NOMINEES ANNOUNCED, DETAILS REVEALED FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL BASIE AWARDS TO HONOR EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT IN MONMOUTH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE

 

(MAY 9, 2017 – RED BANK) Nominees have been announced for the 12th annual BASIE AWARDS, honoring excellence in high school theater in Monmouth County. This year’s ceremony takes place on the Asbury Park Press stage on Wednesday, May 24th at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

The BASIES 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.

“This year’s roster of musicals and dramatic productions were challenging choices for high school theater,” said Yvonne Lamb Scudiery, Vice President, Education, Count Basie Theatre. “These productions are continuing to set the bar higher and higher, resulting in outstanding professional quality work – and certainly making the job or our evaluation team a very difficult yet gratifying one.”

In addition to recognizing high school talent, the BASIES’ Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Tom Martini, who has served for more than 30 years on the board of trustees for local theatrical group, Phoenix Productions. This honor is presented to individuals who have dedicated their lives to making art happen and art that matters in our community.

Additionally, winners of the Count Basie Theatre’s Arts Impacts Scholarships will be recognized at THE BASIES: Lucas Angelo Degirolamo of Ocean Township High School (Monmouth Medical Center – (RWJBarnabas Health Arts Impact Scholarship), Kiera Kulaga of Middletown High School South (Monmouth County Freeholders Basie Scholarship for Continuing Education, awarded to a Monmouth County senior attending college here in New Jersey), Sean Molicki of Mater Dei Prep (Moser Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship), Kate Manning of Henry Hudson Regional (Steven and Jaime Schultz Arts Impact Scholarship) and Megan Theobald of St Rose High School (Siciliano Landscape Company 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 fourth consecutive year, the BASIE AWARDS is sponsored by RWJ Barnabas Health – Monmouth Medical Center, a partnership that promotes awareness of the importance of the arts in physical and mental well-being.

Nominees For Dramatic Productions:

Outstanding Set Design in a Drama

  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – Matthew Leddin
  • ž Marlboro High School – Our Town – Jack Pensabene & Anthony Greco
  • ž Colts Neck High School – The Game’s Afoot – Chris Rocco
  • ž Ocean Township High School – Almost, Maine – Robert Zupko & Chelsea Gower
  • ž Howell High School – The Diviners – Stephen Kazakoff & Colleen Greberis
  • ž Red Bank Regional High School – The Crucible – Claudia O’Connor & Carl Grillo

 

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama

  • ž Marlboro High School – Our Town – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – Matthew Leddin
  • ž Red Bank Regional High School – The Crucible – Francis Hankins & Ashley Houck
  • ž Howell High School – The Diviners – Christina Verde & Matt Lebron

 

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama

  • ž Marlboro High School – Our Town – Fred Sorrentino
  • ž Howell High School – The Diviners – Samantha Golub
  • ž Middletown High School South – The Government Inspector – Laura Mazza & Jacqui Fischer
  • ž Ocean Township High School – Almost, Maine – Alma Garrity
  • ž Red Bank Regional High School – The Crucible – Jacquie Revier

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

  • ž Jackie Flanders – Colts Neck High School – The Game’s Afoot
  • ž Kayla Bauzyk – Howell High School – The Diviners
  • ž Leah Sandow – Howell High School – The Diviners
  • ž Samantha Siriani – Red Bank Catholic High School – The Odd Couple
  • ž Madison Fruchter – Monmouth Regional High School – The Importance of Being Earnest
  • ž Brooke Schindelheim – Marlboro High School – Our Town

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

  • ž Joshua Lupyan – Marlboro High School – Our Town
  • ž Mason Soto – Ocean Township High School – Almost, Maine
  • ž Sean Molicki – Mater Dei Prep – Peter and the Starcatcher
  • ž Jack Andrus – Ocean Township High School – Almost, Maine
  • ž Robert Landi – Marlboro High School – Our Town
  • ž Luke Pearlberg – Red Bank Regional High School – The Crucible

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

  • ž Corinne Lynch – Marlboro High School – Our Town
  • ž Melissa Calicchio – Matawan Regional High School – Plaza Suite
  • ž Katie McCarty – Freehold High School – Letters to Sala
  • ž Emma Lewis – Marlboro High School – Our Town
  • ž Kerriann Ring – Matawan Regional High School – Plaza Suite

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

  • ž Patrick Murray – Marlboro High School – Our Town
  • ž Sean Gassaway – Howell High School – The Diviners
  • ž Calvin Bruno- Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
  • ž Bradley Patchett – Howell High School – The Diviners
  • ž Ricardo Davis – Middletown High School South – The Government Inspector
  • ž Max Portman – Red Bank Regional High School – The Crucible

 

Outstanding Direction in a Drama

  • ž Marlboro High School – Our Town – Anthony Greco
  • ž Howell High School – The Diviners – Stephen Kazakoff
  • ž Middletown High School South – The Government Inspector – Alexis Kozak
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – Suzanne Sweeney
  • ž Red Bank Regional High School – The Crucible– Reuben Jackson

 

Outstanding Production – Drama

  • ž Marlboro High School – Our Town– Anthony Greco
  • ž Howell High School – The Diviners – Stephen Kazakoff
  • ž Middletown High School South – The Government Inspector – Alexis Kozak
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – Suzanne Sweeney
  • ž Red Bank Regional High School – The Crucible– Reuben Jackson

 

Nominees for Musical Productions

 

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical

  • ž Monmouth Regional High School –Cabaret – Justin Odon
  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You – Jack Pensabene & Anthony Greco
  • ž Manalapan High School – 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Richard Berger
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Samuel Pickens
  • ž Long Branch High School – In the Heights – Andrew D’Agostino
  • ž Rumson – Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Matthew Leddin

 

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Michael W. Wells II & Jessica Amorino
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Matthew Leddin
  • ž Shore Regional High School – Mary Poppins – Anthony Calicchio
  • ž Long Branch High School – In the Heights – Damien Gigantello & Robert Rutt
  • ž Monmouth Regional High School –Cabaret – Justin Odon
  • ž Colts Neck High School – Godspell – Matt Cappelluti & Gianna Bravaco

 

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

  • ž Colts Neck High School – Godspell – Kitty Cleary
  • ž Shore Regional High School – Mary Poppins – Linda Fitzgerald
  • ž Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella – Jacquie Revier, Donna Silogy-Gigante & Joanne DeLuca Daly
  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You – Ryan PJ Mulholland
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Linda Walling & Julie McKurth
  • ž Mater Dei Prep – Cry-Baby – Peggy Baumgartner & Cindy Dwyer

 

Outstanding Musical Direction

  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Amy Fredericks
  • ž Colts Neck High School – Godspell – George Markey
  • Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella – Shawn Mack
  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You – Patrick M. Dalton
  • ž Long Branch High School – In the Heights – Lianne Kulik

 

Outstanding Choreography

  • ž Shore Regional High School – Mary Poppins – Tara Eccles-Frye
  • ž Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella – Kelly Gemellaro
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Jen Costa
  • ž Middletown High School South – The Producers – Jacqui Fischer
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Phil Solomon
  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You – Jessica O’Brien

 

Outstanding All Student Orchestra

  • ž Manalapan High School – 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Jose Maunez
  • ž Colts Neck High School – Godspell – Jack Maniaci
  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You – Patrick M. Dalton
  • ž Biotechnology High School – Beauty and the Beast – Angela Zhao

 

Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra

  • ž Christian Brothers Academy – The Music Man – Matthew Anderson
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Amy Fredericks
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Lindsey Lorefice
  • ž Long Branch High School – In the Heights – Robert Clark
  • ž Ocean Township High School – Anything Goes – Kyle Titmas

 

Outstanding Chorus

  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You
  • ž Colts Neck High School – Godspell
  • ž Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella
  • ž Middletown High School South – The Producers
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas

 

Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group

  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – The Gorillas
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Show Girls
  • ž Howell High School – Legally Blonde – Delta Nu
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Ticket Agents
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Island Spirits

 

Outstanding Featured Ensemble Performer

  • ž Jeremy Harris – Trinity Hall – Seussical
  • ž Jon Araujo – Long Branch High School – In the Heights
  • ž Eddie Hernandez – Long Branch High School – In the Heights
  • ž Nick Imbrenda – Ocean Township High School – Anything Goes
  • ž Kevin Costello – Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

  • ž Samantha Siriani – Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella
  • ž Alexa Chalnik – Howell High School – Legally Blonde
  • ž Savannah Connelly – Mater Dei Prep – Cry-Baby
  • ž Kerriann Ring – Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas
  • ž Samantha Ventola – Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella
  • ž Riley Martin – Freehold Township High School – 9 to 5

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

  • ž Connor McCormack – Middletown High School South – The Producers
  • ž Jake Rallo – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan
  • ž C.J. Pinheiro – Colts Neck High School – Godspell
  • ž Jack Slocum – Henry Hudson Regional High School – Beauty and the Beast
  • ž Joshua Lupyan – Marlboro High School – Crazy For You
  • ž Antonio Straniero – Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

  • ž Emma Lewis – Marlboro High School – Crazy For You
  • ž Melissa Calicchio – Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas
  • ž Alexandra Cusumano – Howell High School – Legally Blonde
  • ž Lucy McGinty – Ranney School – Smile
  • ž Rachel Makstein – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan
  • ž Anaelisa Fernandez – Long Branch High School – In the Heights

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

  • ž Patrick Murray – Marlboro High School – Crazy For You
  • ž Quinn Surdez – Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas
  • ž John Gnazzo- Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella
  • ž Luke Pearlberg – Red Bank Regional High School – Kismet
  • ž Mike Guarino – Trinity Hall – Seussical
  • ž Ryan Deahl – Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas

 

Outstanding Direction in a Musical

  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You – Anthony Greco
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Linda Walling
  • ž Long Branch High School – In the Heights – Ian Moore
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Suzanne Sweeney
  • ž Colts Neck High School – Godspell – Dawn Ferro
  • ž Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella – Alana Herron

 

Outstanding Production – Musical

  • ž Marlboro High School – Crazy For You – Anthony Greco
  • ž Matawan Regional High School – Honeymoon in Vegas – Linda Walling
  • ž Long Branch High School – In the Heights – Ian Moore
  • ž Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Tarzan – Suzanne Sweeney
  • ž Colts Neck High School – Godspell – Dawn Ferro
  • ž Red Bank Catholic High School – Cinderella – Alana Herron