High School Winners of the 2019 Basie Awards!

The Basie Awards last night honored excellence and achievement in Monmouth County high school theatre. Here are all the students who won:

Marlboro High School - The Little Mermaid (Photo courtesy of The Basie)

This year’s ceremony drew a sold-out crowd of 1,500+ to the historic Basie performing arts center!

The Count Basie Center for the Arts spends months evaluating high school productions and Yvonne Lamb-Scudiery, the Vice President of Education for The Basie, says they are continuously amazed at how the bar is raised each and every year and that this year’s nominees are a testimony to the hard work teachers, schools, and students put into this important art form.

The President and CEO of The Basie says that this year’s winners and nominees were the cream of the crop in Monmouth County.

The BASIE AWARDS began in 2005 as a way to honor and recognize high school-level actors, actresses and productions in the Monmouth County area. This year, a record 22 dramas and 29 musical performances were evaluated by the BASIE AWARDS nomination committee, which produced nominations for students, productions and schools in various acting and production categories.

Long Branch High School - Legally Blonde (Photo courtesy of The Basie)

This year’s Basie Awards winners, by category:

Dramatic Presentations:

Outstanding Production - Drama: Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Emperor’s Nightingale – Suzanne Sweeney

Outstanding Direction in a Drama: Suzanne Sweeney, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Emperor’s Nightingale

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama: Julian Lavarra, Trinity Hall – Peter and the Starcatcher

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama: Noa Godrich, Marlboro High School – Peter and the Starcatcher

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama: Jonathan Friel, Long Branch High School – William’s Dark Lady

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama: Morgan Barth, Middletown High School South – The Turning of Gertrude Lodge

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Drama: Dominique Demko, Long Branch High School – William’s Dark Lady

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama: Middletown High School South – The Turning of Gertrude Lodge – Laura Mazza & Jacqueline Fischer

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama: Marlboro High School – Peter and the Starcatcher – Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco

Outstanding Set Design in a Drama: Colts Neck High School –

Almost, Maine –

Chris Rocco, Cassidy Friend & Cali Trainor

Matawan Regional High School - NEWSIES (Photo courtesy of The Basie)

Musical Productions:

Outstanding Production - Musical: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Linda Walling

Outstanding Direction in a Musical (tie): Ian Moore, Long Branch High School – Legally Blond; Anthony Greco, Marlboro High School – The Little Mermaid

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Lucas Faria de Sa Tucker, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Addams Family

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (tie): Maggie Skalecki, Red Bank Catholic High School – The Drowsy Chaperone; Ava Lamantia, Howell High School – The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical: Christopher Costello, Matawan Regional High School – Newsies

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Aisa Feratovic, Long Branch High School – Legally Blonde

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical: Briana Brabham, Howell High School – The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – The New York Newsies

Outstanding Chorus: Matawan Regional High School, Newsies

Outstanding Small Ensemble Orchestra: Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – The Addams Family – Amanda Gorfain

Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Kevin Cotter

Outstanding Student Orchestra (tie): Marlboro High School – The Little Mermaid – Patrick M. Dalton; Howell High School – The Drowsy Chaperone – Anthony Limaldi

Outstanding Choreography: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Julie McKurth & Phillip Solomon

Amy Fredericks Award for Outstanding Musical Direction: Red Bank Catholic High School – The Drowsy Chaperone – Shawn Mack

Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical: Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Susan Takacs

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical (tie): Marlboro High School – The Little Mermaid - Jim Lyle & Anthony Greco; Matawan Regional High School – Newsies – Jessica Amorino

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical: Long Branch High School –

Legally Blonde –

Andrew D’Agostino

Red Bank Catholic - The Drowsy Chaperone (Photo courtesy of The Basie)

This year’s opening number was dedicated in memory of Amy Giinther Fredericks, musical director of the first 13 Basie Awards shows, who passed away unexpectedly last July. Yvonne says that for Amy, the theatre was her home. She made everyone feel at home.

Also honored at the ceremony were recipients of the Basie’s Arts Impact Scholarships and awards: Claire Taylor of Red Bank Regional High School received the Bank of America Arts Matter Impact Award; Jack Powers of Raritan High School received the Siciliano Landscape Company Arts Impact Scholarship; Charlotte Vickers-Hymowitz from Matawan Regional High School was awarded the Monmouth County Freeholders Scholarship for Continuing Education; Maxwell Connery of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School received the Amy Giinther Fredericks Music Education Scholarship; Riley Martin of Freehold Township High School received the Steven and Jaime Schultz Arts Impact Scholarship; and Caitlin Garrett from Middletown High School South was awarded the Moser Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship.

In addition to celebrating local talent, the Basie presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Dale Franzen, a lead producer of Broadway smash Hadestown, which is up for 14 TONY awards!

Congratulations to all!!!

Rumson-Fair Haven - The Addams Family (Photo courtesy of The Basie)