Notre Dame Academy's XANADU Takes Top Honors At 8th Annual Minty Awards On Staten Island

The Minty Organization's, Minty Awards, honoring excellence in Staten Island's Catholic High School Musicals, were presented to a SRO audience on Sunday, June 3 at the historic St. George Theatre.

Deputy Borough President Ed Burke and former Assemblyman Lou Tobacco presented The St. Genesius Award for Best Musical to Notre Dame Academy's Xanadu. Among the many presenters were previous Minty Award winners Dan Ceasar, Nicholas Gerrity, Kirsten Kaiser, Francesca Saccomagno, Analise Scarpaci, and the Nicotra Group's Kristine Garlisi.

A full list of this year's winners is available at www.mintys.org.

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The 2018 Minty Award Winners

The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical
Xanadu, Notre Dame Academy

Outstanding Leading Actress
Kayla McBratney as "Kira/Clio" in Xanadu

Outstanding Leading Actor
Kenny Harvey as "The Pirate King" in The Pirates of Penzance

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Julia LoCascio as "Mother Abbess" in The Sound of Music

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Jesse Martinelli as "Danny Maguire" in Xanadu

Outstanding Featured Actress
Gianna Nepola as "The Sergeant" in The Pirates of Penzance

Outstanding Featured Actor
Andrew Valentino as "Underling" in The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Featured Dancer
Ashley Abbruzzese, Xanadu

Outstanding Chorus
The Sound of Music, St. Joseph Hill Academy

Outstanding Production Number
"Toledo Surprise" The Drowsy Chaperone - Moore Catholic High School

Outstanding Choreography
Xanadu, Notre Dame Academy

Outstanding Artistic Design
Damn Yankees, St. Peter's Boys High School

THE 2018 THEATRE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Jillian Bodiford, St. John Villa Academy
Joseph Bonaventura, St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School
Rosalia Cioffi, St. Joseph Hill Academy
Lauren Farley, St. Peter's Boys High School
Kenny Harvey, Msgr. Farrell High School
Jillian Jackman, Moore Catholic High School
Gianna Nepola, Notre Dame Academy

The evening included a special tribute performance from the St. John Villa Academy Drama Club, "We're All in This Together," from Disney's High School Musical, which featured many alumnae and current students.

Co-sponsors of the 2018 Minty Awards are Ben-Jo General Trucking, J. Cioffi Trucking, Senator Andrew J. Lanza, Jimmy Max and Wagner College.

The schools and students competed in 13 categories including the evening's coveted award, The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical. The school that wins the St. Genesius Award receives $5,000 to the school's Performing Arts program and the remaining schools will each receive $1,000.