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2015 Basie Award Nominations

originally published: 05/07/2015

2015 Basie Award Nominations

(RED BANK, NJ) - Nominees have been announced for the 10th annual BASIE AWARDS, honoring excellence in high school theatre in Monmouth County. This year's ceremony takes place on Wednesday, May 20th at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

The BASIES began in 2005 as a way to honor and recognize high school-level actors, actresses and productions in the Monmouth County area. Eighteen dramas and 27 musical performances were evaluated by the BASIE AWARDS nomination committee, which produced nominations for students, productions and schools in various acting and production categories.

"Each year the audience gets bigger, the cheering louder, and the energy exuding from the audience is palpable even back stage," says Yvonne Lamb-Scudiery, Director of the Count Basie Theatre's Education department and Performing Arts Academy. "While the excitement of the evening cannot be denied, we are also proud of how the Basie Awards have created an ever growing community of arts advocates, school administrations and supporters who understand the power and the impact of the arts."

In addition to recognizing high school talent, the BASIES' Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Joseph Russo, director of the drama program at Red Bank Regional High School and a teacher, actor and director for over 40 years. This honor is presented to individuals who have dedicated their lives to making art happen and art that matters in our community. Additionally, the winners of the Count Basie Theatre's Arts Impacts Scholarships will be announced at THE BASIES. This year, three scholarships – the Monmouth Medical Center - Barnabas Health Arts Impact Scholarship, the Monmouth County Freeholders' Basie Scholarship for Continuing Education and the Moser-Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship – will be awarded to three high school seniors whose life, academic, and career choice has been impacted by the arts.



 
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For the third consecutive year, the BASIE AWARDS are sponsored by Barnabas Health-Monmouth Medical Center, a partnership that promotes awareness of the importance of the arts in physical and mental well-being.



NOMINEES FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL BASIE AWARDS:


DRAMATIC PRESENTATIONS:



Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Drama

Matawan Regional HS - Cocktails with Mimi - Sam Pickens

Rumson Fair Haven Regional HS - Miracle on 34th Street - Matthew Leddin

Red Bank Regional HS - Much Ado About Nothing - Claudia O'Connor, Carl Grillo

Red Bank Catholic HS - Lost in Yonkers - Lori & Paul Renick

Christian Brothers Academy - The Nerd - Brandon Castro & Brenna Dowd


Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama

Red Bank Catholic HS - Lost in Yonkers - Robert Rutt, Casey Gotta, Eliza Rocco

Rumson Fair Haven Regional HS - Miracle on 34th Street - Matthew Leddin

Red Bank Regional HS - Much Ado About Nothing - Noah Beller & Matt Suszka

Middletown HS South - A Diamond as Big as the Ritz - Vici Saunders

Matawan Regional HS - Cocktails with Mimi - Jessica Amorino & Michael W. Wells II


Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama

Mater Dei Prep - Is He Dead? – Peggy Baumgartner & Jacquie Revier

Middletown HS South - A Diamond as Big as the Ritz – Jacqui Mazza & Laura Mazza

Freehold HS - The Shuddersome Tales of Poe - Lisa Bravo Zimmerman, Bri Trischitta

Matawan Regional HS - Cocktails with Mimi – Linda Walling

Red Bank Catholic HS – Lost in Yonkers – Jay Giberson, Molly Fichter, Sarah Hough


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

Andrew Diaz – Freehold HS – Shuddersome Tales of Poe

Patrick Monaghan – Red Bank Regional HS – Much Ado About Nothing

Elias Kotsis – Middletown HS South – A Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Quinn Surdez – Matawan Regional HS – Cocktails with Mimi

Max Farley – Monmouth Regional HS – Hold Me




 
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Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

Olivia Rauso – Red Bank Catholic HS – Lost in Yonkers

Caitlin Charles - Matawan Regional HS – Cocktails with Mimi

Katherine Kennedy - Red Bank Regional HS – Much Ado About Nothing

Rebecca Sosa – Mater Dei Prep – Is He Dead?

Jenny Lewis – St. John Vianney HS – 3 One Acts


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

John Gnazzo – Red Bank Catholic HS – Lost in Yonkers

Sunjay Vankatramn - Matawan Regional HS – Cocktails with Mimi

Justin Giegerich – Red Bank Regional HS – Much Ado About Nothing

John Lerman - Freehold HS – Shuddersome Tales of Poe

Joseph Walsh – Mater Dei Prep – Is He Dead?


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

Julia Mosby – Rumson Fair Haven Regional HS – Miracle on 34th Street

Emily Esposito – Matawan Regional HS – Cocktails with Mimi

Laura Diorio – Middletown HS South – A Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Emily Mitro – Shore Regional HS – Lend Me a Tenor

Amanda Spina – St. John Vianney HS – 3 One Acts


Outstanding Direction in a Drama

Alexis Kozak - A Diamond as Big as the Ritz – Middletown HS South

KasiAnn Sweeney - The Shuddersome Tales of Poe – Freehold HS

Joseph Russo - Much Ado About Nothing – Red Bank Regional HS

Suzanne Sweeney - Miracle on 34th Street – Rumson Fair Haven Regional HS

Gary Alan Powell & Danielle Cozzati - Is He Dead? – Mater Dei Prep


Outstanding Overall Production - Drama

Much Ado About Nothing – Red Bank Regional HS – Joseph Russo

Cocktails with Mimi – Matawan Regional HS – Linda Walling

A Diamond as Big as the Ritz – Middletown HS South – Alexis Kozak

Miracle on 34th Street – Rumson Fair Haven Regional HS – Suzanne Sweeney

The Shuddersome Tales of Poe – Freehold HS – KasiAnn Sweeney



MUSICAL PRESENTATIONS:

Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Musical

Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone – Alexis Kozak

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS – Young Frankenstein – Matthew Leddin

Shore Regional HS – Annie – Scott Naef

Freehold HS – The Addams Family - Kevin Gunther

Ocean Township HS – The Addams Family - Todd Gagnon


Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

Howell HS – The Wiz - Travis Popiel

Shore Regional HS – Annie - Anthony Calicchio

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS – Young Frankenstein – Matthew Leddin

Freehold HS - The Addams Family - Kevin Gunther, Corinne Grasso

Matawan Regional HS – Fame - Michael W. Wells II


Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

Shore Regional HS – Annie - Linda Fitzgerald

Red Bank Catholic HS – Shrek - Kelly Gemellaro & Keith Gissubel

Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone – Jacqui Mazza & Laura Mazza

Howell HS – The Wiz – Jacquie Revier

Mater Dei Prep – Loserville – Peggy Baumgartner

Freehold HS - The Addams Family - Lisa Bravo Zimmerman


Outstanding Choreography in a Musical

Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone – Jacqui Mazza

Shore Regional HS – Annie - Tara Eccles-Frye

Freehold HS - The Addams Family - Valerie Herman

Long Branch HS – A Chorus Line – Meagan Ruland

Matawan Regional HS – Fame - Julie McKurth


Outstanding Musical Direction

Howell HS – The Wiz- Regina McAllen

Shore Regional HS – Annie – A.J. Meeker

Freehold HS - The Addams Family - Eric Gross

Mater Dei Prep – Curtains - Cindy J. Dwyer

Matawan Regional HS – Fame - Andre Baldasserini




 
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Outstanding All Student Orchestra

Marlboro HS – Little Shop of Horrors - Patrick Dalton

Howell HS – The Wiz- Anthony Limaldi

Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone - Emily Kaster

Freehold HS - The Addams Family - Eric Gross

Marlboro HS – Sweeney Todd - Patrick Dalton


Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra

Ranney School – Fiorello - John Propper

St. Rose HS – Mary Poppins - David Shirley

Long Branch HS – A Chorus Line – Robert Clark

Ocean Township HS – The Addams Family - Kyle Titmus

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS – Young Frankenstein – Vincent Mottern


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

Ashley Diana – Mater Dei Prep – Curtains

Emily Esposito – Matawan Regional HS – Fame

Lara Atry – Marlboro HS – Sweeney Todd

Alysa Finnegan – Mater Dei Prep – Loserville

Nicole Cebulko - Shore Regional HS – Annie

Anna Juliano – Freehold Township HS – All Shook Up


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

Sean Molicki – Mater Dei Prep – Curtains

Quinn Surdez – Matawan Regional HS – Fame

Robert Rutunno – Freehold HS – The Addams Family

Brian Nohl – Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone

Jake Cameron - Shore Regional HS – Annie

Timothy DiDomenico – Red Bank Catholic HS – Shrek


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

Joelle Rosen – Long Branch HS – A Chorus Line

Rachel Calvosa – Freehold HS – The Addams Family

Julia Mosby – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS – Young Frankenstein

Julia Crean – Ocean Township HS – The Addams Family

Eliana Swartz – Red Bank Regional HS – Anything Goes

Alysa Finnegan – Mater Dei Prep – Curtains


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

Carmine Mastrokostas – Ranney School – Fiorello

Luke Sweeney – Shore Regional HS – Annie

Andrew Diaz – Freehold HS – The Addams Family

Elias Kotsis – Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone

Jordan Kerry-Mitchell - Howell HS – The Wiz

Regene Odon – Monmouth Regional HS - Shrek


Outstanding Ensemble Performer in a Musical

Savannah Connolly – Mater Dei Prep – Loserville

Madeline Emile – Red Bank Catholic HS – Shrek

Alyssa Pipitone – Mater Dei Prep – Curtains

Kelly Sullivan – Mater Dei Prep – Loserville

Kerri Ann Ring – Matawan Regional HS – Fame


Outstanding Ensemble Group in a Musical

Orphans – Shore Regional HS – Annie

Orphans – Henry Hudson Regional HS – Annie

Urchins – Marlboro HS –Little Shop of Horrors


Outstanding Chorus in a Musical

Shore Regional HS – Annie

Matawan Regional HS – Fame

Freehold HS – The Addams Family

Mater Dei Prep – Curtains

Howell HS – The Wiz

Red Bank Catholic HS - Shrek


Outstanding Direction in a Musical

Linda Walling - Matawan Regional HS - Fame

KasiAnn Sweeney - Freehold HS - The Addams Family

Suzanne Sweeney - Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS – Young Frankenstein

Todd Aikens - Shore Regional HS – Annie

Keith Gissubel - Red Bank Catholic HS – Shrek

Steven Koumoulis - Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone


Outstanding Overall Musical Production

Stephen Kazakoff - Howell HS – The Wiz

KasiAnn Sweeney - Freehold HS - The Addams Family

Suzanne Sweeney - Rumson-Fair Haven Regional HS – Young Frankenstein

Todd Aikens - Shore Regional HS – Annie

Steven Koumoulis - Middletown HS South – The Drowsy Chaperone


ABOUT THE COUNT BASIE THEATRE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM:

The Count Basie Theatre's educational mission is to provide a foundation of cultural enrichment to students of all ages and economic levels. These efforts include arts instruction and coursework, plus unique programs like teacher's professional development and bus-in programs for students in underprivileged school districts. The theatre's Education and Outreach Programs and its faculty aim to offer an ever-changing suite of programming designed to enrich the Count Basie Theatre community as a whole.



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