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originally published: 05/04/2023 

Photo is courtesy of the Borough of Carteret

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center has announced the nominations and honorable mentions for the 2023 Carteret PAC Central Jersey Marquee Awards, Honoring Excellence in Middlesex County High School Musical Theatre. The Marquee Awards will take place on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 7:30pm at the new Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center.

The Carteret PAC Central Jersey Marquee Awards celebrate and encourage talent and achievement in musical theatre in high schools throughout Middlesex County, NJ. The program aims to recognize students participating in a range of roles on and off stage. A total of 20 categories will be awarded at the ceremony.

Tickets are $10 and available for purchase online.

The nominees were selected by a panel of expert judges who traveled central New Jersey reviewing spring high school musicals.

The program culminates with a red-carpet celebration on the Carteret PAC stage. Nominated schools and students will perform at a Tony Awards-style ceremony to be held on May 17, 2023. The event will highlight numbers from the nominated shows, as well as award the performers, directors, choreographers, orchestras, and designers, who have expressed excellence during the 2023 musical season.  The evening is hosted by Broadway actress, Tamra Hayden. Tamra Hayden is a celebrated vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who most recently toured with the Broadway National Tour of "Anastasia" and has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in musical theater. Tamra has appeared on Broadway as Cosette in "Les Miserables" and Texas in "Cabaret."

 

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"We are delighted to recognize these exceptional students and schools in Middlesex County for their outstanding achievements," said Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman. "We congratulate them on their well-deserved nominations and honorable mentions.”

2023 Central Jersey Marquee Awards Nominations and Honorable Mentions

BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION 

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

Edison High School    High School Musical

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Spotswood High School    Chicago

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BEST LEAD ACTOR

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin    Andres Lanza as "Pippin"

Colonia High School    All Shook Up    Joe Paladino as "Chad"

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Camryn Burniston as "Nick Bottom" 

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Matthew Wrate as "William Shakespeare"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Aishik Sen as "The Baker"

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood    Jackson Bartle as "William Cartwright (the Chairman)"

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood    Najm Muhammad as "Clive Paget/John Jasper"

 

Honorable Mentions

Edison High School    High School Musical     Dannijames Vergara as "Troy Bolton"

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Nishanth Bhargava as "Danny Zuko"

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family    Michael Onyekwere as "Gomez Addams"

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BEST LEAD ACTRESS

Nominees

Colonia High School    All Shook Up    Alyssa Cifelli as "Natalie Haller/Ed"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Anamika Bachoo as "Witch"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Anna Kodak as "The Baker's Wife"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Grace Velasquez as "Cinderella"

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood    Ashley Hamilton as "Alice Nutting/Edwin Drood"

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family    Jordyn Sutton as "Wednesday Addams"

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    Fiona Tasarek as "Agatha Trunchbull"

 

Honorable Mentions

Carteret High School    Pippin    Ivana Nwaobi as "Leading Player"

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Reva Bhalareo as "Sandy"

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family    Deyana Abdelhady as "Morticia Addams"

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    Meilani Rea as "Matilda"

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nominees

Colonia High School    All Shook Up    Tristan Picou as "Dennis"

Edison High School    High School Musical     Christian Lee as "Ryan Evans"

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Anish Dharam as "Roger"

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Sam Tropea as "Nostradamus"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Yadiel Rivera Colon as "Cinderella's Prince"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Adrian Flanagan as "Jack"

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    Mateo Oloriz as "Mr. Wormwood"

 

Honorable Mentions

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Sanath Saji as "Kenickie"

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Noah Feldman as "Nigel Bottom" 

Spotswood High School    Chicago    Trevor Bergondo as "Amos Hart"

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin    Elani Jade Massallo as "Fastrada"

Colonia High School    All Shook Up    McKaela Maye as "Sylvia"

Edison High School    High School Musical     Elyse Penedos as "Sharpay Evans"

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Makenzie McGowan as "Bea"

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Emily Stein as "Portia"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Arlyn Valdez as "Little Red Ridinghood"

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family    Juliana Deyhle as "Pugsley Addams"

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    Marisa Santiago as "Miss Honey"

 

 

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Honorable Mentions

Colonia High School    All Shook Up    As'maa Jones as "Lorraine"

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz    Alexandria Corallo as "Glinda"

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Zara Diaz as "Marty"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Inabel Abreu as "Jack's Mother"

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BEST ENSEMBLE MEMBER

Nominees

Edison High School    High School Musical     Carolyn Genzano as "Ms. Darbus"

Edison High School    High School Musical     Juan Paolo Andre Agustin as "Chad Danforth"

Edison High School    High School Musical     Riva Christy as "Taylor McKessie"

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Casey Decker as "Jan"

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Aadityaa Singla as "Johnny Casino/Teen Angel"

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Landon Moscariello as "The Minstrel"

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    Jeffrey DeLeon Vaca as "Bruce"

 

Honorable Mentions

Carteret High School    Pippin    Grace Otero as "Berthe" 

Colonia High School    All Shook Up     Veronika Nalyvayko as "Miss Sandra"

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    Karissa Rodriguez as "The Narrator"

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood    Jacob Hall as "Cedric Moncrieffe/Rev. Crisparkle"

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family    Macaria Pelofsky as "Grandma Addams"

Spotswood High School    Chicago    Savanah Rosario as "Mary Sunshine"

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BEST PRODUCTION NUMBER

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin    "Magic To Do"

Colonia High School    All Shook Up    "All Shook Up"

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    "We Go Together"

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    "A Musical" 

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods    "Prologue"

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood    "There You Are"

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    "Revolting Children"

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz    "Merry Old Land of Oz"

Edison High School    High School Musical     "Stick to the Status Quo"

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family    "When You're An Addams"

Spotswood High School    Chicago    "Cell Block Tango"

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BEST CHORUS

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Edison High School    High School Musical 

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Spotswood High School    Chicago

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BEST MUSIC DIRECTION

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Spotswood High School    Chicago

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Edison High School    High School Musical 

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

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BEST STUDENT ORCHESTRA

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Edison High School    High School Musical 

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

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BEST LIGHTING

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Edison High School    High School Musical 

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Spotswood High School    Chicago

 

Honorable Mentions

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

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BEST SCENERY

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

Edison High School    High School Musical 

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Spotswood High School    Chicago

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

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BEST COSTUMES

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

Edison High School    High School Musical 

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Spotswood High School    Chicago

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BEST HAIR AND MAKE UP

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Edison High School    High School Musical 

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Spotswood High School    Chicago

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BEST STUDENT LED CATEGORY

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin    Francesca Navarro as  Best Student Vocal Captain

Carteret High School    Pippin    Mason Diaz as Best Student Musician

Edison High School    High School Musical    Alyssa Osaidacz as Best Student Prop and Costume Designer

Edison High School    High School Musical    Leah Steinlauf as Best Student Stage Manager

Edison High School    High School Musical    Sneha Rajagopalan as Best Student Choreographer

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease    Samantha Dzioba as Best Student Choreographer

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Alexandra Nardone as Best Student Choreographer/Dance Captain

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Anthony Margiotto as Best Student Musician

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Jillian Parrino as Best Student Stage Manager

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!    Olivia Cruz as Best Student Director

Perth Amboy High School    Into The Woods    Jaydon Ramos, DiMarie Morales, and Sarina Lebreault as Best Student Costume Team

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family    Audrey Qian as Best Student Stage Manager

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    Caroline 'Castel' Ruiz as Best Student Stage Manager

Woodbridge High School    Matilda    Jenna Resta as  Best Student Paint Crew - Lead

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BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

Edison High School    High School Musical 

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Spotswood High School    Chicago

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BEST DIRECTION

Nominees

Carteret High School    Pippin

Colonia High School    All Shook Up

Edison High School    High School Musical 

Old Bridge High School    Something Rotten!

Perth Amboy High School    Into the Woods

Rutgers Preparatory School    The Addams Family

Woodbridge High School    Matilda

 

Honorable Mentions

East Brunswick High School    The Wizard of Oz

J.P. Stevens High School    Grease

Piscataway High School    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Spotswood High School    Chicago

The URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center (Carteret PAC), opened in 2021, is a multi-level, flexible space venue that boasts a lower-level comedy/jazz club with piano lounge; a main floor concert/comedy and entertainment space with luxury theatre style seating that is easily removed to accommodate a variety of events such as expos, weddings, dinner, and more.