Young Thespians Honored at Theatre Night Awards

Curtain up! Light the lights! New Jersey’s brightest young stars were honored Thursday night at the Third Annual Theatre Night Awards, held at Montclair State University.

The Theater Night Awards rewards the best in high school theater, doling out trophies for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, Outstanding Performance by an Actress, Outstanding Overall Production, and more.

Chatham’s production of Our Town was fortunate enough to rake in seven nominations, including Outstanding Actress, Outstanding Actor, and Outstanding Overall Production. The company was not expecting to garner as many nominations as they did. Though they did not take home any golden statues, recognition by their peers was reward enough.

“I didn’t realize people thought we were that good,” Junior Courtney Johnson, who played Emily, said. “I thought we were that good, but just getting the recognition made it all worthwhile.”

Besides honoring talented youths, the evening featured advice from industry vets. Presenters from the theater community, ranging from actors to critics to lovers of the arts, each gave a hint to ensure a bright future. Some advised keeping an open mind, while others stressed the importance of treasuring the moments spent on stage. Joseph P. Benincasa, President and CEO of The Actors Fund, stated that an actor’s most significant asset is their passion.

“Always have passion for your work,” he said. “Be competent. Hone your skill. Put your complete dedication into the art of collaboration.”

Suzzanne Douglas, an NAACP Image Award-winning actress, added that, “life is not a dress rehearsal. Everything we do counts, everything we do matters. Learn everything about your craft, respect it, love it. If you do that, wonderful things will spring from it.”

To conclude the evening, emcee Peter Filichia, a theater critic for the Star Ledger, offered a piece of advice for the group not yet addressed—the parents of aspiring actors.

“I have found there to be a direct correlation between success and actors whose parents have supported them,” he said. “Parents, if your kids want to do this with their lives, be behind them. They can do it if they believe.”

The Theatre Night Awards also gave the players the rare opportunity to meet fellow thespians from other schools. Some of the schools, including Chatham, performed a brief scene to showcase their chops. David Wych, who played George, was thrilled to be considered on the same level as so many talented nominees.

“We were good, but there are a lot of really talented people here,” he said. “Especially after seeing all of that, it’s really exciting they thought we were that good.”

“We’re kind of isolated,” said director Lynn Pollan. “We know what’s going on the theater in Chatham, but unless you have a specific friend in a nearby town, you don’t always know what’s going on in other towns. It’s nice to see what other schools are doing.”

Our Town is the pared down story of a small town, whose people are brimming with unfulfilled potential. The play was originally banned by the Soviet Union on the grounds it was too depressing. Tackling such an emotionally exhaustive work was no easy task, but Chatham’s cast and crew was up to the challenge.

“I love the play,” Pollan said. “I’ve never been able to direct it before. I enjoyed the process very much. The kids in the cast worked very hard and it is a very profound play. When you work on material like that, it does take you to very deep places.”

Pollan also said that the reception in Chatham was very warm, with many spectators connecting with the isolated, lonely lifestyle a small town can cultivate.

“We got a really wonderful response from audiences who came to see the show, which is really gratifying,” she said. “It’s that kind of play. You want people to go on an emotional journey when you see Our Town.”

“It wasn’t like we were being directed,” Wych added. “I usually came to her on an emotional level. I had no idea what I was supposed to be feeling. I would look for guidance. It was never about mistakes, it was what we were doing emotionally.”

Senior Wych, who will be taking his talents to Claremont-McKenna College in California next year, hopes to put the night’s advice to good use.

“I’ve checked out department at my school and it looks really exciting,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll be majoring in it, but I’ll definitely be doing it in my spare time.” 

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
Mahwah High School, Nicholas Nickleby 

Outstanding Achievement in Properties Design
Susan Wagner High School, A Streetcar Named Desire 

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
Morristown Beard High School, The Diary of Anne Frank 

Outstanding Achievement in Special Effects
JP Stevens High School, Metamorphoses 

Outstanding Achievement by a Stage Crew
Bloomfield High School, Radium Girls 

Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design
Bergen County Academies, Ghetto 

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Columbia High School, Our Town 

Outstanding Achievement in Stage Direction
Susan Speidel, Morristown Beard High School, The Diary of Anne Frank 

Outstanding Achievement in Live Music
Wall High School, Oedipus Rex

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Comedy)
Brandon Essig, Pascack Valley High School, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) 

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)
Andrew Van Buskick, St. Joseph’s High School, A Few Good Men 

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Comedy)
Catalina Gaglioti, Westfield High School, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream 

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama)
Michelle Schecter, St. Joseph’s High School, A Few Good Men 

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Daniel Sanchez, Passaic Valley, Odd Couple 

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Ciara Devereaux, Morristown Beard High School, The Diary of Anne Frank 

Outstanding Achievement by an Acting Ensemble
Westfield High School, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream 

Outstanding Production of a Comedy
Pascack Valley High School, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Evening Cast) 

Outstanding Production of a Drama
St. Joseph’s High School, A Few Good Men 

Outstanding Production in a Middle School
Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School, Comedy Tonight 

Outstanding Production of a Classic
Westfield High School, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream

 Outstanding Overall Production of a High School Play
St. Joseph’s High School, A Few Good Men