(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- On June 2, 2025, bergenPAC's Performing Arts School proudly hosted the High School Musical Awards Ceremony. This prestigious event celebrated and showcased the exceptional talents of students and staff from high schools across New Jersey involved in musical theater. This year, bergenPAC received nearly three times as many applications as last year, and are thrilled with the program's growth, which highlights the talents of students from all over the state.
Many deserving awards were presented alongside incredible student performances, bringing our theater to life with acts from schools both near and far. While every student was honored for their extraordinary talent, hard work, and dedication to their shows this year, bergenPAC is excited to share the list of winners. The adjudicator team worked tirelessly to review the numerous submissions, giving thorough attention to the unprecedented number of applications. Judges were even inspired to create a few new awards after witnessing unique performances, such as cast members walking up walls and on ceilings, bringing plants to life, using real animals, and more. Schools truly went above and beyond to showcase something special, and bergenPAC is honored to host this event bringing everyone together to celebrate their achievements.
Here is this year's list of award winners, including the students, staff, and faculty who took home the trophies:
* Best Lobby Design: Mount Olive High School, Grease
* Special Feature: Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Mary Poppins
* Above and Beyond: Fair Lawn High School, Mamma, Mia!,
* Heart and Soul: Holy Spirit High School, Footloose
* The Show Must Go On: Pascack Regional High School, Legally Blonde
* Best Production Set Design: Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Cinderella, Elizabeth A. Volpe
* Best Lighting Design: Mount Olive High School, Grease,
* Best Sound Design: Washington Township High School, Shrek the Musical, Sophia Meares & Joy Umeh
* Best Hair & Makeup Design: Washington Township High School, Shrek the Musical, John Rattacasa
* Best Costume Design: Mainland Regional High School, Hello, Dolly!, Julie Jackson
* Best Orchestra: Tenafly High School, Chicago, William Farnham
* Best Ensemble: Morristown High School, Les Misérables
* Outstanding Ensemble Member: Dwight-Englewood School,, Blasina Olowe as Assistant Choreographer/Featured Dancer
* Best Actor in a Male-Identified Featured Role: Mainland Regional High School, Hello, Dolly!, Yulian Pereira as Rudolph Reisenweber
* Best Actor in a Female-Identified Featured Role: Pope John XXIII Regional High School, Bye Bye Birdie, Anya Pucci as Mama Mae Peterson
* Best Solo Performance: Mount Olive High School, "Music and the Mirror," Zoya Vaidya
* Best Choreography: Toms River High School North, Crazy For You, Dr. Michael Pena
* Best Musical Direction: Morristown High School: Les Misérables,
* Best Direction: Tenafly High School, Chicago, Samuel Ahn-Cooper
* Best Actor in a Male-Identified Supporting Role: Morristown High School, Les Misérables, Jackson Miller as Javert
* Best Actor in a Female-Identified Supporting Role: Ocean County Vocational Technical School Grunin Performing Arts Academy, Spongebob the Musical, Gianna Minardi as Pearl Krabs
* Best Actor in a Male-Identified Leading Role: Washington Township High School, Shrek the Musical, Presley Terch as Shrek
* Best Actor in a Female-Identified Leading Role: TIE - Toms River High School North, Crazy For You, Madison McPhee as Polly Baker and Washington Township High School, Shrek the Musical, Annabelle Corigigliano as Fiona
* Outstanding Overall Musical: Morristown High School, Les Misérables, Stephanie Rubin
* Executive Director's Award: Hannah Shinder, Bergen County Academies
Award categories included: - Lobby Display - Production Set Design - Lighting Design - Sound Design - Costumes, Hair, and Makeup - Orchestra - Outstanding Ensemble - Outstanding Ensemble Member - Outstanding Featured Performer - Choreography - Music Direction - Creative Direction - Best Female-Identified Supporting Role - Best Male-Identified Supporting Role - Best Female-Identified Lead - Best Male-Identified Lead - Outstanding Overall Musical - Executive Director's Award.
Participating schools included: New Jersey Schools to participate in Annual NJ High School Musical Awards are Tenafly, Gloucester County Institute, Immaculata H.S., Mainland Regional HS, Morristown, HS, Toms River H.S., Washington Township, Paramus H.S., Passaic Valley Regional, Ewing H.S., Clifton H.S., Cherry Hill H.S., Bergen Academies, OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts, Florence Township HS, Don Bosco Prep, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Academy of Holy Angels, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Northern Highlands Regional HS Demarest, Nutley H.S., Livingston H.S., Dumont H.S., Lyndhurst HS, Washington Township HS, Bergenfield H.S., Mount Olive H.S., Pope John XXIII Regional HS, Buena Regional H.S., North Plainfield H.S., North Hunterdon HS, Overbook H.S., New Milford HS, St. Joseph Regional HS, Westwood Regional HS, Neptune H.S., Leonia H.S., Butler High School, Christian Brothers Academy, Dwight Englewood HS, Fair Lawn High School, West Milford Township H.S., Williamstown HS, Holy Spirit HS.
The bergenPAC Performing Arts School offers classes in music, dance, theater and the visual arts, ensemble groups for vocalists, dancers, and jazz and rock musicians, in-school residencies and assemblies, live performances, and musical theater productions for students ages 3 months to 21 years old. The school serves 1,000 students onsite annually while reaching another 16,000 residents of all ages with programs in schools, assisted living facilities, social service agencies, and other community sites across New Jersey. The bergenPAC Performing Arts School Scholarship Fund ensures that no student is ever turned away because they cannot afford the full tuition. Current students and alumni have attended top arts college programs and acted in movies, TV shows, Broadway and touring productions.
Founded in 2003, Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is a cultural hub in Englewood, New Jersey, offering a variety of world-class entertainment. Home to the renowned Performing Arts School, bergenPAC provides innovative arts education to thousands of students annually. With a rich history and commitment to community enrichment, bergenPAC continues to inspire and engage audiences of all ages.
