Philanthropists and arts advocates Fran and Paul Turner receive Lifetime Achievement honors;
1500+ pack the Basie Center’s historic theater for annual awards ceremony

(RED BANK | MAY 21, 2025) Winners were announced this evening at the 20th annual BASIE AWARDS, honoring the very best in Monmouth County high school theatre. This year’s ceremony took place at the historic Count Basie Center for the Arts, attracting a capacity crowd for what has become the biggest night of the year for area high school thespians.

“Year after year, the annual Basie Awards demonstrate that the talent here in Monmouth County is truly second to none,” said Samantha Giustiniani, vicepresidenta de educación y extensión, Centro para las artes Count Basie. “This year’s high school productions were outstanding, and the crowd that gathered tonight and the administrators, teachers and students themselves who showed up to cheer each other on… it speaks volumes for how meaningful and uniting the performing arts can be for the community.”

In addition to celebrating local talent, the ‘Basies’ presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to philanthropists and arts advocates Fran and Paul Turner. In a video celebrating their award, Broadway star and musician Josh Groban told the Turners, “Your contributions and your passion for the arts and for arts education has made sure that so many incredible students and artists around the country have been able to do what they do.”

“We honored Fran and Paul Turner with a Lifetime Achievement award this evening,” noted Count Basie Center President and CEO Adam Philipson. “But the truth is their generosity will allow for achievements by so many others exploring their interest in the arts. We are grateful for their dedication to the Basie Center, and we were honored to celebrate that dedication here tonight.”

This year marked the ‘Basies’ 20^el anniversary, and featured appearances by dozens of past Basie Awards nominees and winners.  Jake Golbas, Deputy Director of Groban’s Find Your Light Foundation and celebrated actress and SAG-AFTRA National Board member Michelle Hurd were also on hand as presenters for several of the evening’s awards.

A total of 52 high school productions were evaluated during the school year, with more than 80 nominees collected across various categories. This year’s Basie Awards winners are as follows:

DRAMAS Y COMEDIAS

THE YVONNE LAMB SCUDIERY INNOVATION AWARD – Honoring educators and school programs who understand the importance access to the arts has, how vital inclusion within it is, and the incredible power of outreach to build community beyond the walls of our theatres and schools.
Winner: ESCUELA SECUNDARIA COLLIER

PREMIO CAROLE MALIK AL DISEÑO DE VESTUARIO DESTACADO DE UNA OBRA DE OBRA          
Winner: EMILY KASTER (MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH, CHICAS DEL RADIO)

EXCELENTE ESCENOGRAFÍA DE UNA OBRA
Winner: ROBERT RUTT + JORDAN BERKE (RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, EL VERDADERO INSPECTOR HOUND)

EXCELENTE DISEÑO DE ILUMINACIÓN DE UNA OBRA     
Winner: CHRIS SCHOLES + GAVIN SCHMEDES (ST. JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL, ESTAS VIDAS BRILLANTES)

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE IDENTIFIED ROLE – COMEDY
Winner: GIAVANNA ANTICO (RANNEY SCHOOL, MUCHO RUIDO Y POCAS NUECES)

ACTUACIÓN DESTACADA DESTACADA EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – COMEDIA
Winner: ALLISON LINDLEY (MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, DAMAS LÍDERES)

ACTUACIÓN DESTACADA EXCEPCIONAL EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO FEMENINO – DRAMA
Winner: GIANNA FERNANDEZ (NEPTUNE HIGH SCHOOL, THE GREAT GATSBY)

ACTUACIÓN DESTACADA DESTACADA EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – DRAMA 
Winner: PHOENIX MEDINA (ST. JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL, ESTAS VIDAS BRILLANTES)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN DE SECUNDARIO EN UN PAPEL FEMENINO IDENTIFICADO – COMEDIA
Winner: ANNA ACCARDI (RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, EL VERDADERO INSPECTOR HOUND)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN DE SECUNDARIO EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – COMEDIA
Winner: JONATHAN STUBBS (RANNEY SCHOOL, MUCHO RUIDO Y POCAS NUECES)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN DE APOYO EN UN PAPEL FEMENINO IDENTIFICADO – DRAMA
(TIE) | Winners:
ESSENCE NERO-DAVIS (COLLIER SCHOOL, CHICAS DEL RADIO)
GABRIELLA TRUETT (HOLMDEL HIGH SCHOOL, ROMEO Y JULIETA)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN DE APOYO EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – DRAMA
Winner: HENRY GRIFFITH (TRINITY HALL, PEQUEÑA MUJER)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN PRINCIPAL EN UN PAPEL FEMENINO IDENTIFICADO – COMEDIA
Winner: VERONICA GIRANDOLA (FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL, PUFFS)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN PRINCIPAL EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – COMEDIA
Winner: MICHAEL UZZI (RANNEY SCHOOL, MUCHO RUIDO Y POCAS NUECES)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN PRINCIPAL EN UN PAPEL FEMENINO IDENTIFICADO – DRAMA
Winner: AVA ROMANO (MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH, CHICAS DEL RADIO)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN PRINCIPAL EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – DRAMA
Winner: JAY LAZEN (RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

COMPAÑÍA DESTACADA EN UNA COMEDIA
Winner: ESCUELA SECUNDARIA COLTS NECK, SUITE ENTREGA

EMPRESA DESTACADA EN UN DRAMA
Winner: ST. JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL, ESTAS VIDAS BRILLANTES

ESCENARIO EXCEPCIONAL + EQUIPO TÉCNICO DE UNA OBRA
Winner: CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY, CLAVE

DIRECCIÓN DESTACADA DE UNA OBRA
Winner: CHELSEA GOWER (OCEAN TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL, MAQUINARIA)

EXCELENTE PRODUCCIÓN DE UNA OBRA
Winner: OCEAN TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL, MAQUINARIA

MUSICALES

EVALUATORS SPECIAL AWARD: KATE SCHWEIKERT, SALÓN DE LA TRINIDAD, THE HELLO GIRLS

EVALUATORS SPECIAL AWARD:  ANNIKA RAJ, BIOTECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL, PEQUEÑA TIENDA DE LOS HORRORES

PREMIO CAROLE MALIK AL DISEÑO DE VESTUARIO DESTACADO DE UN MUSICAL
Winner: MAGGIE HAVENS + LUCY KENNEDY (TRINITY HALL, THE HELLO GIRLS)

EXCELENTE ESCENOGRAFÍA DE UN MUSICAL
Winner: ASHLEY BASILE (RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH)

EXCELENTE DISEÑO DE ILUMINACIÓN DE UN MUSICAL
Winner: ASHLEY HOUCK (RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH)

DESTACADO TODA LA ORQUESTA ESTUDIANTIL
Winner: MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH, FOOTLOOSE

DESTACADO ALUMNO MIXTO + ORQUESTA DE ADULTOS
Winner: HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL, SPAMALOTE

PREMIO AMY GIINTHER FREDERICKS A LA MEJOR DIRECCIÓN MUSICAL
Winner: MIKE KABASH + LAUREN BRANCATO (TRINITY HALL, THE HELLO GIRLS)

GRUPO DE CONJUNTO DESTACADO DESTACADO
Winner: THE URCHINS (OCEAN TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL, PEQUEÑA TIENDA DE LOS HORRORES)

CORO DESTACADO EN UN MUSICAL
Winner: FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL, LEGALMENTE RUBIA

COREOGRAFÍA DESTACADA
Winner: LIZA PERNA DE ALMEIDA (MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH, FOOTLOOSE)

ACTUACIÓN DESTACADA DESTACADA EN UN PAPEL FEMENINO IDENTIFICADO – MUSICAL
Winner: ZELDA GOLLAND (RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH)

ACTUACIÓN DESTACADA DESTACADA EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – MUSICAL
Winner: COOPER STAHL (HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL, SPAMALOTE)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE IDENTIFIED ROLE – MUSICAL
(TIE) | Winners:
BANDAID ISSACS-RODRIGUEZ (HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL, SPAMALOTE)
JHA’NAE LEGRANDE (NEPTUNE HIGH SCHOOL, EL CANTANTE DE LA BODA)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN DE APOYO EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – MUSICAL 
Winner: JP SHIMKUS (CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY, TWELFTH NIGHT)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN PRINCIPAL EN UN PAPEL FEMENINO IDENTIFICADO – MUSICAL
Winner: HENRIETTE PONS (MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, PIPPIN)

EXCELENTE ACTUACIÓN PRINCIPAL EN UN PAPEL IDENTIFICADO MASCULINO – MUSICAL
Winner: GABRIEL DELIMA (LONG BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL, EN LAS ALTURAS)

ESCENARIO EXCEPCIONAL + EQUIPO TÉCNICO DE UN MUSICAL
Winner: FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL, LEGALMENTE RUBIA

DIRECCIÓN DESTACADA DE UN MUSICAL
Winner: ELLEN PHILLIPS (TRINITY HALL, THE HELLO GIRLS)

PRODUCCIÓN DESTACADA DE UN MUSICAL
Winner: SALÓN DE LA TRINIDAD, THE HELLO GIRLS

LIDERAZGO ESTUDIANTIL

This year, the Basie Awards shined a light on all that happens backstage and behind the scenes, much of which is led by the students themselves. In our continued efforts to celebrate, educate and uplift our participating schools, we recognized there are student contributions that do not fit neatly into “eligible nominated categories.” We are excited to share the following new recognitions …

OUTSTANDING STUDENT-LED PLAY
COMMUNICATIONS HIGH SCHOOL, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

OUTSTANDING STUDENT-LED MUSICAL
HIGH TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL, THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL

LIDERAZGO ESTUDIANTIL DESTACADO
These student leaders were nominated by their teachers as having gone above and beyond to lead by example and pave the way for incredible contributions to their productions:

Abiageal McBee | Middletown High School North • Alivia Pisane | Ranney School • Anastasia Martinez | Matawan Regional High School • Ava Santamaria | Trinity Hall • Eli McDaniel | Howell High School • Emilia Koenigsmark  | Middletown High School North • Essence Nero-Davis | Collier School • Georgia Watt | Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School • Gianna DiLascia | Trinity Hall • Jacqueline Farkas | St. John Vianney High School • Jessica MacKown | Manasquan High School • Johanna Icasiano | Red Bank Catholic High School • Kaeleigh MacLennan | Neptune High School • Kaitlyn Corpuz | Neptune High School • Kaylen Sanford | Middletown High School North • Lake Gulian | Henry Hudson Regional High School •  Leilani Rollines | Ocean Township High School • Lilakoi Grover | Middletown High School North • Luciana D’Andrea | Trinity Hall • Matthew Alquiros | Keyport High School • Micah Seiler | Ranney School • Nadia Kim | Biotechnology High School • Olivia Devaney | Raritan High School • Reilly Moini | Ranney School • Shayna Amundarain | Red Bank Catholic High School • Sophia deSimas | Keyport High School • Zainah Allan | Holmdel High School