LOCAL STUDENTS WIN BIG AT THE CAPPIES AWARDS CELEBRATING HIGH SCHOOL THEATER

Published: May 24, 2024

Awards celebrating outstanding achievement in high school theater recently presented by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and South Florida Cappies Inc.

NSU University School took home the most honors with eight awards, including those for criticism, and tied with American Heritage in Broward for the most honored musicals with NSU University School’s production of Amélie Teen Edition and American Heritage’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat winning six awards. West Boca Raton High School received the Best Musical award for its production of Mamma Mia. Archbishop McCarthy High School’s production of The Curious Savage was the most honored play with six awards including Best Play.

“It is so rewarding to see the depth and breadth of theater education opportunities in high schools across South Florida and the outstanding array of talent both on the stage and behind the scenes,” said Broward Center President and CEO Ty Sutton. “I am delighted to see that so many of our schools are invested in the creative arts and developing the next generation in all aspects of theater performance and production. Congratulations to all the winners and to all the nominees.”

The Cappie Awards recognized performers, orchestras, designers, technicians, publicists and critics in 48 categories. Nominations were made by student critics from participating schools who attended productions at rival schools and wrote reviews. Winners were determined by votes from students through a weighted peer-review voting process.

“We are so thrilled that our 22nd year saw an increase of eight schools and over 300 reviews submitted making this the largest season in South Florida Cappies history,” said South Florida Cappies Founder and Chair Lori Sessions. “South Florida Cappies fosters respect between schools, encourages careful analysis of productions while continuing to celebrate and improve the quality of high school theatre. I’m so thankful as we celebrate high school theatre in South Florida that Cappies is still thriving and contributing to the education of our students.”

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit BrowardCenter.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.

The Broward Center 2023/2024 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and UHealth University of Miami Health System. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.

About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts

One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level and UHealth-University of Miami Health System Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 100,000 students annually. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.

2023-2024 CAPPIES WINNERS BY SCHOOL

American Heritage Broward
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Jack Ryan
Dancer in a Male Role: Gabriel Salazar Pacheco
Ensemble in a Musical: Brothers
Lighting in a Musical: Hayley Schachter
Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Damien Ellowitz, Emma Kolb
Props in a Musical: Tara Peart, Daniella Bieber

American Heritage Palm Beach Campus
The Fantasticks

Vocalist in a Male Role: Jack Pawlowski
Creativity: Samuel Artel, Musicianship

Archbishop McCarthy High School
The Curious Savage

Play

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Bella Nanavichit<
Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Isabella Ruiz
Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Caroline Greco
Ensemble in a Play: The Guests<
Sound in a Play: Erin Whitaker

AW Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Twelfth Night

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Shaine Rainsburg
Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Connor Hullender
Costumes in a Play: Kaitlyn Bradwell, Sarah Owosina, Elizabeth Kronhaus
Lighting in a Play: Ryan Brown and Co.
Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Aniston Jennings, Nikolai Gerrard and Co.

Calvary Christian Academy
Pygmalion

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Emma Bruce
Hair and Make-up in a Play: Alexandra Denison, Avery Rivas & Co.

Cardinal Gibbons High School
Little Shop of Horrors

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sophia Hazleton
Special Effects and or Technology: Micah Boyce, Dalton Riley

Cooper City High School
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Payton Varga
Critic Teams: Giovanna Dellaria, Lead Critic
Sophomore Critic: Kenny Gervais
Freshman Critic: Gavin MacArthur

Coral Springs High School
Shrek The Musical

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Sean Jenkins

Cypress Bay High School
Chicago

Dancer in a Female Role: Julia Poms
Choreography: Gabbi Bongiovi, Miguel Cabrera
Sets in a Musical: Julia Amigorena, Samantha Garcia, Alex Gomez

Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School
Puffs

Props in a Play: Evan Paggi, Juliet Cintro

J.P. Taravella High School
Babes in Arms

Vocalist in a Female Role: Yasmeen Smith

Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS
Mean Girls, HS Edition

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sydney Lotz
Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Myla Shapiro

North Broward Preparatory School
Mean Girls: High School Version

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Olivia Espinoza

NSU University School
Amélie Teen Edition

Orchestra: Two Windmills Band
Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical : Sam Dyer
Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Zachary Kopelman
Sound in a Musical: Cora Rodriguez
Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: David Taylor and Crew
Marketing and Publicity: Zachary Kopelman, Emma Rodriguez, Jack Steinman
Senior Critic: Avery Redlich
Junior Critic: Sam Dyer

Piper High School
Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass

Sets in a Play: Angelie Gomez and Co.

South Plantation High School
A Night Under the Stars

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Jaxon Reid

West Boca Raton High School
Mamma Mia

Musical

Song: “Voulez-Vous”
Costumes in a Musical: Kelsey Bonner, Maia Stein

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A full listing of winners by school appears following the release

Cutlines:

The Curious Savage produced by Archbishop McCarthy High School was awarded Best Play; credit Ian Ibbetson

West Boca Raton High School’s production of Mamma Mia was awarded Best Musical