(MAY 22 – RED BANK) Winners were announced this evening at the 14^th annual BASIE AWARDS, honoring excellence and achievement in Monmouth County high school theatre. This year’s ceremony, presented by Bank of America, once again drew a sold-out crowd of 1,500+ to the historic performing arts center.

“We spend months evaluating high school productions,” said Yvonne Lamb-Scudiery, Vice President, Education, Count Basie Center for the Arts, “and we’re continuously amazed at how the bar is raised each and every year. This year’s nominees are a testimony to the hard work teachers, schools and students put into this important art form.”

In addition to celebrating local talent, the Basies presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Dale Franzen, a lead producer of Broadway smash Hadestown, which is up for 14 TONY awards.

“This year’s winners and nominees were the cream of the crop in Monmouth County, and our Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Dale Franzen, is the toast of Broadway and this year’s TONY Awards,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “That said, this year’s Basie Awards were truly a showcase of excellence.”

This year’s Basie Awards winners, by category:

Dramatic Presentations:

• Outstanding Production – Drama: Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Emperor’s Nightingale – Suzanne Sweeney
• Outstanding Direction in a Drama: Suzanne Sweeney, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Emperor’s Nightingale
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama: Julian Lavarra, Trinity Hall – Peter and the Starcatcher
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama: Noa Godrich, Marlboro High School – Peter and the Starcatcher
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama: Jonathan Friel, Long Branch High School – William’s Dark Lady
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama: Morgan Barth, Middletown High School South – The Turning of Gertrude Lodge
• Outstanding Featured Performer in a Drama: Dominique Demko, Long Branch High School – William’s Dark Lady
• Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama: Middletown High School South – The Turning of Gertrude Lodge – Laura Mazza & Jacqueline Fischer
• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama: Marlboro High School – Peter and the Starcatcher – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco
• Outstanding Set Design in a Drama: Colts Neck High School – Almost, Maine – Chris Rocco, Cassidy Friend & Cali Trainor

Musical Productions:

• Outstanding Production – Musical: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Linda Walling
• Outstanding Direction in a Musical (tie): Ian Moore, Long Branch High School – Legally Blond; Anthony Greco, Marlboro High School – The Little Mermaid
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Lucas Faria de Sa Tucker, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Addams Family
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (tie): Maggie Skalecki, Red Bank Catholic High School – The Drowsy Chaperone; Ava Lamantia, Howell High School – The Drowsy Chaperone
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical: Christopher Costello, Matawan Regional High School – Newsies
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Aisa Feratovic, Long Branch High School – Legally Blonde
• Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical: Briana Brabham, Howell High School – The Drowsy Chaperone
• Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – The New York Newsies
• Outstanding Chorus: Matawan Regional High School, Newsies
• Outstanding Small Ensemble Orchestra: Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Addams Family – Amanda Gorfain
• Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Kevin Cotter
• Outstanding Student Orchestra (tie): Marlboro High School – The Little Mermaid – Patrick M. Dalton; Howell High School – The Drowsy Chaperone – Anthony Limaldi
• Outstanding Choreography: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Julie McKurth & Phillip Solomon
• Amy Fredericks Award for Outstanding Musical Direction: Red Bank Catholic High School – The Drowsy Chaperone – Shawn Mack
• Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Susan Takacs
• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical (tie): Marlboro High School – The Little Mermaid – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco; Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Jessica Amorino
• Outstanding Set Design in a Musical: Long Branch High School – Legally Blonde – Andrew D’Agostino

 

This year’s opening number was dedicated in memory of Amy Giinther Fredericks, musical director of the first 13 Basie Awards shows, who passed away unexpectedly last July.

“The theme of this year’s awards was ‘Home,’” said Lamb-Scudiery. “For Amy, the theatre was her home. She made everyone feel at home, and the Basie Awards were one of her favorite nights of the year.”

Also honored at the ceremony were recipients of the Basie’s Arts Impact Scholarships and awards: Claire Taylor of Red Bank Regional High School received the Bank of America Arts Matter Impact Award; Jack Powers of Raritan High School received the Siciliano Landscape Company Arts Impact Scholarship; Charlotte Vickers-Hymowitz from Matawan Regional High School was awarded the Monmouth County Freeholders Scholarship for Continuing Education; Maxwell Connery of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School received the Amy Giinther Fredericks Music Education Scholarship; Riley Martin of Freehold Township High School received the Steven and Jaime Schultz Arts Impact Scholarship; and  Caitlin Garrett from Middletown High School South was awarded the Moser Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship.

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.