The 2009 FREDDY Awards Recipients Announced At The State Theatre 5/21
By: Gabrielle Sierra May. 22, 2009
On May 22, 2003, the State Theatre Center for the Arts made history by becoming the first performing arts center in the country to produce, along with broadcast partner WFMZ Channel 69, a three-hour, live television show to recognize and reward outstanding achievement in local high school musical theater. It was an extraordinary triumph for creator and executive producer Shelley Brown and her dedicated staff. Regional high schools from the Lehigh, Northampton and Warren County, NJ region now had their own TONY®'s - The FREDDY© Awards.
In a society where performing arts are given far less attention then sports and academics, the State Theatre is committed to bringing attention to these talented students and preserving the future of theater. It is estimated that this program directly affects over 2,500 students in our area each year. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people experience the students' hard work and dedication to theater arts by enjoying the FREDDY© Awards Ceremony, which is broadcast live on WFMZ Channel 69.
The broadcast has been honored with a 2005 EMMY Award for Outstanding Performing Arts Program, and has also received 2 additional EMMY Nominations, 5 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Awards, including the 2008 Award for Outstanding Television Program Designed for Children, and an Associated Press Award for Public Affairs. The 2008 FREDDY© program was the subject of a feature-length film documentary by Canyon Back Films, Los Angeles, which is expected to be released in 2009.
The FREDDY© Awards are named after J. "Fred" Osterstock, the legendary "Fred the Ghost" of the State Theatre, who managed the company that owned the theatre from 1936 until his death in 1957.
The 2009 FREDDY© Awards Ceremony took place on Thursday, May 21st - Fred's 125th birthday.
2009 FREDDY© Awards Recipients
Outstanding Performance by an OrchestraLiberty HS Peter Pan Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer
Southern Lehigh HS West Side Story Genevieve Gillespie as Velma Outstanding Achievement in Costuming
Saucon Valley HS The Wiz Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member
William Allen HS Pippin Elliot Ramos as Lewis Outstanding Performance by a Female Ensemble Member
Wilson Area HS Funny Girl Stephanie Smith as Mrs. Brice Outstanding Achievement in Lighting
Liberty HS Peter Pan
Outstanding Chorus
Southern Lehigh HS West Side Story
Rachel Laustsen, Alexis Hankerson,Chelsea Reed, Alex Buchanan
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting RoleEmmaus HS South Pacific Katie Taveras as Bloody Mary Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Warren County Technical School Blood Brothers Dillan Gay as Narrator Outstanding Achievement in Scenery
Southern Lehigh HS West Side Story
Outstanding Choreography
Southern Lehigh HS West Side Story
Wilson Area HS Funny Girl Alyssa Allen Don't Rain on My Parade
Outstanding Stage CrewLiberty HS Peter Pan
Outstanding Production Number
Freedom HS The Wizard of Oz Munchkinland Musical Sequence
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor
Liberty HS Peter Pan Jake Dunn Captain Hook
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress
Parkland HS Godspell Morgan Reilly Morgan
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleWarren County Technical School Blood Brothers Joshua Schnetzer Mickey
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleBethlehem Catholic HS Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Brittani Doyen Narrator
Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School
Warren County Technical School Blood Brothers
Southern Lehigh HS West Side Story Student Achievement Award - accompanied by The Express-Times Internship
Rustina Smith Easton Area High School
DeSales University Scholarship
Anna Newman Southern Lehigh High School
Muhlenberg College Scholarship
Sean Vanin Southern Lehigh High School
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