Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2010 Rising Star Award Nominees

Since their inception in 1996 the Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre have ignited the careers of many notable performers, all of whom attended high school in New Jersey. Among the early nominees and winners are Academy Award® nominee Anne Hathaway, and Tony® award winner Laura Benanti.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards - Presented by the Investors Savings Bank Foundation are modeled after the Tony® Awards and Paper Mill Playhouse's program serves the entire state of New Jersey with 100 entered productions from public, private and parochial high schools. Paper Mill Playhouse conceived and created the awards in 1996 to give schools the opportunity to showcase their musical arts programs on a state level. The musicals are adjudicated by Paper Mill Playhouse throughout the spring by a group of 70 Evaluators, with each school receiving four independent evaluations. The 2010 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards ceremony is set for June 8th at the Millburn theater, when the nominees perform and the award recipients are presented with a crystal award from Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards partner Tiffany & Co. "We are proud once again to be a part of the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards, which is in its 15th year of recognizing exceptional performances by high school students and educators," said Investors Savings Bank President and CEO Kevin Cummings, who also serves on the board of the Investors Savings Bank Foundation. "Thanks to the education and outreach efforts of the Paper Mill Playhouse, programs like this one are providing talented young people with outstanding opportunities."

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards are one of several such programs sponsored by regional theatres around the country and the winning performers in the Lead Actress and Actor categories will represent the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards competition at New York University, which culminates in a Gala Ceremony at Broadway's Marquis Theatre On June 28th. The National High School Musical Theatre Awards are known as The Jimmy Awards and are named for legendary Broadway producer James Nederlander. The Jimmy Awards are presented by the Nederlander Organization and Pittsburgh CLO. The winning Actor and Actress of the 2010 Jimmy Award will each receive a full scholarship to attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and a cash prize of $10,000. In addition, each year an Outstanding Arts Educator award is presented and the winning teacher's theatre program is awarded $5,000. In 2009 the Outstanding Arts Educator Award was given to Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star nominated director, Paula Ohaus, from New Jersey's Hoboken High School.

Paper Mill Director of Education, Lisa Cooney adds, "What's happening in high school musical productions here in New Jersey and around the country is remarkable. Programs like the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards raise the bar and create opportunities for student performers and theatre technicians to be recognized for their achievements, while giving them access to thousands of dollars in scholarship money. Many of Paper Mill Playhouse's Rising Star nominees and winners are now working professionally and we consistently hear from top tier colleges and casting directors that the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award is a significant accolade for an aspiring theatre artist."

The 2010 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Ceremony will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse Tuesday, June 8th at 7:30pm.

Paper Mill Playhouse also awards $5,000 in scholarships at the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards. Four $1,000 cash scholarships are given to outstanding individual students who plan to continue studying theatre in college, and a technical theatre scholarship of $1,000 is sponsored annually by Scaramouche Costumes, LLC. Paper Mill Playhouse is pleased to announce that a prize of $500 will be given to two schools receiving the 2010 Educational Impact Award which acknowledges a district that successfully connects the school musical to the district's curriculum, using the production as a teaching tool for the greater student body and local community. 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 Playhouse in our August season finale concert, "New Voices 2010: Pure Imagination".

Among the top nominated high schools Union HS leads with 14 nominations followed by Pt. Pleasant Borough HS with 10, Fair Lawn HS - 9, Absegami HS - 8, Summit HS - 8, Gill St. Bernard HS - 7, Northern Valley Regional HS at Demarest - 6, Cranford HS - 4, Morristown-Beard HS - 4, Rahway HS - 4, Shore Regional HS - 4, Don Bosco Prep HS - 3, Eastern Regional HS - 3, and West Milford Township HS - 3.

The 2010 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards - Presented by the Investors Savings Bank Foundation are also generously supported by The Ambrose & Ida Fredrickson Foundation, The Bloomingdale's Fund of the Macy's Foundation and John Burgio and Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio. Additional major funding for Paper Mill Playhouse Education Outreach is provided by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and MetLife Foundation.

Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is grateful for generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals.

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

2010 Final Nominations and Honorable Mentions

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Final Nominations
Absegami HS............................................ JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Fair Lawn HS............................................ DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Gill St. Bernard's School............................ KISS ME, KATE
Northern Valley Reg. HS @ Demarest......... PIPPIN
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS........................... SWEENEY TODD - SCHOOL EDITION
Summit HS............................................... THE PRODUCERS
Union HS.................................................. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Honorable Mentions
Cranford HS.............................................. INTO THE WOODS
Morristown-Beard School........................... HELLO, DOLLY!
Shore Regional HS.................................... GYPSY

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Final Nominations
Bayonne HS........................ ANYTHING GOES......................... Kassie Doherty as "Reno Sweeney"
Eastern Regional HS............ CHICAGO..................................... Sarah Cheatham as "Roxie Hart"
Howell HS........................... GYPSY........................................ Mary DiGangi as "Rose"
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS...... SWEENEY TODD............................... Katie Blomquist as "Mrs. Lovett"
Shore Regional HS............... GYPSY........................................ Jennifer Townsend as "Louise"
Union HS............................ JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT............. Alyssa Muniz as "Narrator"
Westfield HS....................... THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD .......... Catalina Gaglioti as "Rosa Budd / Miss Deirdre Peregrine"
Honorable Mentions
Eastern Regional HS............ CHICAGO..................................... Julia Udine as "Velma Kelly"
JP Stevens HS.................... JEKYLL & HYDE........................... Emily Phillips as "Lucy Harris"
The Pingry School................ SWEENEY TODD......................... Kaela O'Connor as "Mrs. Lovett"

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Final Nominations
Bernards HS........................ ANYTHING GOES..................................... Sean Welsh Brown as "Billy Crocker"
Fair Lawn HS....................... DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS................. Phil Sloves as "Freddy Benson"
Gill St. Bernard's School....... KISS ME, KATE........................................ Christian Bormann Paris as "FrEd Graham / Petruchio"
JP Stevens HS.................... JEKYLL & HYDE....................................... Kirk Geritano as "Jekyll / Hyde"
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS...... SWEENEY TODD - SCHOOL EDITION...... John Caliendo as "Sweeney Todd"
Summit HS......................... THE PRODUCERS.................................... Peter Corley as "Leo Bloom"
Union HS............................ JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT......................... Matthew Corbin as "Joseph"
Honorable Mentions
Bloomfield HS......................................... OLIVER!...................................... ChristIan Stewart as "Fagin"
Jonathan Dayton HS................................ LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS....... Matt Rottenberg as "Seymour Krelborne"
Northern Valley Reg. HS @ Demarest....... PIPPIN........................................ Josh Skurnik as "Pippin"
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Final Nominations
Cranford HS......................................... INTO THE WOODS....... Erica Morreale as "Little Red Riding Hood"
Cranford HS......................................... INTO THE WOODS....... Maeve Brady as "Jack's Mother"
Morristown-Beard School...................... HELLO, DOLLY!........... Breena Beck as "Irene Molloy"
Morristown-Beard School...................... HELLO, DOLLY!........... Alia Roth as "Minnie Fay"
Northern Valley Reg. HS @ Demarest.... PIPPIN......................... Angela Vallone as "Catherine"
Robbinsville HS.................................... GUYS AND DOLLS....... Alyssa McAnany as "Miss Adelaide"
The Pingry School................................ SWEENEY TODD......... Lillie Ricciardi as "Beggar Woman"
Honorable Mentions
New Milford HS.................................... RENT: SCHOOL EDITION.......... Jessica Milne as "Maureen"
Nutley HS............................................ INTO THE WOODS................... Pamela Henning as "Little Red Riding Hood"
West Milford Township HS.................... DAMN YANKEES..................... Shannon Bruno as "Gloria Thorpe"

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Final Nominations
Dover HS................................. YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN...... Ronald Williams as "Snoopy"
Hoboken HS............................ AIDA.............................................................. Saquan Sha-hard Williams as "Mereb"
Immaculata HS........................ DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ............. Kevin LeBoeuf as "Lumiere"
Jonathan Dayton HS................. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS........................... Michael Grey as "Orin Scrivello"
Pascack Valley HS.................. INTO THE WOODS......................................... Brandon Essig as "Jack"
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS.......... SWEENEY TODD .......................................... Andrew Ferrie as "Anthony"
Summit HS.............................. THE PRODUCERS.......................................... Michael Gorman as "Franz Liebkind"
Honorable Mentions
Mater Dei HS........................... THE 25TH ANNUAL.SPELLING BEE ............... Joseph Diana as "William Barfee"
Montclair Kimberley Academy... A FUNNY THING . FORUM............................. Ed Rosini as "Hysterium"
Toms River HS South................ A FUNNY THING . FORUM............................. Zane Schact as "Senex"

Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role
Final Nominations
Absegami HS........................... JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ..................... Morgan Kirner as "Narrator"
Montclair Kimberley Academy... A FUNNY THING . FORUM .................. Jordan Elman as "Erronius"
Mount Olive HS........................ THE WEDDING SINGER......................... Harrison Richlin as "George"
Robbinsville HS........................ GUYS AND DOLLS................................ Paul McGlew as "Nicely-Nicely Johnson"
Shore Regional HS................... GYPSY................................................. Sara Bristol as "Tessie Tura"
Union HS................................. JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT...................... Michael Figueriredo as "Reuben"
Westfield HS............................ THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD ....... Adam Ziering as "Durdles / Mr. Nick Cricker"
Honorable Mentions
Red Bank Catholic HS.............. MY FAIR LADY...................................... Kelly Fitzpatrick as "Mrs. Pearce"
Shore Regional HS................... GYPSY................................................. Carlie Schuttinger as "Electra"
Shore Regional HS................... GYPSY................................................. Kelly Cosentino as "Mazeppa"

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Member
Final Nominations
Don Bosco Prep HS................. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.................. Wendeline Demorin as "Crystal"
High Tech HS........................... DISNEY'S ALADDIN, JR......................... Traver Hecht-Felella as "Abu"
Hoboken HS............................ AIDA..................................................... Imani Hightower as "Nehebka"
Montville Township HS.............. LI'L ABNER............................................ Ruby Liu as "Hope"
Summit HS.............................. THE PRODUCERS................................. Adrian Arrieta as "Lead Tenor/Scott"
West Milford Township HS........ DAMN YANKEES.................................. Kristie Trabucco as "Bat Girl"

Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Group
Final Nominations
Absegami HS........................... JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ..................... "Joseph's Brothers"
Don Bosco Prep HS................. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.................. "The Urchins"
Morristown-Beard School.......... HELLO, DOLLY!..................................... "The Waiters"
Shore Regional HS................... GYPSY................................................. "The Strippers"
Union HS................................. JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ..................... "Joseph's Brothes"
West Milford Township HS........ DAMN YANKEES.................................. "The Washington Senators"
Honorable Mentions
Linden HS................................ JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ..................... "Joseph's Brothers"

Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
Final Nominations
Absegami HS............................................ JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Fair Lawn HS............................................ DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Gill St. Bernard's School............................ KISS ME, KATE
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS........................... SWEENEY TODD - SCHOOL EDITION
Rahway HS............................................... THE MUSIC MAN
Summit HS............................................... THE PRODUCERS
Union HS.................................................. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

Honorable Mentions
Robbinsville HS......................................... GUYS AND DOLLS
Union Catholic Reg. HS............................. LES MISÉRABLES

Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
Final Nominations
Cherry Hill HS East................................... MAN OF LA MANCHA
Eastern Regional HS................................. CHICAGO
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS........................... SWEENEY TODD - SCHOOL EDITION
Rahway HS............................................... THE MUSIC MAN
Union HS.................................................. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Honorable Mentions
Fair Lawn HS............................................ DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
James Caldwell HS.................................... GYPSY

Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director
Final Nominations
Absegami HS........................................ JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ........................ Chip Garrison
Fair Lawn HS......................................... DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS................. John Giresi
Gill St. Bernard's School......................... KISS ME, KATE........................................ Paul H. Canada
Northern Valley Reg. HS @ Demarest..... PIPPIN..................................................... John Gray
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS........................ SWEENEY TODD - SCHOOL EDITION....... Ian Kearns
Summit HS........................................... THE PRODUCERS.................................... Anne Poyner
Union HS.............................................. JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ........................ James Mosser
Honorable Mentions
Morristown-Beard School........................ HELLO, DOLLY!........................................ Ross Hindley
West Milford Township HS...................... DAMN YANKEES..................................... Doug Heyburn

Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction
Final Nominations
Fair Lawn HS......................................... DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS..... John Giresi & Paul A. Kafer
Gill St. Bernard's School......................... KISS ME, KATE............................ Amy & David Southerland
James Caldwell HS................................ GYPSY........................................ David Modero
Northern Valley Reg. HS @ Demarest..... PIPPIN......................................... Leslie MacPherson & Jonathan Harris
Pt. Pleasant Borough HS........................ SWEENEY TODD ........................ Terry Bojanowski & Scott Visco
Union HS.............................................. JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ............ James Mosser & Laura Muller

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography and Staging
Final Nominations
Absegami HS..................................... JOSEPH . DREAMCOAT ............... Isaiah Young
Eastern Regional HS