Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 05/11/2026
Madison High School - Alice By Heart
(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the nominations for adjudicated production categories of the 31st Annual Rising Star Awards for Excellence in New Jersey High School Musical Theater. Often referred to as New Jersey's version of the Tony Awards for high school musical theater, the Rising Star Awards recognize outstanding achievement in performance, direction, design, choreography, music direction, and overall production.
This year, 114 New Jersey high schools in 19 counties had their productions adjudicated by a team of 55 skilled and dedicated evaluators. Each production received in-depth feedback and insights to support the continued development of all theatrical disciplines within the school community. More than 25 adjudicators participated in a rigorous in-person review process and attended 267 performances to identify this year’s nominees. Paper Mill Playhouse Education and Artistic staff abstain from participation in adjudication and voting.
The nomination announcement was broadcast on Paper Mill Playhouse’s YouTube Channel by Associate Artistic Director Jen Bender and Director of Education Paul Brewster McGinley.
The 2026 Rising Star Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 7:30pm at Paper Mill Playhouse and will be professionally livestreamed. Schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical and nominees in the leading performance categories will perform live during the ceremony. Additional Spotlight Awards and scholarships will be presented at the upcoming ceremony.
Nominees in the leading and supporting performance categories will each receive merit scholarships for training in Paper Mill Playhouse summer programs.
The Rising Star Awards are presented by Investors Foundation and Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, with additional major support provided by Mark | Lavigne, LLC. The Hearst Foundations are Paper Mill Playhouse’s Education & Outreach Partner.
The list of 2026 Rising Star Award nominees from full performance adjudication follows below. For a complete list of nominees and honorable mentions, visit papermill.org/education, and to view a map of nominated schools illustrating the statewide reach of the Rising Star Awards, please visit the LINK.
2026 RISING STAR AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Full Performance Adjudication Categories
Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
- Mary Hill, Ewing High School — In the Heights
- Paul Canada, Gill St. Bernards — Dracula
- Addyson Pineda, Jayla Wright, Anneliese Wilson, and Colette Jackson-Belle, High Tech High School — Catch Me If You Can
- Linda & Blake Spence, Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Janet van Allen & Christie Hall, Piscataway High School — Urinetown
- Maggie Clark, Shawnee High School — Newsies
Outstanding Achievement in Hair and Makeup Design
- Lee Amorrosso, Gill St. Bernards — Dracula
- Julianna Caputo, Piscataway High School — Urinetown
- Nancy Gaidos, North Hunterdon High School — Shrek the Musical
- Bonnie Grube, Ridge High School — Mary Poppins
- Derek Alfano and Derek Bedell, Saint Joseph Regional High School — Pippin
- The Cast, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School — Guys and Dolls
Delaware Valley Regional HS - SpongeBob
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
- Eric Baker, Cedar Creek High School — 9 to 5
- Clinton B. Ambs, Delaware Valley Regional High School — The SpongeBob Musical
- Brian Sosa & Nelson Lopez, Jose Marti STEM Academy — Side Show
- Cameron Filepas & Daania Fakhar, Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Alan Van Antwerp, The Pingry School — Cabaret
- Ashley Kok, Saddle River Day School — Footloose
Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design
- Sarah Nasson, Bridgewater-Raritan High School — Little Shop of Horrors
- Teresa Carr, Delaware Valley Regional High School — The SpongeBob Musical
- Anthony Freitas, Jose Marti STEM Academy — Side Show
- Anthony Freitas, Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Matt Nickles, Piscataway High School — Urinetown
- Jason M. Stewart, Ridge High School — Mary Poppins
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography
- Heather Fleischman, Delaware Valley Regional High School — The SpongeBob Musical
- Noelle Martone, Ewing High School — In the Heights
- Brittany Cohen, Howell High School — Chicago
- Jennifer Ackermann, Passaic County Technical Institute — Mean Girls
- Cecilia Mitchell, Tenafly High School — A Chorus Line
- Denise Kulhan, Wallkill Valley Regional High School — Shrek the Musical
Ewing High School - In the Heights
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction
- Sarah Jordan, Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Mary Kenny, OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts — Mamma Mia!
- Emily Fencik, Saint Peter’s Preparatory School — Pippin
- Robert Geyer, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School — Guys and Dolls
- Alex Bochino, Summit High School — Big Fish
- Christine Molnar, Wallkill Valley Regional High School — Shrek the Musical
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
- Angela Leone, Camden Catholic High School — The Addams Family
- Stefanie Grossman, Delaware Valley Regional High School — The SpongeBob Musical
- Alexander Minter, Ewing High School — In the Heights
- Ariane Ryan, Jose Marti STEM Academy — Side Show
- Blake Spence, Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Melissa Silva, Passaic County Technical Institute — Mean Girls
Outstanding Performance by a Student Orchestra
- Hopewell Valley Central High School — Pippin
- Howell High School — Chicago
- Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Morristown High School — Fiddler on the Roof
- Passaic County Technical Institute — Mean Girls
- Summit High School — Big Fish
Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
- Ewing High School — In the Heights
- Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Piscataway High School — Urinetown
- Ridge High School — Mary Poppins
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School — Guys and Dolls
- Wallkill Valley Regional High School — Shrek the Musical
Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS - Guys & Dolls
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Group
- “Rusty, Wendy Jo, and Urleen” in Footloose, Cherry Hill High School East
- “The Merry Murderesses” in Chicago, Howell High School
- “Cheerleaders” in High School Musical, Immaculate Heart Academy
- “The Stepsisters” in Once Upon a One More Time, Ocean Township High School
- “The Orphans” in Annie, Ridgewood High School
- “Hot Box Girls” in Guys and Dolls, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role
- Alicia Eldridge as “Mrs. Darbus” in High School Musical, Immaculate Heart Academy
- Melina Gonzalez as “Auntie” in Side Show, Jose Marti STEM Academy
- Jeaninie Mashauri as “Lorraine” in All Shook Up, Moorestown High School
- Mikaella Sapena as “Mrs. George” in Mean Girls, Passaic County Technical Institute
- Anti Garcia as “Mrs. Corry” in Mary Poppins, Ridge High School
- Anthony Oryniak as “Weselton” in Frozen, Spotswood High School
Outstanding Performance in a Male-Identified Supporting Role
- Nolen Petty as “Squidward Tentacles” in The SpongeBob Musical, Delaware Valley Regional High School
- Shaine Wilson-Gibson as “Benny” in In the Heights, Ewing High School
- Charles Bird as “Frank Abagnale Sr.” in Catch Me If You Can, High Tech High School
- Maxwell DeVivo as “Sam Carmichael” in Mama Mia!, OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts
- Darien Stoll as “Damian Hubbard” in Mean Girls, Passaic County Technical Institute
- Xavier LeBlanc as “Herr Schultz” in Cabaret, The Pingry School
Outstanding Performance in a Female-Identified Supporting Role
- Reese Dolinsky as “Roz Keith” in 9 to 5, Cedar Creek High School
- Kyra Korman as “Ruza Wenclawska” in Suffs, Cherry Hill High School West
- Mya Glasofer as “Vi Moore” in Footloose, Eastern Regional High School
- Julianne Witte as “Madame Renfield” in Dracula, Gill St. Bernards
- Sophie Spencer as “Miss Adelaide” in Guys and Dolls, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
- Molly Walsh as “Rosie Mulligan” in Mamma Mia!, Verona High School
Outstanding Performance in a Male-Identified Leading Role
- Alex Apgar as “SpongeBob SquarePants” in The SpongeBob Musical, Delaware Valley Regional High School
- Isaac Fernandez as “Usnavi” in In the Heights, Ewing High School
- Ben Altstadter as “Shrek” in Shrek the Musical, Livingston High School
- Camryn Burniston as “Bill Snibson” in Me and My Girl, Old Bridge High School
- Luciano Guidetti as “Joe Gillis” in Sunset Boulevard, Paramus High School
- Caiden Loyer as “Danny Zuko” in Grease, Sparta High School
- Jayden Garnett as “Javert” in Les Misérables, West Deptford High School
Wallkill Valley Regional HS - Shrek
Outstanding Performance in a Female-Identified Leading Role
- Hannah D’Aquila as “Dee Dee Allen” in The Prom, Gloucester County Institute of Technology
- Jihoamy Velasquez and Joanna Rodriguez as “Violet and Daisy” in Side Show, Jose Marti STEM Academy
- Gianna Minardi as “Donna Sheridan” in Mamma Mia!, OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts
- Keilah Clarke as “Leading Player” in Pippin, Saint Joseph Regional High School
- Skyler Grosswald-Wilson as “Sandra Bloom” in Big Fish, Summit High School
- Chloe Geuther as “Princess Fiona” in Shrek the Musical, Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
- Delaware Valley Regional High School — The SpongeBob Musical
- Ewing High School — In the Heights
- Jose Marti STEM Academy — Side Show
- Madison High School — Alice by Heart
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School — Guys and Dolls
- Wallkill Valley Regional High School — Shrek the Musical
Jose Marti STEM Academy - Side Show
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (Executive Director). A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including The Great Gatsby, Disney’s Newsies, Bandstand, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Les Misérables (25th Anniversary production). The theater is also the home to an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year. As one of the nation’s premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all.
Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Ritz Theatre Company presents 2026 One-Act Play Festival
(HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Ritz Theatre Company presents their 2026 One-Act Play Festival from August 28-29. The festival features one-act comedies from practicing and promised playwrights from around the world!
Spring Lake Theatre Company presents "Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret"
(SPRING LAKE, NJ) -- Spring Lake Theatre Company presents two performances of Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret from August 29-30, 2026. This is a one-act play from the experiences of America's longest war, blending heartfelt storytelling with a unique cast of combat veterans and military family members.
Bell Theater at Bell Works presents Broadway Sings for Aaron Lazar on August 31
(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- In 2022, as the world was finally coming out of COVID-19, Aaron Lazar was invited to return to the stage to lead the cast of The Bridges of Madison County, playing opposite Kate Baldwin at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal. Just days into rehearsal, Lazar received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neurological disease with no known cure. Thus began Lazar's "extraordinary" journey.
Light Opera of New Jersey to Hold Auditions for "Amahl and The Night Visitors"
(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Light Opera of New Jersey will hold auditions for Amahl and the Night Visitors, a heartwarming holiday opera, on August 27th and September 3rd from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Callbacks will be on September 5th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Auditions will be in Basking Ridge. Registrants will be advised of exact location after registering. All roles are opened and paid.
Haddonfield Plays & Players presents "Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis"
(HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- What happens when fantasy meets 50-something reality? Find out when Haddonfield Plays & Players presents Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis from September 4-6, 2026. This is a sharp-witted, satirical play written by Amy Ferris and adapted from her best-selling memoir.
Fifth Annual Broadway in the Park concert to Take Place September 7th
(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- SOMA Stage presents the fifth annual Broadway in the Park concert on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026 at the Memorial Park Amphitheater in Maplewood. This year's concert, Broadway in the Park: Let's Rock!, features Broadway's biggest rock and pop hits from the 1950s through today. Showtime is 4:30pm.
East Lynne Theater Company presents the New Jersey Premiere of "Lunar Eclipse" by Donald Margulies
(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- East Lynne Theater Company presents the New Jersey Premiere of Lunar Eclipse by Donald Margulies from August 27 through September 20, 2026. In the play, George has been waiting for this night – the seven stages of a lunar eclipse are viewable from the farm that he shares with his wife Em – and she decides to join him in taking in the view.
Nutley Little Theatre presents "A Doll's House, Part 2"
(NUTLEY, NJ) -- Fifteen years after leaving her family and stagnant marriage, Henrik Ibsen's Nora returns home in Lucas Hnath's A Doll's House Part 2. Nutley Little Theatre presents this sequel to Ibsen's classic play across three weekends from September 11-26, 2026.
Center Players to present "The Realistic Joneses" at the Jersey Shore Arts Center
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Center Players of Freehold will present The Realistic Joneses by Will Eno as its first Signature Series production of the 2026-27 season. Directed by Center Players’ Artistic Director Michael Tota, the production will run from October 2-4 at the Herbst Theatre at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, marking the first time Center Players has performed in the venue.
Bergen County Players to open 94th season with "The Producers"
(ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the #1 Theater Venue in Bergen County by (201) Magazine's Best of Bergen poll, the Bergen County Players (BCP) will open its 2026/27 season with Mel Brooks' The Producers. As one of America's longest-running little theater companies, BCP returns for its 94th season to present this area premiere at the Little Firehouse Theatre from September 19 through October 10, 2026.
FEATURED EVENTS
