Paper Mill Announces Rising Star Award Nominees

Modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards were created to encourage and reward exceptional accomplishments in the production of New Jersey high school musicals. The Rising Star Awards are the first and only statewide high school recognition program of its kind in the country, and with Paper Mill's assistance has been replicated in several regions nationwide.

Recognition of outstanding achievement by students and educators will be made in the areas of performance, design, direction, choreography, technical production and overall production excellence. The Rising Star Award Corps of Evaluators (comprised of theatre professionals, performing artists and designers, and theatre arts educators) fan out across New Jersey between January and April to see shows at all 110 entered schools and make nomination recommendations in various performance and production categories. In June, the Tony® Awards-style Rising Star Awards Gala Ceremony is presented on the Paper Mill stage where nominees perform and award recipients are announced and presented with an engraved crystal star from the Awards sponsor, Tiffany & Co.

The 2007 Rising Star Awards Gala Ceremony will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, June 12, 2007.

Paper Mill Playhouse also awards three $1000 cash scholarships to outstanding individual students participating in entered Rising Star Award productions, who plan to continue studying theatre in college. Paper Mill has also partnered with Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey to offer a significant renewable scholarship to a selected student participating in an entered Rising Star Award production wishing to major in musical theatre.

Lastly, students receiving final nominations in the lead and supporting acting categories automatically receive a full scholarship to Paper Mill Playhouse's competitive Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory, a professional training program, which along with advanced classes in singing, acting and dance, offers the nominees an opportunity to perform on the stage at Paper Mill in our August season finale concert, "New Voices of 2007".

Funding for the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards is provided by Investors Savings Bank, Tiffany & Co., Engelhard, Novartis, Bloomingdales, Provident Bank, The Ambrose & Ida Frederickson, and by a gift from John Burgio and Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio. Additional Funding for Paper Mill Playhouse Education Initiatives is provided by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Shirley Aidekman-Kaye, and The George A. Ohl, Jr. Trust.

2007 Nominations and Honorable Mentions

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical

Final Nominations

Clearview Regional HS, CAROUSEL
Fair Lawn HS, GRAND HOTEL
Gill St. Bernard's School, SHE LOVES ME
Point Pleasant Borough HS, ANYTHING GOES
Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
Summit HS, TITANIC
West Milford Township HS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

Honorable Mentions
Cranford HS, TITANIC
Shore Regional HS,  PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Final Nominations

     Academy of the Holy Angels, SWEET CHARITY,  Allegra Leland as "Charity Hope Valentine"

     Bishop Eustace Prep HS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, Meg Maley as "Millie Dillmount"

     Gill St. Bernard's School, SHE LOVES ME,  Lauren Ulrich as "Amalia Balash"

     Point Pleasant Borough HS, ANYTHING GOES, Christina Goodwin as "Reno Sweeney"    

     Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Ally Rome as "Princess Winnifred"

     West Milford Township HS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, Christina Toale as "Millie Dillmount"

     West Morris Central HS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, Rebecca Krainik as "Millie Dillmount"

Honorable Mentions

     Bergen County Academies, URINETOWN, Amanda Altomare as "Hope Cladwell"

     Rahway HS, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING,  Sarah Lopez as "Narrator"

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Final Nominations

     Bergen County Academies, URINETOWN,  Michael Schwitter as "Bobby Strong"

     Bridgewater-Raritan Reg. HS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Doug Helman as "Tevye"

     Clearview Regional HS,  CAROUSEL, John Brancy as "Billy Bigelow"

     Gill St. Bernard's School, SHE LOVES ME, Steven Helferich as "Georg Nowack"

     Mount Olive HS, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS, Sean Ireland as "J. Pierpont Finch"

     Summit HS, TITANIC, Christopher Burgdorff as "Frederick Barrett"

     Summit HS, TITANIC, Sean Willkens as "Thomas Andrews"

Honorable Mentions

     New Milford HS, ARTHUR, THE MUSICAL, Josh Dela Cruz as "Arthur Bach"

     Southern Regional HS, PETER PAN, Tom Kankowski as "Captain Hook"

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Final Nominations

     Cranford HS, TITANIC, Catrina Coffey as "Alice Beane"

     Fair Lawn HS, GRAND HOTEL, Katya Stepanov as "Flaemmchen"

     Hoboken HS, THE WIZ,   Isamar Arias as "The Tinman"

     Point Pleasant Borough HS, ANYTHING GOES, Kelsey Robertson as "Bonnie"

     Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Kristen Barry as "Lady Larken"

     Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Elizabeth Minski as "Queen Aggravain"

     Summit HS, TITANIC, Monica Flanagan as "Alice Beane"

Honorable Mentions

     Bergen County Academies, URINETOWN, Julie Ann Earls as "Little Sally"

     Gill St. Bernard's School, SHE LOVES ME, Alexis Nedd as "Ilona Ritter"

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Final Nominations

     Clearview Regional HS,  CAROUSEL, Greg Crisman as "Enoch Snow'

     Fair Lawn HS, GRAND HOTEL, Alex Kahn as "Otto Kringelein"

     Princeton HS, THE WIZARD OF OZ,  Niall Lessard as "Scarecorw/Hunk"

     Ramapo HS, INTO THE WOODS, Adam Bashian as "Cinderella's Prince"

     Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Andre Smith as "The Jester"

     Summit HS, TITANIC, Brindon Elton as "Henry Etches"

     West Milford Township HS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, Vincenzo DiPeri as "Trevor Graydon"

Honorable Mentions

     Hoboken HS,  THE WIZ, Christian Castro as "The Wiz"

     Point Pleasant Borough HS, ANYTHING GOES, Brian Long as "Moonface Martin"

Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member

Final Nominations

     Clearview Regional HS, CAROUSEL, Abagale Burk as "Mrs. Mullin"

     Cranford HS, TITANIC, Cori Chandler as "Kate McGowan"

     Eastern Regional HS, ANNIE, Stuart Meyers as "Star to Be"

     Shore Regional HS, PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Thomas Juliano as "The Sergeant of Police"

     Woodbridge HS,  FOOTLOOSE, Erin Fowler as "Rusty"

Honorable Mentions

     Fair Lawn HS,  GRAND HOTEL, Nick Hampson as "Doctor Otternschlag"

     Fair Lawn HS, GRAND HOTEL, Katie Krimer as "Raffaela"

Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Group

Final Nominations

     Fair Lawn HS, GRAND HOTEL,  Jeremy Kafer and Jose Mercadoas "The Two Jimmys"

     Point Pleasant Borough HS, ANYTHING GOES, Stephanie Moore, Erin Bradley, Ali Haugh, Allie Binaco as "Reno's Angels"

     Rahway HS, JOSEPH… , Gabe Evangelista, Lakan Evangelista, Mike Ortiz, Sal Genova, Russell Jenkins, Vincent Mulroe, Ty Worley, Feggens Monbrun, Adam Staryak, Richard Jellison, Phelan Tupik as "Joseph's Brothers"

     Shore Regional HS,  PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Sage Dalton, Chelsea Giacchi, Charlotte Goldfine, Caroline Harvey, Noel Jordam, Jaime Krauter, Carlie Schuttinger, Adam Sickles as "The Police"

     Shore Regional HS, PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Kelsey Anderson, Sara Bristol, Kayla Cahill, Olivia Chalakani, Holly Colaguori, Caitlin McGrath, Hannah Molitoris, Tensiha Victor as "The Daughters"

Honorable Mention

     Edison HS, CABARET, Tara Aucoin, Stephanie Bussiere, Natalie Cicero, Cait Davis, Diana Marchese, Kelly Nuzzo, Lindsay Petro, Emily Tanzi as the "Kit Kat Girls"

Outstanding Performance by a Chorus

Final Nominations

      Bergen County Academies URINETOWN

      Clearview Regional HS CAROUSEL

      Don Bosco Prep HS ANYTHING GOES

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

      Summit HS TITANIC

Honorable Mentions

      Rahway HS JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING

      Shore Regional HS PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Outstanding Performance by a Primarily Student Orchestra

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

      Shawnee HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

      Summit HS TITANIC

      Vernon Township HS SUGAR

Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director

Final Nominations

      Clearview Regional HS CAROUSEL Jack Hill

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL John Giresi

      Gill St. Bernard's School SHE LOVES ME Paul Canada

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES Derek Hulse

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Mary Lynn Dobson

      Summit HS TITANIC Anne Poyner

      West Milford Township HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Doug Heyburn

Honorable Mentions

      Rahway HS JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING  Alison Dooley

      Shore Regional HS PIRATES OF PENZANCE Allen J. Shields

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography

Final Nominations

      Academy of the Holy Angels SWEET CHARITY Cheryl Widner and Lauren Widner

      Colonia HS A CHORUS LINE Jaclyn Hogrebe and Ashley Kaczur

      Don Bosco Prep HS ANYTHING GOES Kimberly Galberaith

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL Tami Mauer and John Giresi

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES Colleen Hulse

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Gisa Dllorio

      West Milford Township HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Maria Calabrese-Heyburn

Honorable Mentions

      Hoboken HS THE WIZ Jared Ramos

      Princeton HS THE WIZARD OF OZ Michael Kubala

Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction

Final Nominations

      Clearview Regional HS CAROUSEL Jack Hill and Michael Trota

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL Steven Bell

      Gill St. Bernard's School SHE LOVES ME Amy and David Southerland

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS John Brzozowski

      Summit HS TITANIC Steve Rapp and Wayne Mallette

      West Milford Township HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Jan Sivertsen

Honorable Mentions

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES Terry Bojanowski and Paul Caliendo

      Rahway HS JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING  Robert Van Wyk

Outstanding Scenic Achievement

Final Nominations

      Clearview Regional HS CAROUSEL Jeff Reim

      Cranford HS TITANIC Mike D'Arcy

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL Laurie Hall, Joy Hammerman, & Joel C. Silver

      Gill St. Bernard's School SHE LOVES ME Paul Canada

      Hopewell Valley Central HS SOUTH PACIFIC Kay Schwinn Potucek

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES Derek Hulse

Honorable Mentions

      Monsignor Donovan HS PIRATES OF PENZANCE Carol Babuschak and Caren Stitcher

      Tenafly HS INTO THE WOODS Adi Azulay, Colleen Dolan, Emily Dusedau,

                        Jennifer Hellman, Jackie Leung, Dana

                        Salvatore and Max Todd

Outstanding Lighting Achievement

Final Nominations

      Clearview Regional HS CAROUSEL Jim Ator

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL John Mule

      High Tech HS HAIR Matt Kelly

      Hudson School THE SECRET GARDEN Justin L. McCormick

      Rahway HS JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING  Joe McKie

      Shore Regional HS PIRATES OF PENZANCE Rob Ulrich

      Whippany Park HS CHILDREN OF EDEN Nicholas Marmo

Honorable Mentions

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES Jay Burke

Outstanding Costuming Achievement

Final Nominations

      Cranford HS TITANIC Lynn C. Berry and Chrstine Stawnychy

      Don Bosco Prep HS ANYTHING GOES Irene Nayden, Liz Nasta, Peggy Hockenberry

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL Jennifer Larsen

      Gill St. Bernard's School SHE LOVES ME Paul Canada

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Joanne Sprague, Gertle Rowe

      Shore Regional HS PIRATES OF PENZANCE Fred Sorrentino

      Summit HS TITANIC Katherine Winter

      West Milford Township HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Erica Bowler

Honorable Mentions

      Hoboken HS THE WIZ Liyun Xiu

      Immaculata HS THE SOUND OF MUSIC Nancy Slovik, Merrilee Scilla, Terri Polkay

                        and Carol Poskay

Outstanding Hair & Make-up Achievement

Final Nominations

      Cranford HS TITANIC Michelle Massa

      Don Bosco Prep HS ANYTHING GOES Not Listed

      Fair Lawn HS GRAND HOTEL Stacy Panepinto, Eileen Hausner

                        and Jessica Hausner

      Gill St. Bernard's School SHE LOVES ME Venus Nedd and Darlene Shellhouse

      Hoboken HS THE WIZ not listed

      Point Pleasant Borough HS ANYTHING GOES Andrea Zapcic

      Shore Regional HS PIRATES OF PENZANCE Nicole DeVincenzo, Meredith Shields

                        and Barbara Woolley

Honorable Mentions

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Gerry Deluca, Maura Berger

                        Lancy Lumetta, Patti Whitehouse,

                        Ann Minski, Suzanni Cristiani, Lindajean

                        Pasela and Katherine Paseka

      West Milford Township HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Eileen Sailer & Kristin Reeves 
 
Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design

Final Nominations

      Bergen County Academies URINETOWN Helen Jung

      High Tech HS HAIR Lazaro Marquez

      Madison HS THE KING AND I David Jones & Becky Moody

      Northern Valley RHS at Demarest CABARET Brenda Storer & Jason Woodruff

      Nutley HS HOT MIKADO Bonnie Berish

      Shore Regional HS PIRATES OF PENZANCE Andrew Baumgartner

      Summit HS TITANIC Terri Tauber, Dan Wong, Mikail Tobias

      Union Catholic Reg. HS SUGAR Joe Palinsky and Lynne Nunes

      Whippany Park HS CHILDREN OF EDEN Becky Caridad

Honorable Mentions

      East Brunswick HS THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Jessica and Rose Holton, ADK Graphics

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Tom Cristiani

      Verona HS URINETOWN Chrisann Papera and Amy Fox  
 
Outstanding Achievement in Lobby Display

Final Nominations

      High Tech HS HAIR Aliya Zlotkin and Caroline Martin

      Northern Highlands Reg. HS GYPSY Anne Langan, Cindy Sherwood

                        and Russ Sherwood

      Nutley HS HOT MIKADO Patricia Erdman, Lori Radice, Cathy Serio

                        and Phylis Wilson

      Summit HS TITANIC Sherri Strauss Williamson, Peter Snieckus

                        and Carol Hassert

Honorable Mentions

      Butler HS GYPSY James Dick

      Ridge HS SOUTH PACIFIC Lauran Corson, Eileen McAleney

                        and Annette Malanga, Debbie Scharff

Student Achievement Award

Final Nominations

      Bergen County Academies URINETOWN Michelle Smith, Hana Zaydaens

                        and Marielle Clark, Sound Technicians

      Bergen County Academies URINETOWN Heather Carroll, House Management

  Bergen County Academies URINETOWN Tim DeJesus, Rehearsal /Performance Pianist

      Bergen County Academies URINETOWN Lisa Hecht and Lidia Mourvieff, Stage Managers

      Bridgewater-Raritan Reg. HS FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Brian DeVito Stage Manager

      Cedar Grove HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Jonathan Lyons, David Epp, Chris Lynch,

                        Evan Manganaro, Mike Bennett

                        and Patrick Wolf, Stage Crew

      Cedar Grove HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Jennifer Dorman, Dance Captain

      Cedar Grove HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Jared Fragale and Gloria Rispoli, Props Managers

      Cranford HS TITANIC Christine Urban and Clare Sheehan, Stage Managers

      Emerson Jr./Sr. HS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Zach Pizza an Jeff Ciavaglia, Stage Management

                                            and Construction

      High Tech HS HAIR Ruby Anne Hankey and Nia Santana, Dance Captains

      New Milford HS ARTHUR THE MUSICAL Andrew Quevedo, Nick Brienza, Matt Kaprielian,

                        Justin Munier, Will Torpie

                        and Joni Nano, Stage Crew

      Northern Highlands Reg. HS GYPSY Stephanie Kahn, Stage Manager

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Tom Sack, Stage Manager

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Lauryn Adams, Diana Chaves, Ashley Deshields,

                        Noveen Iqbal, Kathryn Moynihan,

                        Adam Biner, Victoria Kamouth

                        and Tom Sacks,  Stage Crew

      Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Kirsten Mandala, Assistant Director

      Shawnee HS ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Ashley Brown, Katelyn Jones, Caroline Brown,

                        Drew Muckenfuss and Julia Stimick

                        Graphic Design

      Summit HS TITANIC Liz Doyle, Student Technical Director

      Summit HS TITANIC Rosemary Willliamson, Photography

      Summit HS TITANIC Lizz Conigliaro and Carrie Winter,

                        Hair & Make-up Crew Heads

      Summit HS TITANIC Maggie Harkins Erin Dugan, Nicole Murakami

                        and Yasmine Ali, Costume Crew

      Summit HS TITANIC Jessie Louse Mark, Student Musical Director

      Summit HS TITANIC Miriam Schachter, Sound Crew Head

      Summit HS TITANIC Lauren Ciaravalli, Student Director

      Tenafly HS INTO THE WOODS Rebecca Zuck, Stage Management

      Tenafly HS INTO THE WOODS Emily Dusedau, Crew Chief and Lighting Designer

      Tenafly HS INTO THE WOODS Adi Azulay, Colleen Dolan, Emily Dusedau,

                        Jennifer Hellman, Jackie Leung, Dana

                        Salvatore and Max Todd, Scenic Design Team

      Verona HS URINETOWN Chrisann Papera, Program Design

      West Milford Township HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Brenna Gumbinger, Stage Manager

      West Milford Township HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Jane DeBoer, Props Mistress

      Westwood Reg. Jr./Sr. HS HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS  Veronica Falborn, Stage Manager

The Educational Impact Award

Final Nominations

      Cedar Grove HS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

      Cranford HS TITANIC

      St. Joseph Regional HS URINETOWN

      West Orange HS ME AND MY GIRL

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres and is supported in part by grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, in addition to contributions from many corporations, foundations, businesses and individuals.  Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Visit www.papermill.org for more information.