Nominees revealed for ’22 Basie Awards, recognizing excellence in Monmouth County high school theatre

 

ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA LIVE AT THE BASIE CENTER MAY 25;
TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT THEBASIE.ORG

 

2022 Basie Awards, presented by Bank of America

(RED BANK | APRIL 27, 2022) Nominees have been revealed for the 2022 Basie Awards, the annual celebration of Monmouth County high school theatre presented by Bank of America, taking place on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

Tickets for this year’s presentation are on sale now through theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office or via phone at 732-842-9000.

Now in its 17th year, the Basie Awards program is modeled after the TONY™ Awards, and evaluates musical and drama productions in high schools throughout Monmouth County. A rubric is used to assess performance in 25+ categories, recognizing excellence in everything from acting and directing to set and costume design, choreography, lighting, and orchestra.

This year, 16 dramas and 23 musical performances were evaluated by the BASIE AWARDS nomination committee, producing nominations in the following categories:

 

DRAMATIC PRESENTATIONS – TECHNICAL CATEGORIES

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHTS – DEBBIE BILOTTA, KATHY STEWART, ANTHONY GRECO
  • MANALAPAN HIGH SCHOOL – CLUE – PLAYTIME COSTUMES: JAQUIE REVIER & GLORIA MEITEMAN
  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – BACK STORY – JACQUELINE FISCHER & LAURA MAZZA
  • RUMSON -FAIR HAVEN REGIONAL HIGH – THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW – CATHERINE CLEARY
  • RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – NOISES OFF – MELANIE TAYLOR

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

  • MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE – MICHAEL W. WELLS II
  • RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE – ASHLEY BASILE & CARL GRILLO
  • RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REGIONAL HIGH – THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW – MATTHEW LEDDIN
  • MANALAPAN HIGH SCHOOL – CLUE – AMANDA COLONNA & ANDREW CIRAULO
  • RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – NOISES OFF – KYLE SANTOPADRE
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT – ASHLEY R. CUSACK

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

  • RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REGIONAL HIGH– THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW – MATTHEW LEDDIN
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT – JIM LYLE & ANTHONY GRECO
  • MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE – JESSICA AMORINO

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION

  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – BACK STORY – ALEXIS KOZAK
  • RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – NOISES OFF – MELANIE TAYLOR
  • TRINITY HALL – PUFFS – ELLEN PHILLIPS
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT – ANTHONY GRECO
  • RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE – REUBEN JACKSON

OUTSTANDING DRAMATIC PRODUCTION

  • MANALAPAN HIGH SCHOOL – CLUE
  • RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – NOISES OFF 
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT 
  • RED BANK REGIONAL – A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
  • MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE

DRAMATIC PRESENTATIONS – PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

FEATURED ENSEMBLE PERFORMER

  • ENSEMBLE GROUP – THE FAIRIES – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
  • RJ VANDENBROUCK – MATER DEI PREP – PUFFS
  • SAVERIO RENDA – COLTS NECK HIGH SCHOOL – EXIT THE BODY
  • KAT WYROVSKY – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT
  • SYDNEY KATZ – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT
  • KATHERINE SMITH – MATER DEI PREP – PUFFS

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

  • ESTER FOSU – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE
  • DANIELLE LIROV – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT
  • CAMILLE-SOPHIE KRAKOWSKI – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT
  • BRIDGET JOHNSTON – TRINITY HALL – PUFFS
  • JULIE DELTUVIA – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – BACK STORY
  • JESSIE BEHMAN – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

  • TYLER IZZO – TRINITY HALL – PUFFS
  • DANIEL KING – MATER DEI PREP – PUFFS
  • JACK YOUNCOFSKI – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE
  • STEPHEN RUSSO – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – BACK STORY

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

  • HENRIETTE PONS – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE
  • SOFIA RANUCCI – TRINITY HALL  – PUFFS
  • STEFANIE WORTON – MONMOUTH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – TWELVE ANGRY JURORS
  • AMANDA PAIGE PHILIPSON – TRINITY HALL – PUFFS
  • OLIVIA CONTI – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT
  • LILY GRACE RIDDLE – MATER DEI PREP – PUFFS

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

  • JOHN BROOKS – COLLIER HIGH SCHOOL – THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
  • ERICH MEDROW – RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – NOISES OFF
  • BRENDAN O’BRIEN – MANALAPAN HIGH SCHOOL – CLUE
  • LUCAS WILSON – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
  • DYLAN PITANZA – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
  • SAMUEL CUSSON – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

MUSICAL PRESENTATIONS – TECHNICAL CATEGORIES

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN IN A MUSICAL

  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE – JACQUIE FISHER & LAURA MAZZA
  • FREEHOLD HIGH SCHOOL – GREASE – CATHERINE CLEARY
  • MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE – SHERRIE COLE
  • RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL – THE LITTLE MERMAID – CHERYL THOMPSON & KELLY GEMELLARO
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – ANTHONY GRECO
  • HOLMDEL HIGH SCHOOL – OKLAHOMA – NORCOSTCO  & JAMES DEVIVO

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN IN A MUSICAL

  • HOLMDEL HIGH SCHOOL – OKLAHOMA – AMANDA NASH & KYRA CAMPUZANO
  • FREEHOLD HIGH SCHOOL – GREASE – KEVIN GUNTHER & KASIANN SWEENY
  • RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE – KYLE SANTOPADRE
  • MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE – KEN DWYER & JIM VAIL
  • COLLIER HIGH SCHOOL – MAMMA MIA – JACKIE JESTER
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – ASHLEY R. CUSACK

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN IN A MUSICAL

  • RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE – KYLE SANTOPADRE
  • MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE – SCOTT GOLDSTEIN
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – JIM LYLE & ANTHONY GRECO
  • COLLIER HIGH SCHOOL – MAMMA MIA – DR. MICHAEL PENNA
  • MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE – JESSICA AMORINO

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL

  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE – TARA MAHONEY
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – JESSICA O’BRIEN
  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE – JACQUIE FISCHER
  • RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL – LITTLE MERMAID – KELLY GEMELLARO
  • CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13 THE MUSICAL – GINA MORRELLO

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION

  • TRINITY HALL – TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL – MICHAEL KABASH
  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE – PETER ISHERWOOD
  • CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY– 13 THE MUSICAL – CHRISTIAN LOPEZ
  • RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL – ERIKA HALLENBECK
  • MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE – CINDY J. DWYER
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – PATRICK DALTON

OUTSTANDING SMALL MUSIC ENSEMBLE

  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE – MIKE RAGUSEO
  • FREEHOLD HIGH SCHOOL – GREASE – ERIC GROSS
  • CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13 THE MUSICAL – CHRISTIAN LOPEZ & NICOLAS ARENA
  • HIGH TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL – THE ADDAMS FAMILY – CHRISTOPHER CHEN

OUTSTANDING ALL STUDENT ORCHESTRA

  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – PATRICK DALTON
  • HOLMDEL HIGH SCHOOL – OKLAHOMA – DR. CHRISTIE RISO
  • FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL – CURTAINS  – EDWARD GATTSEK

OUTSTANDING STUDENT / ADULT ORCHESTRA

  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE – DAVID BUCKLE JR.
  • MONMOUTH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS – CHRIS SABOL
  • MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE – ALAN MEEKER & PAMELA MOMYER
  • RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL – KEVIN PRYOR

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION IN A MUSICAL

  • TRINITY HALL – TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL – ELLEN PHILLIPS
  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE– AMANDA FARIA
  • FREEHOLD HIGH SCHOOL – GREASE – KASIANN SWEENEY
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – ANTHONY GRECO
  • MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE – LINDA WALLING
  • MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE – CINDY J. DWYER

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION

  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE – AMANDA FARIA
  • RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL – REUBEN JACKSON
  • CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13 THE MUSICAL – PEGASUS PRODUCTION COMPANY
  • MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE – CINDY DWYER
  • MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK – ANTHONY GRECO
  • MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE – LINDA WALLING

MUSICAL CATEGORIES – PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

 FEATURED FEMALE PERFORMER

  • LINDSAY WALDMAN – HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL – YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
  • REBECCA ROTH – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL
  • CARLY CAVANAUGH – COLTS NECK HIGH SCHOOL – BYE BYE BIRDIE
  • HENRIETTE PONS – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE
  • SYDNEY SPENCER – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL
  • JENNA DACQUEL – MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE

FEATURED MALE PERFORMER

  • JACK DOWNEY – RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
  • RUBEN VELASQUEZ – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE
  • PHILLIP GLENN – FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL – CURTAINS
  • LUKE MCCANN – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE
  • MICHAEL CHEN – HIGH TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL – THE ADDAMS FAMILY
  • NICHOLAS LUTZ – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

  • BRIDGET JOHNSTON – TRINITY HALL – TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL
  • ERIN FITZGERALD -MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE
  • SAMANTHA YANNARELLI – MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE
  • JESSICA HEITMANN – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE
  • AVA ROMANO – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE
  • CAROLYN HESTER – CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13 THE MUSICAL

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

  • DANIEL STEFANSKI – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE
  • GRANT GUTKOWSKI – COLLIER HIGH SCHOOL – MAMMA MIA
  • JOHN PAUL SHIMKUS – CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13 THE MUSICAL
  • SEAN BUSK – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL
  • DUBEM ECHEZONA – FREEHOLD HIGH SCHOOL – GREASE

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

  • DANIELLE LIROV – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK
  • AMANDA PAIGE PHILIPSON – TRINITY HALL – TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL
  • OLIVIA CONTI – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK
  • ALYSSA JONES – ST JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL – FREAKY FRIDAY
  • ALYSSA KISELEV – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK
  • AVA GIGLIA – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE

LEAD ACTORS IN A MUSICAL

  • CHARLES PATTON – HIGH TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL – THE ADDAMS FAMILY
  • SAMUEL CUSSON – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE
  • JOSEPH CURRAN – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE
  • JACK YOUNCOFSKI – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE
  • RAYMOND FAIELLA – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL
  • JACK SCHTZENHOFFER – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL

CHORUS IN A MUSICAL

  • CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13 THE MUSICAL
  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE
  • MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE
  • RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GODSPELL
  • MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE
  • COLLIER HIGH SCHOOL – MAMMA MIA

Schools are asked to forward any nominee misspellings or other clarifications to [email protected]

“For the sixth year, Bank of America is sponsoring the annual Basie Awards program,” said Alberto Garofalo, President, Bank of America New Jersey. “Our partnership with the Count Basie Center allows us to support the arts in our local schools, and like the Basie Center, Bank of America strives to foster creativity and resiliency in the communities we serve. We are very much looking forward to the excitement and electricity of the Basie Awards ceremony on May 25.”