On Tuesday, April 25th the Greater Philadelphia Cappies released their list of Award Nominees for the 2016-2017 season.
The Greater Philadelphia Cappies (GPC) is an organization that allows student critics to enjoy high schools productions in the area and vote for award recipients. Eligible shows must perform between mid-October and mid-April, with voting taking place soon after. After votes are tallied, schools nominated for Best Musical, Best Play, and Best Song are asked to prepare material to present in front of the entire region during the season's award ceremony, The Cappies Gala.
Many schools received recognition for their theatrical productions, with Upper Merion Area High School and Unionville High School leading the charge with thirteen nominations each. Taking on the musical comedy The Addams Family and Theban tragedy Antigone by Sophocles respectively, their programs will definitely manage to gain recognition for their sheer number of nominations alone. Ridley High School's Les Miserables: School Edition garnered an impressive twelve nominations. Following close behind with eleven nominations apiece are The Episcopal Academy's play Peter and the Starcatcher, Conestoga High School's The Mystery of Edwin Drood, PALCS School for the Creative and Performing Arts' Sweeney Todd, and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School's Rent: School Edition. Archmere Academy rounds out the double-digit nominees with ten nominations for their production of A Christmas Carol.
High school theatre has rarely seen more difficult shows than those produced in the GPC region this season, with four productions of Rent: School Edition, two productions of Les Miserables: School Edition, and two productions of Footloose up for review. Certainly not small feats for any theatre, interactive musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood and dark drama Sweeney Todd gave audiences curious plot lines to sink their teeth into while fun productions like The Drowsy Chaperone and Big Fish left audiences leaving in high spirits.
The Greater Philadelphia Cappies Gala will be held on May 21st at 4:30pm at Unionville High School. Stay tuned to see which nominees receive the coveted Cappies Awards!
Full List of Nominees:
Outstanding 9th and 10th Grade Critic
Nominees: Anij Cooper, Academy of the New Church
Abigayle Harnum, Bordentown Regional High School
Emily Lewis, Unionville High School
Sam Sprit, Upper Dublin High School
Grace Wiley, Unionville High School
Outstanding 11th Grade Critic
Nominees: Emma Danz, Harriton High School
Lea Harlev, Archmere Academy
Victoria Kline, Academy of the New Church
Trinity Pike, Upper Merion Area High School
Emily Thompson, The Baldwin School
Outstanding 12th Grade Critic
Nominees: Marissa Emerson, Upper Merion Area High School
Shelby Lenhart, Upper Merion Area High School
Jane Mentzinger, Westtown School
Ellen Powers, West Chester East High School
Lizzie Stricklin, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
Outstanding Critic Team
Nominees: Academy of the New Church
Harriton High School
Phoenixville Area High School
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
Upper Merion Area High School
Marketing and Publicity
Nominees: UD PR Crew, Upper Dublin High School, RENT: School Edition
PJ Williams and Violet Kertis, Ridley High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Joel Danilewitz and Kit Meiler, Harriton High School ,
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Jack Sweeney, Hannah Bailey, Lauren Hughes, Courtney Smith,
Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
PWHS Marketing Team, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School,
RENT: School Edition
Special Effects and or Technology
Nominees: Lauren Amariti, Eastern Regional High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
PWHS Special FX Crew, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School,
RENT: School Edition
Special Effects Crew, Conestoga High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Underground Players Special Effects Crew,
Upper Merion Area High School, The Addams Family
Jen Lee, Rachel Wilson, Upper Dublin High School, RENT School Edition
Hair and Make-up
Nominees: Tirzah Badders, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts,
Sweeney Todd
Blake Eckert, Ridley High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Belle Galante, Abby Pancoast, Marple Newtown High School, Peter Pan
Shelby Lenhart, Upper Merion Area High School, The Addams Family
Kyla McAvinue, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Sound
Nominees: Jenna Brady, Ridley High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Conestoga Sound Crew, Conestoga High School,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Ashley Renning, Mark Plaugher, Cardinal O'Hara High School,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Gossen Yang and Jacob Viscusi, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Justin Zitelli, Upper Dublin High School, RENT: School Edition
Props
Nominees: LHS Stage Crew, Lindenwold High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Cami Mercantini, Bordentown Regional High School, Spamalot
Jordan Smelcer, Andrew Sage, Abington Friends School,
The Drowsy Chaperone
Underground Players Prop Team, Upper Merion Area High School,
The Addams Family
Paloma Zozaya, Dejah Cosby, Georgia Morgan, Anjali Bose,
Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Lighting
Nominees: Conestoga Lighting Crew, Conestoga High School,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Eastern Regional Lighting Crew, Eastern Regional High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Maddie Donatucci, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Aaron Groff, Upper Merion Area High School, The Addams Family
John Viggiano, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts, Sweeney Todd
Costumes
Nominees: Vinnie Cavallero, Marple Newtown High School, Peter Pan
Sudden Changes Crew, Lindenwold High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Alana Lacy & the Costume Crew,
The Philadelphia High School for Creative & Performing Arts,
RENT: School Edition
Juliana Denick, Chiamaka Amaefuna, Upper Merion Area High School,
The Addams Family
Marina Khazana, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
Sets
Nominees: Megan Belgam, Victoria Vaughn, Unionville High School,
Antigone by Sophocles
Junfu Chen, Abington Friends School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Chris Childs, Aaron Forsman, Cyrena Kokolis,
Eastern Regional High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Conestoga Set Crew, Conestoga High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
UD Tech, Upper Dublin High School, RENT: School Edition
Orchestra
Nominees: Loquacious Forbidden Noodling, Upper Dublin High School,
RENT: School Edition
WC East Pit Orchestra, West Chester East High School, Grease
Ridley Drama Group Pit Orchestra, Ridley High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Conestoga Pit, Conestoga High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Eastern High School Pit, Eastern Regional High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Choreography
Nominees: Cameron Cofrancesco, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
Megan DePaul, Noel Guidetti, Molly Thornton, Haverford High School,
Bye Bye Birdie
Catherine Lawless, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Erin Ryan, Bordentown Regional High School, Spamalot
Kayla Warren, Friends Select School, Cabaret
Creativity
Nominees: Katie Blakeley, Upper Merion Area High School, The Addams Family
Jack Denman, Vocal Direction, Haverford High School, Bye Bye Birdie
Yonah Hamermesh, Barrack Hebrew Academy,
The Odd Couple (female version)
Eric Folmar, Harrison Bass, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
Carly McIntosh, Julia Maenza, Roya Alidjani, Noor Bowman,
The Baldwin School, 12 Angry Jurors
Stage Management and Stage Crew
Nominees: Erin Caltiere, Bordentown Regional High School, Spamalot
Seri Fleming, Maya Mehrota, Abington Friends School,
The Drowsy Chaperone
Christina LeFebvre, Conestoga High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Penelope Murzenski, Chris Childs, Gabriela Bourla,
Eastern Regional High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Kara Kennedy, Dylan Reilly, Ridley High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Ensemble in a Play
Nominees: Chorus A & B, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
The Jurors, The Baldwin School, 12 Angry Jurors
Mollusks, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Ghosts of Christmas Past, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Girls of Salem, Upper Darby High School, The Crucible
Ensemble in a Musical
Nominees: Brothers, Cardinal O'Hara High School,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Sweeney Ensemble, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts,
Sweeney Todd
The Seven Friends, The Philadelphia High School for Creative
& Performing Arts, RENT: School Edition
Chairman and Stage Manager, Conestoga High School,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Students / Revolutionaries, Ridley High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Featured Actress in a Play
Nominees: Bella Abbrescia, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Fabiola Alfred, Upper Darby High School, The Crucible
Jane Bradley, The Baldwin School, 12 Angry Jurors
Ciara Hervas, Friends' Central School, The Infinite Black Suitcase
Grace Willey, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
Featured Actor in a Play
Nominees: Ashwin Akki, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
Eli Hunsinger, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Jake Landaiche, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Joe Schoepp, Friends' Central School, The Infinite Black Suitcase
Mike Weir, Upper Darby High School, The Crucible
Featured Actress in a Musical
Nominees: Caroline Borio, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, RENT: School Edition
Blake Eckert, Ridley High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Natalie Kim, Central Bucks West, Big Fish
Taylor Ruffo, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts, Sweeney Todd
Caroline Sessa, Haverford High School, Bye Bye Birdie
Featured Actor in a Musical
Nominees: Jack Ashfield, Bordentown Regional High School, Spamalot
Primo Davis, Eastern Regional High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Zachary Powell, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts,
Sweeney Todd
Ryan Slusky, Upper Merion Area High School, The Addams Family
Meese Tobey, Ridley High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Solo Dancer
Nominees: Drew Jacobson, Abington Friends School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Kayla Mastronardo, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School,
RENT: School Edition
Bryanna McEvoy, Cardinal O'Hara High School,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Mira Sadeghi, Marple Newtown High School, Peter Pan
Cameren Sullivan, The Philadelphia High School for Creative
& Performing Arts, RENT: School Edition
Dance Ensemble
Nominees: Ghost Dancers, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Principal Dancers, The Philadelphia High School for Creative
& Performing Arts, RENT: School Edition
Cold Feets, Abington Friends School,
The Drowsy Chaperone
Alabama Lambs, Central Bucks West, Big Fish
Greased Lightnin' Boys, West Chester East High School, Grease
Female Vocalist
Nominees: Bridgette Burton, Eastern Regional High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Melissa Goldhorn, Cardinal O'Hara High School,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
India Henderson, Westtown School, RENT: School Edition
Catherine de Lacoste-Azizi, The Haverford School, Oliver!
Lauren Merenda, Upper Dublin High School, RENT: School Edition
Male Vocalist
Nominees: Gary Bowman, Eastern Regional High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Thomas Dempsey, Cardinal O'Hara High School,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Colin Mash, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, RENT: School Edition
Gianni Palmarini, Sun Valley High , Footloose
Ben Powell, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts, Sweeney Todd
Comic Actress in a Play
Nominees: Ruthie Cohen, Barrack Hebrew Academy, The Odd Couple (female version)
Bailey Collington, Interboro High School, Plaza Suite
Caroline Quinn, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Audrey Senior, The Baldwin School, 12 Angry Jurors
Julianita Vlad, Phoenixville Area High School, Taming of the Shrew
Comic Actor in a Play
Nominees: McKee Bond, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Jack Correll, Friends Central School, The Infinite Black Suitcase
Kevin Reeder, Interboro High School, Plaza Suite
Keelin Reilly, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Jack Zweben, Barrack Hebrew Academy, The Odd Couple (female version)
Comic Actress in a Musical
Nominees: Anna Bobok, Upper Merion Area High School, The Addams Family
Lindsay Cohen, Eastern Regional High School,
Les Miserables: School Edition
Nina Gold, Harriton High School ,
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Danica Moyer, Dock Mennonite Academy, Curtains!
Caroline Roberts, Haverford High School, Bye Bye Birdie
Comic Actor in a Musical
Nominees: Brendan Carr , Germantown Academy, The Burnt Part Boys
Cameren Sullivan, The Philadelphia High School for Creative
& Performing Arts, RENT: School Edition
Jack Ashfield, Bordentown Regional High School, Spamalot
Christian Tuffy, Upper Moreland High School, Footloose
Brian Wang, Abington Friends School, The Drowsy Chaperone
Supporting Actress in a Play
Nominees: Camryn Buss, Academy of the New Church, A Charlie Brown Christmas
Sabrina Chevlin, Barrack Hebrew Academy,
The Odd Couple (female version)
Brooke Kraftson, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Noelle Mercer, Friends' Central School, The Infinite Black Suitcase
Ishana S., The Baldwin School, 12 Angry Jurors
Supporting Actor in a Play
Nominees: David Demarco, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
Joe Gormley, Upper Darby High School, The Crucible
Wyatt McDevitt, Interboro High School, Plaza Suite
Evan Paszamant, Friends' Central School, The Infinite Black Suitcase
Arnie Shiva, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Supporting Actress in a Musical
Nominees: Zoe Hunchack, Springfield High School, Once Upon A Mattress
Ashley Lennick, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts,
Sweeney Todd
Avery Misinkavitch, Jenkintown High School, Into the Woods
Lauren Quigley, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, RENT: School Edition
Jordan Thompson, Delaware County Christian School, The Little Mermaid
Supporting Actor in a Musical
Nominees: Murphy Applin, Jr., The Philadelphia High School for Creative
& Performing Arts, RENT: School Edition
Jack D'Emilio, Conestoga High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Robert Gervasi, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School RENT: School Edition
Ben Mergott, Ridley High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Shane Troxell, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts, Sweeney Todd
Lead Actress in a Play
Nominees: Helena Bryant, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Sanjana Friedman, The Baldwin School, 12 Angry Jurors
Natalie Mancuso, Interboro High School, Plaza Suite
Zoe Walker, Friends' Central School, The Infinite Black Suitcase
Willetta Wisely, Phoenixville Area High School, Taming of the Shrew
Lead Actor in a Play
Nominees: Rain Diaz , Upper Darby High School, The Crucible
Matthew Etzrodt, Archmere Academy, A Christmas Carol
Alex Kallis, Unionville High School, Antigone by Sophocles
Julian Shapiro-Barnum, Friends' Central School, The Infinite Black Suitcase
Greg Smith, Episcopal Academy, Peter and the Starcatcher
Lead Actress in a Musical
Nominees: Federica Andino-Vega, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School,
RENT: School Edition
Zami Buggs-King, The Philadelphia High School for Creative
& Performing Arts, RENT: School Edition
MacKenzie Cannon, Ridley High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Taylor Mitchell, Central Bucks West, Big Fish
Grace Slear, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts, Sweeney Todd
Lead Actor in a Musical
Nominees: Ricky Christman, Upper Merion Area HIGH SCHOOL, The Addams Family
Alex Giganti , Friends Select School, Cabaret
Jake Mergott, Ridley High School, Les Miserables: School Edition
Max Mooney, Conestoga High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Drew Weiss, The Haverford School, Oliver!
Song
Nominees: "Model Behavior", Harriton High School ,
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Bre`akdown
"I Don't Care", Friends Select School, Cabaret
"Both Sides of the Coin", Conestoga High School,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
"A Little Priest", PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts,
Sweeney Todd
"I'll Cover You (Reprise)", The Philadelphia High School for Creative
& Performing Arts, RENT: School Edition
Play
Nominees: The Crucible, Upper Darby High School
12 Angry Jurors, The Baldwin School
Antigone by Sophocles, Unionville High School
Peter and the Starcatcher, Episcopal Academy
The Infinite Black Suitcase, Friends' Central School
Musical
Nominees: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Conestoga High School
Les Miserables: School Edition, Eastern Regional High School
Les Miserables: School Edition, Ridley High School
Sweeney Todd, PALCS Center for Performing and Fine Arts
RENT: School Edition, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
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