manager Voorhees HS ........................................................... BIG FISH ............................................................ Matthew Nowell,

Lighting and Sound Designer Voorhees HS ........................................................... BIG FISH ............................................................ Francesca Morella, Costumer Westfield HS ........................................................... SWEET CHARITY ............................................ Caroline Schafer, McKenzie Waddell,

Dance Captains Whippany Park HS ................................................ CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION ....... Jordan Conte, Graphic Design

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THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACT AWARD Final Nominations Atlantic County Institute of Technology .......................................... INTO THE WOODS Carteret HS ................................................................................................... FOOTLOOSE Cicely L. Tyson School ............................................................................. JAMAICA Immaculate Heart Academy .................................................................. DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Lodi HS .......................................................................................................... SWEET CHARITY Madison HS ................................................................................................. BRIGHT STAR Mount Olive HS .......................................................................................... 9 TO 5 North Brunswick HS ................................................................................. CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION Perth Amboy HS ........................................................................................ 9 TO 5 Ridge HS ....................................................................................................... DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL St. Joseph HS ............................................................................................... INTO THE WOODS St. Joseph Regional HS ............................................................................ BRIGHT STAR Summit HS ................................................................................................... PIPPIN

RISING STAR “THEATRE FOR EVERYONE” INCLUSION AND ACCESS AWARD Final Nominations Atlantic County Institute of Technology .......................................... INTO THE WOODS Carteret HS ................................................................................................... FOOTLOOSE Collier HS ...................................................................................................... COMPANY Eastern Regional HS ................................................................................. THE MUSIC MAN Gloucester County Institute of Technology .................................... SEUSSICAL Lodi HS .......................................................................................................... SWEET CHARITY Madison HS ................................................................................................. BRIGHT STAR Moorestown HS ......................................................................................... 9 TO 5 Morristown HS ............................................................................................ THE ADDAMS FAMILY North Brunswick HS ................................................................................. CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION Ridge HS ....................................................................................................... DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL St. Joseph HS ............................................................................................... INTO THE WOODS

Tickets to the Rising Star Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 4th will be made available to final nominees via their school contact on May 8th.

Please do not call Paper Mill Box Office for tickets. Scholarship applicants and recipients will be notified by email the week of May 13th.

Please email all spelling corrections to RisingStarAwards@PaperMill.org by Friday, May 10th.

Rising Star Awards - Presented by the Investors Foundation is supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.

Rising Star scholarships are made possible by Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio, Walt Santner in honor of Janet Sovey, and the Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship Fund Trust. The Theatre for Everyone Inclusion and Access Award is supported by the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Paper Mill Playhouse Education & Outreach are generously sponsored by The Goren Family & Harmony Helper.

Rising Star Awards is made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State,

A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Paper Mill Playhouse is a not-for-profit arts organization.

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