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 12^th 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 24^th 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

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

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama

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

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama

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

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

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

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

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

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

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

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

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

Outstanding Direction in a Drama

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

Outstanding Production – Drama

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

Nominees for Musical Productions

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical

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

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

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

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

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

Outstanding Musical Direction

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

Outstanding Choreography

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

Outstanding All Student Orchestra

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

Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra

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

Outstanding Chorus

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

Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group

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

Outstanding Featured Ensemble Performer

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

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

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

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

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

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

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

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

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

Outstanding Direction in a Musical

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

Outstanding Production – Musical

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