Nominees Announced for the 2014 Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards

For 20 years, the Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards have been a celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theatre in Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties. These awards recognize individual artistry and honor the dedication and professionalism of students and educators and their schools' commitment to performing arts education. The committee is proud to announce this year's nominees, who will be honored at a private reception at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center on May 18. At the Nominees Reception, nominations will be read by Broadway veteran Lenora Nemetz, and nominees will receive a medal and commemorative certificate. The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Center on May 21 and will feature performances by several adjudicated productions. Former honorees will serve as presenters and tribute awards will be given to those who have greatly influenced the Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards. A Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Mr. Phil Inman, and Mrs. Ginny Mancini will be in attendance.

Tickets for the Awards Ceremony are on sale now for $10 and can be purchased online at www.lppacenter.org. People may order tickets by calling the box office at (724) 576-4644, and choosing option 2 during the normal business hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets are also available at the box office in Midland during normal business hours.

The nominees for Outstanding Overall Production are Beaver County Christian School, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer;" Central Valley High School, "Shrek the Musical;" Freedom Area High School, "The Wizard of Oz;" Laurel High School, "West Side Story;" Neshannock High School, "The Pajama Game;" and Seneca Valley High School, "The Wizard of Oz."

The nominees for Outstanding Overall Performance are Beaver County Christian School, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer;" Central Valley High School, "Shrek the Musical;" Freedom Area High School, "The Wizard of Oz;" Neshannock High School, "The Pajama Game;" New Brighton Area High School, "Crazy for You;" and Shenango High School, "Bye, Bye Birdie."

The nominees for Outstanding Technical Execution are Beaver County Christian School, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer;" Central Valley High School, "Shrek the Musical;" Freedom Area High School, "The Wizard of Oz;" Freeport Area Senior High School, "Anything Goes;" Laurel High School, "West Side Story;" Neshannock High School, "The Pajama Game;" Portersville Christian School, "The Sound of Music;" Riverside High School, "Annie;" and Western Beaver High School, "Shrek the Musical."

The nominees for Outstanding Choreography Execution are Ambridge Area High School, "Peter Pan;" Beaver County Christian School, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer;" Butler Senior High School, "Li'l Abner;" Central Valley High School, "Shrek the Musical;" Freedom Area High School, "The Wizard of Oz;" Neshannock High School, "The Pajama Game;" New Brighton Area High School, "Crazy for You;" and Shenango High School, "Bye, Bye Birdie."

The nominees for Outstanding Ensemble are Ambridge Area High School, "Peter Pan;" Beaver County Christian School, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer;" Butler Senior High School, "Li'l Abner;" Central Valley High School, "Shrek the Musical;" Freedom Area High School, "The Wizard of Oz;" Neshannock High School, "The Pajama Game;" New Brighton Area High School, "Crazy for You;" and Shenango High School, "Bye, Bye Birdie."

The nominees for Outstanding Vocal Ensemble are Beaver County Christian School, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer;" Blackhawk High School, "Titanic;" Central Valley High School, "Shrek the Musical;" Freedom Area High School, "The Wizard of Oz;" Knoch High School, "Once Upon a Mattress;" Neshannock High School, "The Pajama Game;" New Brighton Area High School, "Crazy for You;" and Riverside High School, "Annie."

The nominees for Outstanding Community Engagement are Central Valley High School, "Shrek the Musical;" Ellwood City Area School District, "The Wizard of Oz;" Freedom Area High School, "The Wizard of Oz;" Laurel High School, "West Side Story;" Neshannock High School, "The Pajama Game;" and Riverside High School, "Annie."

The nominees for Outstanding Student Orchestra are Beaver Area High School, "The Wiz;" Blackhawk High School, "Titanic;" Butler Senior High School, "Li'l Abner;" Knoch High School, "Once Upon a Mattress;" Mars Area High School, "Footloose;" Moniteau High School, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown;" and Portersville Christian School, "The Sound of Music."

The nominees for Outstanding Leading Actor are Patrick Tyson-Tom Sawyer, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Beaver County Christian School; Nick Wilson-Donkey, "Shrek the Musical," Central Valley High School; Joseph Cortez-Scarecrow, "The Wizard of Oz," Ellwood City Area School District; Robbie Raso-Lion/Zeke, "The Wizard of Oz," Freedom Area High School; Jacob Blank-Tony, "West Side Story," Laurel High School; George Burnet-Pippin, "Pippin," Quigley Catholic High School; Jonathan Baktay-Scarecrow/Hunk, "The Wizard of Oz," Seneca Valley High School; and Christian Davis-Albert Peterson, "Bye, Bye Birdie," Shenango High School.

The nominees for Outstanding Leading Actress are Maddie Genre-Peter Pan, "Peter Pan," Ambridge Area High School; Skylar Ruth-Daisy Mae, "Li'l Abner," Butler Senior High School; Hannah Starcher-Fiona, "Shrek the Musical," Central Valley High School; Kianna Skal-Belle, "Beauty and the Beast," Hopewell Area High School; Abby Shepherd-Anita, "West Side Story," Laurel High School; Carly Edman-Babe Williams, "The Pajama Game," Neshannock High School; Britney Yauger-Maria Rainer, "The Sound of Music," Portersville Christian School; and Rachel Carmella-Dorothy Gale, "The Wizard of Oz," Seneca Valley High School.

The nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor are Chase Uram-Marryin' Sam, "Li'l Abner," Butler Senior High School; Matty Conway-Riff, "West Side Story," Laurel High School; T.J. Pieffer-Willard Hewitt, "Footloose," Mars Area High School; Christian Na-Hines, "The Pajama Game," Neshannock High School; James Mangiapane-Max Detweiler, "The Sound of Music," Portersville Christian School; and Derek Gieraltowski-Archie, "13," Slippery Rock Area High School.

The nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress are Brianna Lubic-Tiger Lily, "Peter Pan," Ambridge Area High School; Cierra Ritzert-Holly, "The Wedding Singer," Karns City High School; Addy Albert-Jester, "Once Upon a Mattress," Knoch High School; Gabriella Giangiuli-Gladys, "The Pajama Game," Neshannock High School; Grace Henderson-Elsa Schraeder, "The Sound of Music," Portersville Christian School; Emily Smith-Catherine, "Pippin," Quigley Catholic High School; and Marisa Taormina-Dragon, "Shrek the Musical," Western Beaver High School.

The nominees for Outstanding Noteworthy Individual are Rachel Tyson-Widow Douglas, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Beaver County Christian School; Anthony Ballestrino-Evil Eye Fleagle, "Li'l Abner," Butler Senior High School; Julia Aloisi-Young Fiona, "Shrek the Musical," Central Valley High School; Evan Downing-Action, "West Side Story," Laurel High School; Jordann Versaw-Cowgirl Irene, "Footloose," Mars Area High School; Hannah Clifford-Urleen, "Footloose," Mars Area High School; Bailee Smoot-Poopsie, "The Pajama Game," Neshannock High School; Grant Weaver-Prez, "The Pajama Game," Neshannock High School; Adam Arent-Perkins, "Crazy for You," New Brighton Area High School; Elizabeth Coder-Lily St. Regis, "Annie," Riverside High School; Heather Tame-Heather, "Godspell," Rochester High School; Paige Cassela-Ursula Merkle, "Bye, Bye Birdie," Shenango High School; Josh Bonnici-Gabriel's Trumpet, "Anything Goes," Wilmington Area High School.

The nominees for Outstanding Noteworthy Group are Pirates, "Peter Pan," Ambridge Area High School; Dog Patch Wives, "Li'l Abner," Butler Senior High School; Fairytale Characters, "Shrek the Musical," Central Valley High School; Three Blind Mice, "Shrek the Musical," Central Valley High School; Munchkins, "The Wizard of Oz," Ellwood City Area High School; The Crows, "The Wizard of Oz," Freedom Area High School; Table 9 Misfits, "The Wedding Singer," Karns City High School; Male Ensemble, "The Pajama Game," Neshannock High School; Orphans, "Annie," Riverside High School; 'By My Side,' "Godspell," Rochester High School; Shriners, "Bye, Bye Birdie," Shenango High School; and Brett's Boys, "13," Slippery Rock Area High School.

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