The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards Gala Event, June 4th, 2013

What a night it was! Last night, June 4th, was the 5th Annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards. Several Schools submitted applications and from then, nominations were chosen from those schools. The nominations were posted, and schools began to rehearse for one of the greatest nights of the year.

To describe the Award Ceremony, I can only put it like this: It is the high school equivalent to the Tony Awards. The Ceremony took place at the Waterbury Palace Theater.

Winner of Outstanding Featured Performer, Stamford High School's GUYS AND DOLLS, starring the Youth Board's Matt Sweeney

Each school that was nominated for Best Actor, Best Actress and/or Best Production performed a number from the show. The shows nominated for Outstanding Production were:

Little Women- St. Paul's Catholic High School
In the Heights-Immaculate High School
Sweeney Todd- Amity High School
Crazy for You- Trumbull High School
Les Miserables- Ridgefield High School
How to Succeed- Newtown High School

In addition to the nominations, 2 representitives from each school were asked to perform a special rendition of Seasons of Love in honor of Sandy Hook. The arrangement/ blocking was created by Trumbull High's Director Jessica Spillane and Musical Director Jerold Goldstien. It was a moment that moved everyone to tears.

2 representatives from each participating school sang Seasons of Love as a tribute to Sandy Hook

Winner of Ensemble Group (Follies Girls) and other awards, Trumbull High School's Crazy for You, starring the Youth Board's Nathan Clift

Here are the Winners for the Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards 2013: 

OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Andrea Kennedy

OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT 

Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeanette Davidson

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Dan Hassenmayer 

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT 

Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS
Joe Loya & Mary Raymond

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Robert & Andrea Kennedy

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY 

Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Frank & Abigail Root 

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION 

Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
Joyce Flanagan

OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS 

Jillian Caillouette, St. Paul Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN 

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR 

Taylor Varga -Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED


OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS 

Grace Carver , Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON 
– MEG BROCKIE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR 

Peter Charney , Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD – TOBY

OUTSTANDING CHORUS 

Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER 

Bennett Leeds -Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS, NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP 

Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU – Follies Girls

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD

OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY 

Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Cheri Charney & Tom Lawler

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN 

Westhill High School 

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Awards

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 Mariano

Winner of Ourstanding Production and many others, Amity High School's Sweeney Todd, starring the Youth Board's Kevin Durkee

The Winners of the Leading Actor and Actress Awards (Highlighted in Yellow) will represent CT in the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City. 

Overall, it was an amazing time. I was so glad I was able to see all the amazingly talented high schools around CT! Just by going onstage, you all are winners. 

Congrats to the nominees and the winners! Continue your talents! Continue to give back your gift!

~Nathan Clift, 16, Trumbull High School

VP of the NPT Youth Board