High School Musical Theater Award Finalists Announced

B² Productions LLC in Norwich, CT has announced finalists for the seventh annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards. (CHSMTA).

The Black Tie Awards Gala will be held 6:30 pm Monday, June 1 at The Palace Theater in Waterbury.  The awards are founded and produced by Brett A. Bernardini.

As the nationally designated, high school musical theater awards program for the state of Connecticut, The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards are connected with The National High School Musical Theater Award Program based in New York City. 16 awards will be presented along with performances of nominated schools, soloists and accompanied by a full orchestra. 

The recipients of the CHSMTA awards for Outstanding Actor and Actress with travel to New York City at the end of June 2015 where they will join with others young people selected from other similar State program runs by professional theaters, from all across the country for the annual presentation of The Jimmy Awards. The National High School Musical Theater Awards, produced by The Broadway League, is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement that recognizes individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performances by high school students. “The Jimmy Award” is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theater owner and producer.
Over the past years, The CHSMTAs have had six finalists: Stephen Mark, Grace Hardin, John Jorge, Katie Oxman, Taylor Varga, Jillian Cailoutte) and 2 National winners!! (Stephen Mark, Ridgefield HS and Taylor Varga, Newtown HS). 

Tickets for the gala event are on sale through The Palace Theater Box Office, 203-346-2000. 

The finalists are:

OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Andrea Kennedy & David Linet

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Shannon Courtney

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Gina Gallo, Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeannette Davidson

West Warwick High School – BIG FISH

Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY

Troye Evers

OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Julie Chevan

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Irene Ludemann

Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND

Judi Moore

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Dierdre Alexander

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Bonnie Johnson

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Joanne Nyerick

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeanette Davidson

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Dan Hassenmyer

Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY

Robyn Joyce

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Kevin Gleason 

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Stef Carr

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Rich Parsons

Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS

Paul Caginalp

Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY

Jeff Whitsett

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Robert Kennedy

Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY

Karen Sparks Mellon

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Kevin Gleason 

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Abby Callery, Jane Matson, Bill Mangold

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Mark Mazzarella

Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS

Casey Lampert

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Cathy Bolton, Sam Maloney, Stephanie Bont 

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Tom Ivanovich & Dave Trovarelli - Horizon Sound

Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY

Greg Boucher

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Jason Kurtzman 

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Tim Mammen

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Dave Glanovsky

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Tom Ivanovich

Valley Regional High School – BAND GEEKS 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Robert & Andrea Kennedy

Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND

Michael Berkeley

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Deirdre Alexander 

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Jane Matson

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Mark Mazzarella

Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS

Thomas Dugan

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Jessica Spillane

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Andrea Kennedy

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

John Carter

Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY

Christine Bard-Simoes

Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND

Amber Cameron

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Deirdre Alexander 

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Frank Root & Abigail Root

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Peter Randazzo

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Dan Balint

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Brett Boles 

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Chelsea Kane, Kim Wiggin

Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS

Chelsea Kane, Kim Wiggin

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Jerold Goldstein

Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY

Michael Wyatt and Jonathan Curri

OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Co-operative Arts & Humanities High School – CURTAINS

East Lyme High School – GREASE

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Molly Silverman - BILLIE BENDIX

Immaculate High School – WEST SIDE STORY

Emma Giorgio  - MARIA

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Elizabeth Koennecke  – SANDY

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Chiara Giampietro  - MARIA

Valley Regional High School – BAND GEEKS

Maggie Walsh - LAURA

Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY

Alexandra Cahr  - TRACY

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Hudson Lee – JIMMY WINTER

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

 Kyle Watkins – STEIN

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Joe Schigas  - CAPTAIN VON TRAPP

Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS

Alex Mainoff  - USNAVI

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Zac Gottschall  - HORACE VANDERGELDER

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Morgan Guadagnoli  - KALA

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Nancy Leville – RIZZO

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Emily Crebbin  - GABBY

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

KodyLynn Perkins - MOTHER ABBAS

Suffield Academy – IN THE HEIGHTS

Katherine Kalill  - DANIELLA

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Katherine Griffin - MINNIE FAY

Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY

Madeline Bria   - VELMA 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Kahari Blue – KURCHIK

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Thomas Mueller  - COOKIE

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

 Jack Leonard – BARNABY

Michael Lapore  - CORNELIUS

Westhill High School – HAIRSPRAY

Ethan Riordan – CORNEY

Jason Nekritz - WILBER

Anthony Laszlo   - EDNA

OUTSTANDING CHORUS

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Greater Hartford Academy – SWEET CHARITY

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

Valley Regional High School – BAND GEEKS

Westhill High School - HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER

Cheshire High School – NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Isabella Riccio – JEANNIE MULDOON

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Audrey Kirkpatrick - MARTY

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

Aimee Talbot  - MALLORY

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Caleigh Lozito  -  ELSA

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP

West Warwick High School – BIG FISH

- ALABAMA LAMBS

Sacred Heart Academy – SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

- DIVA DANCERS

Greater Hartford Arts Academy – SWEET CHARITY

FANDAGO GIRLS

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

- ANGEL CITY 4

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR

Amity Regional High School – TARZAN

Housatonic Valley Regional High School – THE BOYFRIEND

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS

St. Paul’s Catholic – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Trumbull High School – HELLO DOLLY

OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY

                                                                    Amity Regional High School – TARZAN                                                                   

Co-operative Arts and Humanities High School - CURTAINS

Immaculate High School – WEST SIDE STORY

New Canaan High School – GREASE

Newtown High School – CITY OF ANGELS