2016 Minty Awards Nominees Announced

The Minty Organization, the non-profit company which oversees The Minty Awards, is gearing for one of the most exciting nights of Staten Island theatre- The Sixth Annual Minty Awards, set for Sunday, June 5 at 7pm at the historic St. George Theatre (35 Hyatt Street).

The nominees for The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical are Annie Get Your Gun - St. Joseph Hill Academy; Anything Goes - Moore Catholic HS; Curtains - Msgr. Farrell HS; Into The Woods - St. Peter's Boys HS; Les Miserables - St. Joseph by-the Sea HS; Pippin - Notre Dame Academy; and Seussical - St. John Villa Academy. A full list of this year's nominees is available at www.mintys.org.

"The excitement that is building from not just our current students, but also all the alumni that are returning is at an all-time high and we are putting together a ceremony that is not to disappoint," said Michael J. Pinto, Sea '06, who serves as Executive Director of The Minty Organization, and co-host of the ceremony. "To have so many students coming back, asking how they could help, and wanting to relive such a magical and memorable night, it goes to show you the true power of theater, and what I believe has been the greatest testament of The Minty's-the great sense of community we see each year."

Tickets to The 2016 Minty Awards Ceremony are $20 and can be purchased by calling The St. George Box Office at 718-442-2900. Students and school staff are to order tickets through their school director.

Joining The Minty Organization in bringing The 2016 Minty Awards to Staten Island are Ben-Jo General Trucking, Senator Andrew J. Lanza, and Wagner College.

Last year's ceremony was attended by over 1000 people and saw St. Joseph Hill Academy's cast of Hello, Dolly! capture The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical.

The schools and students will be competing in 13 categories (including Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Featured Dancer, Outstanding Leading Actor) including the evening's coveted award, The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical. The school that wins the St. Genesius Award also receives $5,000 to the school's Performing Arts program; and the remaining schools will each be receiving $1,000.

A student from each school will also receive The Theatre Player of the Year Award. Each school was asked to select one student who exemplified the spirit of that school's theater department. Each school's recipient will be presented with a special award the night of the ceremony by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Timothy J. McNiff.

Each school's cast will also be performing in a specially commissioned opening number medley, as well as a 7-minute performance from their show.

Returning as Pinto's co-host for this year's ceremony will be Jessica Caracciolo, SJVA '10. "Each year, I look so forward to seeing the talent assemble on the stage for such a memorable night," stated Caracciolo. "Watching the joy on all the students' faces as they get the recognition they so rightfully deserve, it's truly special."

Assisting in handing out the envelopes will be a cavalcade of previous Minty Awards winners and nominees who are all returning for this Sixth Year Ceremony, as well as graduates from all the participating schools who were active members of the theater programs during high school, including some who have gone on to a career on Broadway.

The next two weeks will consist of rehearsals with all the participating schools, as well as Minty Dancers and Nominees for the special "Meet Me at the Minty's" opening number, choreographed by Christina Moore and Lana Herzig, both Minty veterans. The Mighty Minty Orchestra will be led once again by 2012 Minty Award winner Joshua Sottile.

Individuals who wish to make a tax-deductible contribution to The Minty Organization are asked to visit www.mintys.org.