2013 Minty Awards Honor Staten Island High School Theater Departments Tonight

The Minty Awards, which began three years ago as a way to honor the Catholic high school theater departments, has announced that this year for the first time, every participating high school will be receiving a monetary prize.

"I am extremely proud to announce due to the generosity of our sponsors, each participating school will be given a monetary prize to help better their Theatre Departments," said Michael J. Pinto, Sea '06, who serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Minty Awards, and co- host of the ceremony. "Each school puts in so much time and energy into building their theatre departments, and that effort should not go unnoticed nor unrewarded."

The 2013 Minty Awards will be held tonight, June 8 at 7pm at The St. George Theatre. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by visiting www.mintoinc.com/mintys or calling 718-702- 0472.

Joining Minto Entertainment, Inc. in bringing The 2013 Minty Awards to Staten Island is Ben-Jo General Trucking, The Seton Foundation for Learning, and Wagner College. Both The Seton Foundation and Wagner College have served as co-sponsors for the previous 2 years, as well.

Last year's ceremony was attended by over 800 people and saw St. Peter's Boys High School's cast of LES MISERABLES capture The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical.

This year, the schools that will be participating are Moore Catholic HS (HAIRSPRAY), Msgr. Farrell HS (THE DROWSY CHAPERONE) Notre Dame Academy (THE LEADER OF THE PACK), St. John Villa Academy (42ND STREET), St. Joseph Hill Academy (OLIVER!), St. Joseph by-the Sea HS (GREASE), and St. Peter's Boys HS (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA).

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 Best Musical Award also receives 50% of the evening's profits to go towards the betterment of the school's Fine Arts Department. Over the past two years, nearly $10,000 has been donated back to the Catholic High Schools that have won this award.

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. Associate Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York, Michael Coppotelli, a Sea graduate from the Class of 2001, will present the school's recipient with a special award the night of the ceremony. Mr. Coppotelli will be representing Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Timothy 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.

Joining Pinto as co-host for this year's ceremony will be Nicole (Lento) Grasso, SJVA '99, and a teacher at St. Patrick's Elementary School. "I have always admired how The Minty Awards pays tribute to the talented high school students we have on the Island," said Grasso. "And now to be involved as co-host is very special."

"We are so thrilled that the Minty Awards program continues to grow with each passing year," stated Rebecca Sciannameo, Vice Chair of the Minty Board of Directors. "Last year's response from the Staten Island community was amazing, and we can't wait for this year's show, as we strive to create a family among the drama programs at the Catholic High Schools."

Assisting in handing out the envelopes will be some of last year's winners, 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. Also scheduled to be on hand to present the St. Genesius Award is Tony Award winner, Michele Pawk, a professor of theatre at Wagner College.

The remaining Board members include Joseph Caramanno, Robert Santimauro, Jessica Caracciolo, and Christina Moore, Miss Kings County 2013, and choreographer for the ceremony.

Plans are in the works to create a similar program honoring the public high school theater departments.

Individuals who wish to contribute to The Minty Awards are asked to visit www.mintoinc.com/mintys. Find out more about The Minty Awards on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMintyAwards, Twitter: @MintyAwards and Instagram: @mintyawards.

Pictured: Opening Number from last year's ceremony.

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