High school thespians awarded for shining performances at Teeny Awards

Local high school thespians shone at the 13th annual Teeny Awards, held yesterday at Center Moriches High School.

Winners included Olivia Geppel as Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank” at McGann-Mercy; the win was a tie.

As in past years, nominees were able to walk the red carpet. The Teeny Awards, conceived from the idea of the Antoinette Perry Awards – The Tony Awards – for Broadway shows, has been celebrating excellence in high school theatre across the East End of Long Island since 2002, and is presented and coordinated by East End Arts.

The audience also enjoyed performances from this year’s productions from the 16 participating high schools. Those performances included:
· “The Jester, the Minstrel, and I” from “Once Upon a Mattress,” by Greenport High School
· “The Song That Goes Like This” from “Spamalot” by Shoreham-Wading River High School
· “Run and Tell That” from “Hairspray” by Longwood High School
· “Roll in the Hay” from “Young Frankenstein,” by Hampton Bays High School
· “Sincere” from “Bye Bye Birdie” by Center Moriches High School
· “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO” from “Damn Yankees, by Longwood High School;
· Cameo performances from other schools in the opening number

Walker Vreeland, radio personality, broadcaster, host and interviewer of WBAZ 102.5 FM, served as the master of ceremonies, and honored guests and sponsors also presented awards. One featured awards presenter was famed actress Helen Mirren, who presented the award for best lead actress in a musical in a tie to Mackenzie Engeldrum as Inga in “Young Frankenstein” at Hampton Bays High School and Isabella Le Boeuf as Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray” at Longwood; the video segment was taped by former Teeny Award nominee Christian Nilsson.

“I am extremely grateful for all of the amazing people who make the Teeny Awards possible,” said Teeny Awards coordinator Anita Boyer. “From the great crew at East End Arts, to the directors and teachers at each school sharing their passion for theatre with their students, and especially the exceptionally hardworking and talented students working so hard to continue to bring fabulous theatre to the East End.”

She added, “My hope is that everyone can celebrate and recognize what a gift their theatrical experiences are, both for themselves and their communities. I want to thank everyone who played a part in this year’s ceremony and I am already looking forward to next year.”

The complete list of 2014-1015 Teeny Award winners includes:

Supporting Male in a Musical (Tie)
Ramsey Pack as Seaweed in “Hairspray” at Longwood
Connor Vaccariello as Uncle Fester in “The Addams Family” at Southold

Supporting Female in a Musical
Kaylea Scott as Motormouth Maybelle in “Hairspray” at Longwood

Lead Male in a Musical
Denis Hartnett as Gomez Addams in “The Addams Family” at Pierson

Lead Female in a Musical (Tie)
Mackenzie Engeldrum as Inga in “Young Frankenstein” at Hampton Bays
Isabella Le Boeuf as Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray” at Longwood

Supporting Female in a Play
Raven Janoski as Penny Sycamore in “You Can’t Take it With You” at Mattituck

Supporting Male in a Play (Tie)
Denis Hartnett as Lady Bracknell in “The Importance of Being Earnest” at Pierson
James Mancuso as Mr. Webb in “Our Town” at Shoreham-Wading River

Lead Female in a Play (Tie)
Olivia Geppel as Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank” at McGann-Mercy
Colleen Kelly as Alice Sycamore in “You Can’t Take it With You” at Mattituck

Lead Male in a Play
Ramsey Pack as Carroll Danes in “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors” at Longwood

Outstanding Female in a One-Act Play
Emily Austopchuk as Tassie in “Tassie Suffers” at Ross School

Outstanding Male in a One-Act Play
Miguel Monori as Barry in “Misfortune” at Ross School

Outstanding Choreography
Emma Galasso for her number in “Godspell” at Westhampton Beach

Playbill and Poster Design
Bridgett Comiskey and Lily Saeli for “The Addams Family” at Southold

Outstanding Actor in a Musical or Play
This category was created to recognize a student who shines brightly in a role that is not eligible for adjudication in the leading or supporting categories.
Nick Auletti for his roles in “Godspell” at Westhampton Beach

Outstanding Actress in a Musical or Play
This category was created to recognize a student who shines brightly in a role that is not eligible for adjudication in the leading or supporting categories.
Gwyn Foley as Essie in “You Can’t Take it With You” at Mattituck

Judges’ Choice Award
This award is chosen by the judges in a vote. It is for a particular scene, musical number, dance number, ensemble effort, or group that the judges feel stands out enough to warrant the special recognition.

This year, the recipient is The Ancestors from “The Addams Family” at Pierson High School.

Student Stage Manager Recognition

The following students are all recognized for their invaluable contributions as stage managers:
Bryan Aguilar for “Footloose” at Riverhead
Andrea Anketell for “Suddenly Last Summer” at Shoreham-Wading River
Shane Factora (Lead) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Jennifer Hall for “The Addams Family” at Pierson
Christen Heine for “The Addams Family” at Pierson
Erin Horan for “Bye Bye Birdie” at Center Moriches
Sarah Huneault for “Footloose”, “The Seussificaton of Romeo and Juliet” and “The Audition” at Riverhead
Benjamin Jazdzewska (Assistant Crew Chief) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Hunter Mancuso (Co-Crew Chief) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Kyra Mears for “Suddenly Last Summer” at Shoreham-Wading River
Anthony Navas for “Bye Bye Birdie” at Center Moriches
Hannah Oswalt for “Bye Bye Birdie” at Center Moriches
Catherine Penn for “The 39 Steps” and “Godspell” at Westhampton Beach
Philip Rossillo (Crew Chief) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Kimberly Scheer for “Bye Bye Birdie” and “You Can’t Take it With You” at Mattituck
Sean Walden for “Once Upon a Mattress” at Greenport
Cara Vaccariello for “Don’t Drink the Water” at Southold-Greenport Drama and “The Addams Family” at Southold
Sarah Volkmann for “Bye Bye Birdie” at Center Moriches

Student Producer and Director Recognition
Sean Mannix (Director) for “Suddenly Last Summer” at Shoreham-Wading River
Cady Vitale (Producer) for “You Can’t Take it With You” at Mattituck

Student Lighting Design Recognition
Michael Carey for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Alec Giufurta for “The Wizard of Oz” at Southampton
Shane Hennessy for “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “The Addams Family” at Pierson
Philip Staples for “Once Upon a Mattress” at Greenport
Sarah Tuthill for “Once Upon a Mattress” at Greenport

Student Sound Design Recognition

Chris Gabrielson for “The Wizard of Oz” at Southampton
Amanda Gallagher (Assistant) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Thomas Gallina (Assistant) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Meaghan McDonough (Assistant) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Jessica Reyes (Lead) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Ashley Sommer (Assistant) for “Hairspray” at Longwood
Philip Staples for “Once Upon a Mattress” at Greenport
Sarah Tuthill for “Once Upon a Mattress” at Greenport

Student Costume Design Recognition

Shannon Colfer for “Once Upon a Mattress” at Greenport
Hanna Land for “Once Upon a Mattress” at Greenport

Student Set Design Recognition

Amanda Gallagher for “Hairspray” at Longwood