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High School Musical Awards

bergenPAC is excited to launch its third annual High School Musical Awards! This ceremony was created to recognize the bergenPAC community's hard working and incredibly talented high school theater performers and crews.

"We want to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of all our students in the northern New Jersey region," bergenPAC Executive Director Alexander Diaz said. "The stars of tomorrow will shine brightly on our stage today."

Award categories include leads, supporting roles, ensembles, set, lighting, and sound design, choreography, orchestra, music direction, lobby display, costume, hair & makeup, creative direction, and of course, Outstanding Overall Musical. Nominations will be announced in May 2025. The ceremony will be held at bergenPAC on June 2 and feature live performances from select nominees.

How to Participate

Register

Interested schools/students can fill out this registration form. There is a non-refundable fee of $150 for (1) school participation (per school), $50 for solo performer participation (per performer) or two musicals can be nominated within the same adjudication period for $300.

For more information, email: bergenpac.hsmawards@gmail.com

 

2025 Categories

1. Lobby Display
2. Production Set Design
3. Lighting Design
4. Sound Design
5. Costumes, Hair And Makeup
6. Orchestra
7. Outstanding Ensemble
8. Outstanding Ensemble Member
9. Outstanding Featured Performer
10. Choreography
11. Music Direction
12. Creative Direction
13. Best Female Identified Supporting Role
14. Best Male Identified Supporting Role
15. Best Female Identified Lead
16. Best Male Identified Lead
17. Outstanding Overall Musical
18. Executive Director’s Award

2024 Nominees

LOBBY DISPLAY

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

  • Madison High School | Mamma Mia

  • Paramus High School | Newsies

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde 

  • Mainland Regional High School | Grease

PRODUCTION SET DESIGN

  • Leonia High School | You're a Good Man Charlie Brown | 

    • Stephen Moldt, James Shi & Sarah Peak

  • New Milford High School | Beauty and the Beast

    • Lauren Finizia, Joe Alasio & Keifer Handschuh

  • Morristown High School | Mary Poppins

    • James Gulisano, Charlotte Devries & Build Crew

  • West Milford Township High School | Footloose

    • Corey Emmons

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Chris Miller

  • Pascack Valley High School | High School Musical

    • Mr. Nick Bernard

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Vincent Gunn

LIGHTING DESIGN

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Rebekah Gould

  • Paramus High School | Newsies 

    • Sairah George

  • Mainland Regional High School | Grease

    • Crystal Pham

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Chris Miller

  • José Martí STEM Academy (JMSA) | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

    • Brian Sosa

SOUND DESIGN

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

    • Danny Griffin

  • José Martí STEM Academy (JMSA) | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

    • Nicholas Gonzalez, Giancarlos Huapaya & Ashly Morelos

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Jack Bozz

  • OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy | Prom

    • Mathew McCourt & Timothy Pannella

  • Clifton High School | Hello, Dolly!

    • Henry Inoa

COSTUME, HAIR & MAKEUP

  • Leonia High School | You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

    • Diane Arabella & Hye-won Kim

  • Clifton High School | Hello, Dolly!

    • Diliahna Collins, Ellen Camacho-Walsh, Chelsea Gutierrez, Samantha Lopez, Cedra Alshujaieh

  • Paramus High School | Newsies

    • Abby Nazziola

  • New Milford High School | Beauty and the Beast

    • Jaime Lyback

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Caitlin Geisser

  • Pascack Hills High School | Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Version)

    • EM KEARNS

ORCHESTRA

  • Clifton High School | Hello, Dolly!

    • Bryan Stepneski

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Anthony Vialo

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Danny Troob

  • Morristown High School | Mary Poppins

    • David Gallagher and the Pit Orchestra

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

    • Samantha Herskowitz

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

  • OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy | Prom

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

  • Passaic Valley Regional High School | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

  • West Milford Township High School | Footloose

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER

  • José Martí STEM Academy (JMSA) | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

    • Mitch Mahoney played by Jadelyn Diaz

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • The Witch- Kenikki Thompson 

  • Passaic Valley Regional High School | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

    • Augustus Gloop played by Joey Dinh

  • Mainland Regional High School | Grease

    • Frenchie played by Mia Patermo

  • New Milford High School | Beauty and the Beast

    • Cogsworth- Mckenzie Forte

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Karl played by Neil Reitano 

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Brother Jeremiah played byJack Glass

  • José Martí STEM Academy (JMSA) | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

    • Rona Lisa Peretti played by Jianna Rodriguez**

  • José Martí STEM Academy (JMSA) | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

    • Olive Ostrovsky played by Isabella Meseron**

  • New Milford High School | Beauty and the Beast

    • Lumiere played by Kjell Izak Xhaferi 

  • Pascack Valley HS | High School Musical

    • Taylor McKessie played by Maya Teckwani 

CHOREOGRAPHY

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

    • Jordan Pratko

  • Academy of the Holy Angels | Urinetown

    • Ariane Ryan

  • Paramus High School | Newsies

    • Claudine Ranieri

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Laurie Crochet-Hyslop

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Erica Cavanaugh

  • Morristown High School | Mary Poppins

    • Melanie Della Peruti

MUSIC DIRECTION

  • OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy | Prom

    • Mary Kenny

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Hannah Elarmo

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Anthony Vitalo

  • Clifton High School | Hello, Dolly!

    • Leonid Weismantel

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

    • Shane Turner

CREATIVE DIRECTION

  • Rutherford High School | The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

    • Mr. Matthew Vaccaro & Ms. Courtney McManus

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Victoria Pero

  • Academy of the Holy Angels | Urinetown

    • Katie Collins

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Katie Knoblock

  • Leonia High School | You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

    • Marc Leland

BEST FEMALE IDENTIFIED SUPPORTING ROLE

  • OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy | Prom

    • Dee Dee Allen played by Kelly Clark

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

    • Professor Callahan played by Shannon Hayes

  • Pascack Hills High School | Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Version)

    • Marie played by Hayden Hopper

  • West Milford Township High School | Footloose

    • Vi Moore played by Erin Kane

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Young Sandra Templeton played by Holly Guzik

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Portia played by Hannah Shinder 

  • Academy of the Holy Angels | Urinetown

    • Penelope Pennywise played by Ellie Finnegan

  • Clifton High School | Hello, Dolly!

    • Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi played by Chloe Hernandez

  • Pascack Valley HS | High School Musical

    • Ms. Darbus played by Brianna Finch

  • Passaic Valley Regional High School | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    • Mrs. Bucket played by Sophie Baker

  • Mainland Regional High School | Grease

    • Rizzo played by Roselyn Driscoll

  • Dumont High School | Mean Girls High School Version

    • Karen Smith played by Remy Diaz 

BEST MALE IDENTIFIED SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • William Shakespeare played by Edo Turner

  • Academy of the Holy Angels | Urinetown

    • Officer Lockstock played by Joe Lizzi

  • Clifton High School | Hello Dolly

    • Horace Vandergelder played by Tristan Rivera

  • Pascack Valley High School | High School Musical

    • Ryan Evans played by James Campenot

  • Dumont High School | Mean Girls

    • Mr. Duvall played by Noel Apiado

  • Mainland Regional High School | Grease

    • Kenickie played by Sam Goldstein 

BEST FEMALE IDENTIFIED LEAD

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Bea played by Amaya Romero

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

    • Elle Woods Dorris Gonzalez

  • Morris Knolls High School | Solo Performer- Legally Blonde

    • Alex Vacchiano 

  • Morristown High School | Mary Poppins

    • Julia Cama

  • Clifton High School | Hello, Dolly!

    • Irene Molloy played by Negin Saidian

  • Pascack Hills High School | Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

    • Ella played by Bethany Chen

  • West Milford Township High School | Footloose

    • Ariel Moore played by Kaitlyn Campbell 

  • Dumont High School | Mean Girls

    • Cady Heron played by Maya Matlick

  • New Milford High School | Beauty and the Beast

    • Belle played by Isabel Alasio

  • Pascack Valley High School | High School Musical

    • Gabriella Montez played by Olivia Carpenter

BEST MALE IDENTIFIED LEAD

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

    • Nick Bottom played by Christoper Bruno

  • Academy of the Holy Angels | Urinetown

    • Bobby strong played by Jack Meyers

  • Clifton High School | Hello Dolly

    • Cornelius Hackl played by Joshua Chacon-Perez

  • Pascack Hills High School | Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

    • Topher played by Anderson Moss

  • Dumont High School | Mean Girls

    • Damian Hubbard played by Joseph Floro

  • Paramus High School | Newsies

    • Jack Kelly played by Brandon Lattanzi

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Young Edward Bloom played by Salvatore Barone

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

    • Adult Edward Bloom played by Zachary Palais 

  • West Milford High School | Footloose

    • Ren McCormack played by Emilio McDonald

OUTSTANDING OVERALL MUSICAL

  • Bayonne High School | Legally Blonde

  • Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Big Fish

  • Bergen County Academies | Something Rotten

  • Morristown High School | Mary Poppins

  • New Milford High School | Beauty and The Beast

2023 Nominees

 

And the nominees are...

 

Lobby Display: Les Misérables, Gloucester; Xanadu, Dumont; Addams Family, New Milford, Into The Woods, Westwood Regional

 

Production Set Design: Cinderella, Morristown; Little Mermaid, River Dell; Addams Family, New Milford

 

Lighting Design: Addams Family, New Milford; Chicago, Pascack Valley; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Northern Valley Old Tappan

 

Sound Design: Les Misérables, Gloucester; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Northern Valley Old Tappan; Fiddler on the Roof, Bergen County Academies

 

Costume, Hair And Makeup: Fiddler on the Roof, Bergen County Academies; Chicago, Pascack Valley; Little Mermaid, River Dell

 

Orchestra: Addams Family, New Milford; Cinderella, Morristown; Crazy for You, Ramsey; Something Rotten, Ridgewood; Mean Girls, Passaic Valley Regional

 

Outstanding Ensemble: Cinderella, Morristown; 12th Night, Academy of Holy Angels; Crazy for You, Ramsey

 

Outstanding Ensemble Member(s): Amaya Romero as Fruma Sarah, Fiddler on the Roof, Bergen County Academies; Caitlin Lau,12th Night, Academy of Holy Angels; Snehanshn Chowdhury, Eddie, Mamma Mia, Pascack Hills

 

Outstanding Featured Performer(s): Leah Winiger as Sebastian, Little Mermaid, River Dell; Ben Harris as Nostradamus, Something Rotten, Ridgewood; Elijah Chen as Pepper, Mamma Mia, Pascack Hills; Alex Vacchiano, Kate, The Wild Party, Academy for Performing Arts

 

Choreography: Fiddler on the Roof, Bergen County Academies; Crazy for You, Ramsey; Chicago, Pascack Valley; Mean Girls, Passaic Valley Regional

 

Music Direction: Mamma Mia, Pascack Hills; Chicago, Pascack Valley; Les Misérables, Gloucester

 

Creative Direction: The Wiz, Arts High School; Fiddler on the Roof, Bergen County Academies; Les Misérables, Gloucester

 

Outstanding Female Identified Supporting Role: Hadyn Hopper as Tanya, Mamma Mia, Pascack Hills; Valentina Gonzalez,12th Night, Academy of Holy Angels; Izzy Alasio as Wednesday Addams, Addams Family, New Milford; Hailey Shafer as Gretchen, Mean Girls, Passaic Valley Regional

 

Outstanding Male Identified Supporting Role: Frankie Carbonaro as Uncle Fester, Addams Family, New Milford; Jack Laux, Molvolio, 12th Night, Academy of Holy Angels; Kurt Sparks as Javert, Les Misérables, Gloucester; Rowan Mastrangelo as Nigel Bottom, Something Rotten, Ridgewood

 

Outstanding Female Identified Lead: Kelly Donlan as Roxie Hart, Chicago, Pascack Valley; Eva Zazzali as Viola, 12th Night, Academy of Holy Angels; Madeline Leibman as Donna, Mamma Mia, Pascack Hills; Avery Benjamin as Jo, Little Women, Madison; Kira Giron as Cady Heron, Mean Girls, Passaic Valley Regional, Olivia Jobst as Sandy Cheeks, SpongeBob the Musical, Park Ridge

 

Outstanding Male Identified Lead: Amron Salgado as Jean Valjean, Les Misérables, Gloucester;; Alex Café as Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof, Bergen County Academies; Derek Wiener, Spongebob Squarepants, SpongeBob the Musical, Park Ridge

 

Outstanding Overall Musical: Fiddler on the Roof, Bergen County Academies; Cinderella, Morristown; Les Misérables, Gloucester; Urinetown, José Martí STEM Academy