Nominees announced, details revealed for the 13th annual Basie Awards to honor excellence and achievement in Monmouth County high school theater

 

RWJBarnabas-Monmouth Medical Center sponsors annual awards ceremony to take place May 23rd at the Basie

(MAY 9, 2018 – RED BANK) Nominees have been announced for the 13th annual BASIE AWARDS, honoring excellence in high school theater in Monmouth County. This year’s ceremony, presented by RWJBarnabas Health – Monmouth Medical Center, takes place on the Asbury Park Press stage on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

Tickets for the BASIE AWARDS are on sale now through theBASIE.org, the Basie box office and via phones at 732.842.9000.

The BASIE AWARDS began in 2005 as a way to honor and recognize high school-level actors, actresses and productions in the Monmouth County area. This year, a record 22 dramas and 29 musical performances were evaluated by the BASIE AWARDS nomination committee, which produced nominations for students, productions and schools in various acting and production categories. A complete list of nominees is located at the end of this release.

“It is wonderful to see such growth in the level of commitment from the students and support from school administrators and the community that these drama programs are receiving,” said Yvonne Lamb Scudiery, Vice President of Education, Count Basie Theatre. “Monmouth County high school stages abound in students who are confident, collaborative and not afraid to take risks. Our evaluation team commends all of the high school directors for their passion and heartfelt efforts to instill creativity & joy in their students, and we’re grateful to RWJBarnabas-Monmouth Medical Center for their continued support of the Basies.”

In addition to recognizing high school talent, the BASIES’ Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Middletown’s Tom Bernard, co-founder and co-president of Sony Pictures Classics and a longtime Count Basie Theatre board member. This honor is presented to individuals who have dedicated their lives to making art happen and art that matters in our community.

“We are honored to recognize Tom Bernard for his lifetime of achievement and dedication to the arts,” said Adam Philipson, President / CEO, Count Basie Theatre. “His work in motion pictures – where his films have received more than 160 Oscar nominations with 39 wins – is a testament to his eye for excellence.”

Additionally, winners of the Count Basie Theatre’s Arts Impacts Scholarships will be recognized at the BASIE AWARDS: Erica Wu of Holmdel High School (Steven and Jaime Schultz Arts Impact Scholarship); Shelby Pickelny of Ocean Township High School (Moser-Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship); Isabella Mingino of Middletown High School South (Monmouth County Freeholders Basie Scholarship for Continuing Education, awarded to a Monmouth County senior attending college in New Jersey), and Abigail Karl of Communications High School (RWJBarnabas Health Arts Impact Scholarship). The Basie’s Arts Impact scholarship program recognizes high school seniors whose life, academic, and career choice has been impacted by the arts.

For the fifth consecutive year, the BASIE AWARDS is sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health – Monmouth Medical Center, a partnership that promotes awareness of the importance of the arts in physical and mental well-being.

“Monmouth Medical Center is proud to continue our partnership with the Count Basie Theatre to support arts in our local schools and community,” says Bill Arnold, President and CEO at Monmouth Medical Center.  “Like the Count Basie Theatre, Monmouth’s Medical Center is dedicated to creating and maintaining strong community partnerships, and we are very proud to once again offer the Monmouth Medical Center-RWJBarnabas Health Arts Impact Scholarship and to help them, through our sponsorship of the Basie Awards, shine the spotlight on these very talented students.”

 

Nominees For Dramatic Productions:

Outstanding Set Design in a Drama

  • Matawan Regional High School – Noises Off – Samuel Pickens
  • Marlboro High School – Don’t Dress for Dinner – Ashley Cusack
  • Monmouth Regional High School – Ghosts – Lou DiBella
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Moon Over Buffalo –Carla Valentino
  • Howell High School – Twentieth Century –Stephen Kazakoff
  • Christian Brothers Academy – Don’t Drink the Water – Collin Swabsin, Noah Hoffman, Will DeNooyer

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama

  • Trinity Hall – Hiding in the Open – Alexandria Principe
  • Colts Neck High School – Moon Over Buffalo – Chris Rocco
  • Marlboro High School – Don’t Dress for Dinner – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco
  • Monmouth Regional High School – Ghosts –Dave Ahlers
  • Neptune High School – Murder by the Book – Emily Brown & James Fryer

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama

  • Mater Dei Prep – Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery – Peggy Baumgartner
  • Middletown High School South – Pygmalion – Jacqui Fischer & Laura Mazza
  • Freehold Township High School –Boeing Boeing – Kim Richardson & Laura Cugini
  • Trinity Hall – Hiding in the Open – Patti Frees & Niyah Robinson
  • Red Bank Regional High School – Macbeth – Claudia O’Connor

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

  • Kaylin Iannone – Middletown High School South – Pygmalion
  • Camille Pugliese – Middletown High School South – Pygmalion
  • Rachel Chevlin – Howell High School – Twentieth Century
  • Jessica Pace – Howell High School – Twentieth Century
  • Meredith Kuster – Neptune High School – Murder by the Book
  • Morgan O’Shea – Freehold Township High School – Boeing Boeing

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

  • Sam Zatorski – Red Bank Regional High School – Macbeth
  • Jack Geary – Ocean Township High School – Alice in Wonderland
  • Carmine Mastrokostas – Ranney School – The Killing Game
  • Stephen Weihs – Christian Brothers Academy – Don’t Drink the Water
  • Chris Coleman – Christian Brothers Academy – Don’t Drink the Water
  • Matt Glenn – Middletown High School South – Pygmalion

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

  • Alicia McDonald – Raritan High School – And Then There Were None
  • Jacqueline Hennessy – Red Bank Catholic High School – Moon Over Buffalo
  • Tristen Dechaira – Neptune High School – Murder by the Book
  • Eleeza Faraday – Neptune High School – Murder by the Book
  • Caitlin Killeen – Matawan Regional High School – Noises Off
  • Katarina Schmidt – Matawan Regional High School – Noises Off

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

  • Sean Gassaway – Howell High School – Twentieth Century
  • Michael Leitner – Ocean Township High School – Alice in Wonderland
  • Jack Andrus – Ocean Township High School – Alice in Wonderland
  • Avery Kaplan – Freehold High School – Murder at Rundown Alley
  • Connor Dibella – Monmouth Regional High School – Ghosts
  • Ryan Deahl – Matawan Regional High School – Noises Off

Outstanding Direction in a Drama

  • Cindy J. Dwyer – Mater Dei Prep – Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
  • Anthony Greco – Marlboro High School – Don’t Dress for Dinner
  • Emily Brown & James T. Fryer – Neptune High School – Murder by the Book
  • Stephen Kazakoff – Howell High School – Twentieth Century
  • Alana Herron – Red Bank Catholic High School – Moon Over Buffalo
  • Linda Walling – Matawan Regional High School – Noises Off

Outstanding Production – Drama

  • Marlboro High School – Don’t Dress for Dinner – Anthony Greco
  • Howell High School – Twentieth Century – Stephen Kazakoff
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Moon Over Buffalo – Alana Herron
  • Matawan Regional High School – Noises Off – Linda Walling

Nominees for Musical Productions:

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical

  • Long Branch High School – Rent – Ian Moore
  • Long Branch High School – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Andrew D’Agostino
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie – Ashley Cusack
  • Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer – Ashley Cusack
  • Freehold High School – Once Upon a Mattress – Kevin Gunther
  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables – Jim Vail & Tyler McClain

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie – Robert Rutt
  • Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer – Anthony Calicchio
  • Marlboro High School – 1776 – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco
  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables – Scott Goldstein
  • Long Branch High School – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Billy Heywood
  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof – Jonathan Rocco & Logan Ward

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof – Cecilia Heidelberger & Hanna George
  • Middletown High School South – Heathers – Laura Mazza & Jacqui Fischer
  • Freehold High School – Once Upon a Mattress – Lisa Bravo Zimmerman
  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables – Peggy Baumgartner
  • Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer – Linda Fitzgerald
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie – Jacquie Revier, Donna Silogy-Gigante & Joanne DeLuca Daly 

Outstanding Musical Direction

  • Long Branch High School – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Lianne Kulik
  • Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer – Dr. Jeff Unger
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie – Shawn Mack
  • Freehold High School – Once Upon a Mattress – Eric Gross
  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof – Matthew Anderson
  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables – Cindy J. Dwyer

Outstanding Choreography

  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof – Christina Rak
  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables – Samantha Amaral
  • Middletown High School South – Heathers – Jacqui Fischer
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie – Rachel Wasser
  • Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer – Tara Eccles-Frye

Outstanding All Student Orchestra

  • Marlboro High School – 1776 – Patrick M. Dalton
  • Middletown High School South – Heathers – Michael Raguseo
  • Freehold Township High School – The Pajama Game – Ed Gattsek

Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra

  • Freehold High School – Once Upon a Mattress – Eric Gross
  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof – Matthew Anderson
  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables – Cindy J. Dwyer
  • Long Branch High School – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Robert M. Clark
  • Matawan Regional High School – My Favorite Year – Lindsey Lorefice

Outstanding Chorus

  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie
  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables
  • Middletown High School South – Heathers
  • Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer

Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group

  • Saint John Vianney High School – The Little Mermaid – The Mersisters
  • Matawan Regional High School – My Favorite Year – The Maxford Girls
  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof – The Bottle Dancers
  • Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Secret Garden – The Snake Charmers
  • Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Secret Garden – The Servants
  • Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Secret Garden – The Gardeners

Outstanding Featured Male Performer

  • Matthew Curti – Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables
  • Dylan Higgins Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables
  • David Gonzalez – Biotechnology High School – Legally Blonde

Outstanding Featured Female Performer

  • Shyla Werneke – Matawan Regional High School – My Favorite Year
  • Molly Hurst – Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables
  • Marelyn Diaz – Long Branch High School – Rent
  • Arianna Mubanda – Howell High School – Mary Poppins
  • Julia Lupi – Howell High School – Mary Poppins 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

  • Isabella Antoon – Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer
  • Aisa Feratovic – Long Branch High School – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • Maggie Skalecki – Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie
  • Alex Colaiacovo – Ocean Township High School – Bye Bye Birdie
  • Elena Worton – Monmouth Regional High School – George M.
  • Sara Burke – Colts Neck High School – The Wedding Singer

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

  • CJ Pinheiro – Colts Neck High School – The Wedding Singer
  • Ethan Black – Ocean Township High School – Bye Bye Birdie
  • Ryan Kozak – Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer
  • Paulo Makalinao – Matawan Regional High School – My Favorite Year
  • Michael Guarino – Trinity Hall – Into the Woods
  • Zackary Abbey – Trinity Hall – Into the Woods

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

  • Dominique Demko – Long Branch High School – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • Georgi Schnappauf – Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer
  • Julia Forsyth – Henry Hudson Regional High School – Little Women
  • Erin Obermayer – Freehold High School – Once Upon a Mattress
  • Anna Laemmle – Freehold High School – Once Upon a Mattress
  • Sarah Coleman – Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

  • Cash Zhang – Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables
  • Griffin Cole – Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables
  • Jack Andrus – Ocean Township High School – Bye Bye Birdie
  • Antonio Straniero – Matawan Regional High School – My Favorite Year
  • Ryan Deahl – Matawan Regional High School – My Favorite Year
  • Michael Guarino – Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof

Outstanding Direction in a Musical

  • Anthony Greco – Marlboro High School – 1776
  • Marcos Orozco & Christina Rak – Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof
  • Alexis Kozak – Middletown High School South – Heathers
  • Alana Herron – Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie
  • Todd Aikens – Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer
  • Cindy J. Dwyer – Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables

Outstanding Production – Musical

  • Mater Dei Prep – Les Miserables – Cindy J. Dwyer
  • Middletown High School South – Heathers – Alexis Kozak
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Thoroughly Modern Millie – Alana Herron
  • Shore Regional High School – The Wedding Singer – Todd Aikens
  • Christian Brothers Academy – Fiddler on the Roof – Pegasus Production Company