
Amity Regional High School won Best Musical in CT at the June 4 CT High School Musical Theater Awards.
A lot of hard work goes a long way, no one knows that better than Rob and Andrea Kennedy. Even when a “journalist” penned a fabricated story that made national headlines, and tarnished the high school musical for some potential theater goers, the directors did not blink an eye and went on with business as usual, creating yet another award-winning production for Amity High School.
And award-winning it was, Amity High School’s Spring Musical Sweeney Todd was nominated for a total of 15 Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards (CHSMTA) and in spite of the negativity some individuals threw at it, the theater appreciating public and professional adjudicators loved it.
At Tuesday night’s Awards Gala at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, many high school students blew the audience away with their energy and talent onstage. All performed with the benefit of wearing their costumes during their numbers so the packed house could fully appreciate their productions. Whereas Amity’s cast took the stage in tuxedos and gowns and performed “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. And in her solo performance, Best Actress Nominee Alida Ballou totally sold “Worst Pies In London” even wearing a white goddess gown.
In the end, it was Amity’s night. It wasn’t a sweep, but with 7 awards, Amity was the big winner of the night.
Two Amity grads, John Jorge – Best Actor 2010 and Alli Kramer – Best Actress 2012, not only performed, but presented awards as well.
One of the best moments for the Amity crowd was when Alli Kramer announced the name of the Best Supporting Actor … “and the winner is Peter Charney, Amity High School!” Charney, a senior, played Toby in Sweeney Todd. He’s been performing since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. This was his last opportunity to participate in the CHSMTA.
Two other Amity students, Kevin Durkee (Sweeney Todd) and Nicole Simon (Beggar Woman) were chosen to sing in a chorus with 18 other students from participating high schools in a tribute to the Newtown victims, performing “Seasons of Love.”
Some great moments of the evening were when four time nominated Lighting Designer Dan [“I feel like Leonardo DeCaprio”] Hassenmayer finally won. Rob Kennedy accepted the award on his behalf, explaining that Dan was at the high school setting up lights for this weekend’s Pops Concert.
The Kennedys accepted the Outstanding Director’s award together.
And rounding out the evening, after the best actor and actress winners were announced, it was time for the top prize, “Outstanding High School Musical.” The theater erupted in deafening screams when “Amity Regional High School, Sweeney Todd,” was announced.
The entire Amity entourage took the stage and student Ted McNulty (Pirelli) and Sarah DeFeo (Dream Lucy Barker) made the acceptance speech.
So, to the critics and haters … what can I say? The people who know a thing or two about theater have spoken. Congratulations Amity. And congratulations to ALL the winners at this year’s gala.
Below is a list of all the nominees with the winners denoted in Red.
OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Lydia Pensa
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Kadie Tolderlund
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5 Daniel Koye, Alison Wadsworth
OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Julie Chevan
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Ann Brown
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Jeannine Carr & Molly Cook
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeanette Davidson
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Tina Stoddard
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Dan Hassenmayer
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Eric Shutz, Dick Shutz, Nick Santanielle
Simsbury High School – ANNIE Aaron Spivey
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Rich Parsons
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Doug Harry
Westhill High School – CHICAGO Joe Vitti
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Robert Kennedy
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Tom Matson
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Joe Loya & Mary Raymond
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Don Murphy
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Robert & Andrea Kennedy
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Jane Matson
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Mary Raymond
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Joyce Flanagan
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Jessica Spillane
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Ingrid Walsh
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Jane Matson
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Matthew Farina
Simsbury High School – ANNIE Amy Borysewicz
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Frank & Abigail Root
Westhill High School – CHICAGO Emily Frangipane
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Peter Randazzo
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Joyce Flanagan
Trinity Catholic High School – LES MISERABLES Christopher Rich
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Jerold Goldstein
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Ryan Driscoll & Laura Traver
Waterbury Arts Magnet School – IN THE HEIGHTS John Mobillo
OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
Darien High School – GUYS & DOLLS
East Lyme High School – LEADER OF THE PACK
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Alida Baliou – MRS. LOVETT
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Deanna Lasco – VANESSA
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5 Jonelle Sedgwick- VIOLET NEWSTEAD
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Tara Mazur – EPONINE
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Allie Short – COSETTE
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Jillian Caillouette – JO MARCH
Trinity Catholic High School – LES MISERABLES Julia Capogrossi – EPONINE
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Taylor Vargas – J. PIERPONT FINCH
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Michael Hudak – UNSAVI
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Sam Gravitte – JEAN VALJEAN
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Matt Johnson – BOBBY CHILD
Westhill High School – CHICAGO Richard Westfahl – BILLY FLYNN
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Shaylen Harger – JOHANNA
East Lyme High School – LEADER OF THE PACK Emily Young – DARLENE LOVE
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Elizabeth D’Aiuto – MMD. THERNARDIER
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Jean Kenney – MARMEE
Simsbury High School – ANNIE Kerrie Maguire – MISS HANNIGAN
Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS Alex Cahr – MISS ADELAIDE
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Grace Carver – MEG BROCKIE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Peter Charney – TOBY
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS – Benny Nick Gerbo – BENNY
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL Jared Smith – FRANKLIN M. HART JR.
Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS Sam Strizver – NATHAN DETROIT
OUTSTANDING CHORUS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
Suffield Academy – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS (?) will double check
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON
Waterbury Arts Magnet School – IN THE HEIGHTS
OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER
East Lyme High School – LEADER OF THE PACK Mary Scheyder – ANNIE GOLDEN
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Kent Coleman – ENJOIRAS
Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS Bennett Leads – NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Seamus McGinley – HARRY BEATON
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP
Simsbury High School – ANNIE The Orphans
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS The Secretaries
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU – Follies Girls Beth Murphy, Marisa Noschese, Carley Berlin, Ava Gallo, Katherine Griffin, Kayla Murry, Rakshana Selvarajan, Ya’Monei Teel
Westhill High School – CHICAGO – Cellblock Tango Women Erica Casinelli, Jessica Freedman, Madeline Bria, Zoe DePresta, Lauren Wilson
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
St. Paul’s Catholic High School – LITTLE WOMEN
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Gail Archer, Sue Guidera, Donna Lasco, Mary Stocks
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Cheri Charney & Tom Lawler
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
New Britain High School – AIDA
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Tina Stoddard
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
(5 awards presented out of 16 nominees and 8 finalists)
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Greg St. Germain – Student Lighting Design
Waterbury Arts Magnet School – IN THE HEIGHTS
Claire Gaudette – PSM
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
Catherine Heller – Scenic Artist
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON
Benedict Stephens – Student Percussion
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED
Sean Watkins – Stage Manager
ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS EDUCATION AWARDS
Plainfield High School – WILLY WONKA
Brian Stevenson & Kevin Marino
OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN
Westhill High School — CHICAGO.
The 4th President’s Award
Cary Dupont — St. Paul’s Catholic HS