originally published: 05/21/2025
Best Overall Production: The Pingry School – PIPPIN
(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center hosted the 3rd Annual Central Jersey Marquee Awards on Monday, May 19, 2025, honoring outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre across Middlesex, Somerset, and Mercer Counties.
This year’s program recognized the work of 27 participating schools, spotlighting excellence in performance, direction, design, and technical achievement. The evening included student performances, guest presenters from Broadway and television, and the presentation of awards across 20 categories.
Best Overall Production: The Pingry School – PIPPIN
Best Lead Actor: Rian Sanders as “Chad” – Manville High School, ALL SHOOK UP
Best Lead Actress: Susie Polito as “Girl” – Immaculata High School, ONCE
Additional Award Recipients:
Best Supporting Actor: Konrad Hedges as “Ned Ryerson” – Princeton High School, GROUNDHOG DAY
Best Supporting Actress: Marisa Santiago as “Mother Superior” – Woodbridge High School, SISTER ACT
Best Ensemble Member: Kaley Welsh as “Margot” – Bernards High School, LEGALLY BLONDE
Best Production Number: “Magic To Do” – The Pingry School, PIPPIN
Best Lead Actor: Rian Sanders as “Chad” – Manville High School, ALL SHOOK UP
Best Chorus: The Pingry School – PIPPIN
Best Music Direction: Jeffrey Pando – Watchung Hills Regional High School, THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Best Student Orchestra: Aldo A. Aranzulla – South Brunswick High School, MEAN GIRLS
Best Lighting Design: Megan Thompson – Hightstown High School, CHICAGO
Best Scenery: Princeton High School – GROUNDHOG DAY
Best Costumes: Bonnie Grube – Ridge High School, CINDERELLA
Best Hair and Makeup: Juanita Hemingway – Carteret High School, THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Best Choreography: Melissa Calicchio – Colonia High School, FOOTLOOSE
Best Direction: Julianna Krawiecki – Princeton High School, GROUNDHOG DAY
Best Lead Actress: Susie Polito as “Girl” – Immaculata High School, ONCE
Student Dedication and Excellence Awards:
Set Designer and Crew Leader: Rhyan Greene – Hightstown High School, CHICAGO
Designer and Crew Leader: Colin Lansky – Princeton High School, GROUNDHOG DAY
Props Manager: Robin Watchel – Princeton High School, GROUNDHOG DAY
Graphic Design: Katie Reagen – Robbinsville High School, THE WEDDING SINGER
Host Justin Matthew Sargent
The Central Jersey Marquee Awards continues to grow as a signature program recognizing the next generation of theatre artists, while working to build a cohesive community of theatre students and educators throughout the region.
The 2026 Central Jersey Marquee Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, May 18, 2026 at the Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center. Registration for the 2025–2026 season will open in November.
To support the program’s continued growth, the Marquee Awards is actively seeking sponsors for the upcoming season. Interested individuals or organizations should contact Program Coordinator James Mosser at [email protected] for more information.
The Central Jersey Marquee Awards celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre by providing professional adjudication, recognition, and performance opportunities. The program brings together students, educators, families, and industry professionals for a night of celebration and inspiration.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Passage Theatre Company to Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for The Larry Hilton Stage on April 8th
(TRENTON, NJ) -- Passage Theatre Company is proud to host the naming of the Mill Hill Playhouse stage, to forevermore be known as "The Larry Hilton Stage," in honor of great donor, patron, producer and friend of the company Lawrence M. Hilton. Mr. Hilton was a beacon for Passage Theatre for nearly 40 years and a steward for all art, music, theater, and education in his hometown of Trenton, NJ.
Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater & Music Theater presents "The Comeuppance" by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater and Music Theater at Princeton University presents The Comeuppance by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and Princeton alumnus Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Class of 2006. Performances take place April 3-4 and April 10 at 8:00pm and April 11 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center.
"It's Never Too Late," A New Musical Exploring Hope and Second Chances, Debuts at Kelsey Theatre in April
(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- The power of hope, reinvention, and second chances takes the stage when Theater To Go presents the world premiere, limited engagement of the new Lou DiPietro musical It's Never Too Late, across two weekends from April 3–12, 2026 at the Kelsey Theatre on the Mercer County Community College West Windsor Campus.
Brundage Park Playhouse presents "Titanic, The Musical"
(RANDOLPH, NJ) -- Brundage Park Playhouse presents Titanic, The Musical from April 9-12, 2026. Epic and majestic, with moments of heartbreaking intimacy, Titanic captures the triumph and tragedy of the hopeful passengers on the ill-fated Ship of Dreams.
Roundtable Theater Company presents "Jagged Little Pill"
(FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- Roundtable Theater Company presents the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Jagged Little Pill from April 9-12, 2026 at the George Frey Center for Performing Arts in the Fair Lawn Community Center. Set in modern-day Connecticut, this contemporary musical utilizes the genius of Alanis Morissette's 1995 album of the same name to tackle some of today's most important issues.
RVCC to Present Student Theatre Production of "The Wolves"
(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's Arts & Design department will present The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, April 15-17, 2026 at 7:00pm each night The performances, which are free of charge and open to the public, will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the College's Branchburg campus.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts presents "Little Shop of Horrors"
(BRIDGEWATER, NJ) -- Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts presents Little Shop of Horrors from April 16–18, 2026, in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Auditorium. This cult-favorite musical comedy features a book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, and tells the delightfully dark story of a shy flower shop assistant who discovers a mysterious plant with an insatiable appetite.
Kean University Theatre Department presents "The Bald Soprano" by Eugène Ionesco
(UNION, NJ) -- Kean University Theatre Department presents The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco from April 10-18, 2026 in the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. Has your day-to-day life begun to feel like some surreal hallucination?
Middlesex College presents "Things I Know To Be True"
(EDISON, NJ) -- Middlesex College's Visual, Performing, and Media Arts Department presents Things I Know To Be True by Andrew Bovell across two weekends (April 9-11 and April 16-18, 2026) at the Studio Theater in Edison. The play, directed by Anna Sycamore DeMers and Hope McCarthy, is a family story of new beginnings that inspects generational trauma and the tightness of the ties that bind us to our parents' imperfections.
NJIT's Theatre Arts and Technology Program presents "Curtains"
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Institute of Technology's Theatre Arts and Technology Program presents the musical comedy, Curtains, from April 16-18, 2026 in the Jim Wise Theater.
