(MAY 25 – RED BANK) Winners were announced this evening at the annual BASIE AWARDS, honoring excellence and achievement in Monmouth County high school theatre. This year’s ceremony, presented by Bank of America, took place live and in person for the first time since 2019, drawing a capacity crowd to the historic performing arts center.

“After two years of improvising and working around the pandemic, we were relieved when we realized this year’s ceremony could be live – and that these schools, and these students, would have the opportunity to stage their productions in front of live audiences,” said Samantha Giustiniani, Senior Director, Education, Count Basie Center for the Arts, “From the energy in the room tonight and the caliber of excellence we saw in this year’s productions, it’s obvious that everyone was bursting to get back out

and express themselves onstage.”

In addition to celebrating local talent, the Basies presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Ann Marie Miller, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at ArtPride, which serves nearly 200 arts institutions throughout New Jersey. Miller and ArtPride advocated tirelessly during the pandemic for Garden State arts organizations to be included in relief and aid programs.

“After two years away, it was a thrill to feel the energy, excitement and achievement buzzing during this year’s Basie Awards,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chairman, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “It was especially poignant knowing that our Lifetime Achievement recipient, Ann Marie Miller, was there to experience it with us, knowing how hard she and ArtPride worked to ensure that the arts and organizations such as our own could continue to serve in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s Basie Awards were truly a showcase of excellence, and perseverance.”

“I was delighted to be honored at the Basie Awards and salute all the students who worked so hard throughout the year to be nominated for an award,” said Miller. “At ArtPride New Jersey, we will continue our hard work to make sure that public support for the arts is not only appropriated, but valued by our elected officials because government funds make the arts and arts education accessible to all.”

_______

This year’s Basie Awards winners, by category:

Dramatic Presentations:

• CAROLE MALIK AWARD OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN IN A DRAMA: MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT – DEBBIE BILOTTA, KATHY STEWART, ANTHONY GRECO
• OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN IN A DRAMA: RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL – NOISES OFF – KYLE SANTOPADRE
• OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN IN A DRAMA (Tie): MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT – JIM LYLE & ANTHONY GRECO; MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE – JESSICA AMORINO
• OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER IN A DRAMA: KATIE SMITH – MATER DEI PREP – PUFFS
• OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA: ESTHER FOSU – MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – THE CURIOUS SAVAGE
• OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA: TYLER IZZO – TRINITY HALL – PUFFS
• OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (Tie): SOFIA RANUCCI – TRINITY HALL – PUFFS; AMANDA PAIGE PHILIPSON – TRINITY HALL – PUFFS
• OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA: LUCAS WILSON – RED BANK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
• OUTSTANDING DIRECTION IN A DRAMA: MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT – ANTHONY GRECO
• OUTSTANDING DRAMATIC PRODUCTION: MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – DECISION HEIGHT

Musical Presentations:

• EVALUATOR’S SPECIAL AWARD: AMYA JOHNSON-ASHE – MONMOUTH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
• CAROLE MALIK AWARD OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN IN A MUSICAL: MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK! – ANTHONY GRECO
• OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN IN A MUSICAL: MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL – KEN DWYER & JIM VAIL
• OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN IN A MUSICAL (tie): MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK! – JIM LYLE & ANTHONY GRECO; MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE – JESSICA AMORINO
• OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY: MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE – TARA MAHONEY
• AMY GIINTHER FREDERICKS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION: MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE – PETER ISHERWOOD
• OUTSTANDING SMALL MUSIC ENSEMBLE (tie) CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13: THE MUSICAL – CHRISTIAN LOPEZ & NICOLAS ARENA; MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE – MIKE RAGUSEO
• OUTSTANDING ALL STUDENT ORCHESTRA: MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK! – PATRICK DALTON
• OUTSTANDING STUDENT / ADULT ORCHESTRA: MATAWAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – A BRONX TALE – ALAN MEEKER & PAMELA MOMYER
• OUTSTANDING CHORUS: MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH – GREASE
• OUTSTANDING FEATURED FEMALE PERFORMER IN A MUSICAL: JENNA DACQUEL – MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL
• OUTSTANDING FEATURED MALE PERFORMER IN A MUSICAL: NICHOLAS LUTZ – MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK!
• OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: SAMANTHA YANNARELLI – MATER DEI PREP – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL
• OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (tie): DANIEL STEFANSKI – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE; JOHN PAUL SHIMKUS – CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – 13: THE MUSICAL
• OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: AMANDA PAIGE PHILIPSON – TRINITY HALL – TWELFTH NIGHT: THE MUSICAL
• OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: SAMUEL CUSSON – MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE
• OUTSTANDING DIRECTION IN A MUSICAL: MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH – A CHORUS LINE – AMANDA FARIA
• OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION: MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL – HONK!

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, 16 dramas and 23 musical performances entered themselves for evaluation by the BASIE AWARDS nomination committee, which produced nominations for students, productions and schools in various acting and production categories.