NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY RECEIVE

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

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BANK OF AMERICA-SPONSORED CEREMONY VIEWED BY THOUSANDS

ON FACEBOOK AND THEBASIE.ORG

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PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING HERE

(RED BANK | JUNE 10, 2020) – The old Broadway adage that “the show must go on” shined brighter than ever Tuesday evening, as the 2020 Basie Awards, the annual celebration of Monmouth County high school theatre presented by Bank of America, took to the Internet to recognize the efforts of student thespians.

The broadcast, viewed by thousands, revealed nominees and winners for fall high school drama productions, celebrated shuttered spring musicals through student-generated videos of rehearsals, and featured messages of hope and encouragement from Basie Center board members, community partners – even Broadway stars, like Lauren Patten (Jagged Little Pill), Brian Stokes Mitchell (TONY winner, Kiss Me, Kate), two-time TONY winner and Golden Globe recipient Bernadette Peters, Dale Franzen, producer of the 2019 TONY-winning Best Musical Hadestown, and Jagged Little Pill producer Eva Price.

“On a night we’d normally welcome 1,500 screaming fans to celebrate the best in Monmouth County theatre, we took comfort knowing thousands more joined us in celebrating by tuning in online,” said Yvonne Lamb Scudiery, Basie Center VP of Education and founder of the Basie Awards. “From the opening moments to the end credits – which congratulated every school for their theatrical efforts during this challenging year – this was a wonderful celebration; one I look forward to returning to a live audience at the Basie Center next spring.”

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing outstanding commitment to the arts in our community, was presented to New Jersey Governor and First Lady, Phil and Tammy Murphy. The First Lady is a former Basie Center Trustee.

“I credit most of my success to my early exposure to the arts,” said Governor Murphy in his remarks to Basie Awards viewers. “It’s a privilege to be part of this ceremony, and an honor to receive this recognition.”

“For more than a decade, the Basie Awards have recognized the talent, diversity and importance of high school theatre here in Monmouth County,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Though we would rather have felt the rush of students and families cheering in our historic theatre, the positive reactions we received online and the never-ending stream of ‘hearts’ and ‘likes’ on Facebook were exciting. I can’t thank enough our title sponsor, Bank of America, for helping us pivot this year’s award ceremony.”

“Though we can’t be together at the Basie center watching your live performances, we can still celebrate your achievements and applaud your dedication to the arts,” Alberto Garofolo, New Jersey Market President, Bank of America, said to open the show. “Bank of America is dedicated to supporting the Basie Center’s arts and education programs, and the thousands of area students who benefit from the Basie’s mission to inspire, educate and entertain.”

Nominees and winners for this year’s fall dramatic productions are listed below:

Outstanding Production – Drama

WINNER:             Marlboro High School –Brighton Beach Memoirs – Anthony Greco

• Ranney School – Metamorphosis – John Doyle
• Mater Dei Prep – The Three Musketeers – Cindy Dwyer
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Hunchback of Notre Dame – KasiAnn Sweeney
• Marlboro High School – Twelve Angry Men – Anthony Greco
• Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings – Ellen Phillips

 

Outstanding Direction in a Drama

WINNER:             Anthony Greco – Marlboro High School – Brighton Beach Memoirs

• John Doyle – Ranney School – Metamorphosis
• Amanda Farria – Middletown High School North – Our Town
• KasiAnn Sweeney – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Anthony Greco – Marlboro High School – Twelve Angry Men
• Ellen Phillips – Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

WINNER:             Steven Gavaghen – Collier High School – Moon Over Buffalo

• Miles Skove – Rumson-Fair Haven High School – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Ryan Wasserman – Marlboro High School – Brighton Beach Memoirs
• Danny Decrescenzo – Middletown High School South – U – A Play
• Christopher Costello – Matawan Regional High School – Lend Me a Tenor
• Josh Yantin – Middletown High School North – Our Town

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

WINNERS (tie): Val Kluge – Marlboro High School – Brighton Beach Memoirs; JQ Hennessy – Christian Brothers Academy – Arsenic and Old Lace

• Camille Pugliese – Middletown High School South – U – A Play
• Aoife Picadio – Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings
• Jessica Fegeley – Marlboro High School – Twelve Angry Men
• Maya Ben-Harush – Howell High School – Love/Sick

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

WINNER:             Ryan Biswal – Ranney School – Metamorphosis

• Colin Sullivan – Mater Dei Prep – The Three Musketeers
• Daniel Palmer – Mater Dei Prep – The Three Musketeers
• Brady Hanney – Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings
• Ryan Swanson – Communications High School – Almost, Maine
• Huck Martin – Ranney School – Metamorphosis

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

WINNER:              Iris Brielle Polizzano – Ranney School – Metamorphosis

• Olivia Batista – Ranney School – Metamorphosis
• Madeline Hicks – Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings
• Erin Palmer – Communications High School – Almost, Maine
• Lily Grace Riddle – Mater Dei Prep – The Three Musketeers

 

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Drama

WINNER:             Danielle Ahearn – Marlboro High School – Twelve Angry Men

• Elly O’Scanlon – Red Bank Regional High School – Moby Dick Rehearsed
• Harrison Walsh – Raritan High School – Cheaper by the Dozen
• Aisa Feratovic – Long Branch High School – The Rose Garden Affair
• Maggie Hough – Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings
• Mackenzie Kanach – Middletown High School North – Our Town

 

Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group in a Drama

WINNER:             Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Humble Players

• Red Bank Regional High School – Moby Dick Rehearsed – Sailors
• Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings – Girton Girls

 

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama

WINNERS (tie):  Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings – Patti Frees; Marlboro High School – Brighton Beach Memoirs – Anthony Greco

• Mater Dei Prep – The Three Musketeers – Rose Petry, Cindy Dwyer, Sherrie Cole
• Christian Brothers Academy – Arsenic & Old Lace – Lee Totland, Andrew Giordano, Liam Gallagher
• Ranney School – Metamorphosis – John C. Doyle
• Raritan High School – Cheaper by the Dozen – Melanie Taylor

 

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama

WINNER:             Marlboro High School – Twelve Angry Men – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco

• Christian Brothers Academy – Arsenic & Old Lace – Logan Ward, Christian Fittipaldi
• Trinity Hall – Blue Stockings – Jackie Drudy
• Ranney School – Metamorphosis – Mrs. Destiny Kelly
• Marlboro High School – Brighton Beach Memoirs – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco

 

Outstanding Set Design in a Drama

WINNER:             Red Bank Regional High School – Moby Dick Rehearsed – Ashley Basile & Carl Grillo

• Raritan High School – Cheaper by the Dozen – Kyle Santopadre
• Marlboro High School – Brighton Beach Memoirs – Ashley R. Cusack
• Manalapan High School – Noises Off – Andrew Ciraulo
• Marlboro High School – Twelve Angry Men – Anthony Greco
• Ranney School – Metamorphosis – John C. Doyle