WINNERS OF THE 2024/2025 CAPPIES AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Published: May 23, 2025
Link to images (courtesy of South Florida Cappies): https://tinyurl.com/45utjdce
The spotlight was shining brightly on the exceptional achievements of students in high school theater from 28 public and private schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties during the 23rd Annual Cappies Awards, hosted by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and South Florida Cappies Inc.
For the second consecutive year, NSU University School in Davie took home the most honors receiving 11 awards, including Best Musical, for their production of Hadestown: Teen Edition. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach took home 10 awards for their production of Metamorphoses that included recognition as Best Play.
“All of the winners and nominees deserve a standing ovation for their dedication to excellence in the performing arts. Their participation will have a lasting impact well beyond high school,” said Jacob Aronin, Director of Education for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. “We must also recognize the commitment of theater educators and the unwavering support of parents and families, and we thank them for sharing their students with us. We are proud to once again host the newest generation of theater makers and storytellers.”
The Cappies Awards recognize the creativity, dedication and talent of students in various roles on the stage, behind the scenes or through their thoughtful words as critics. Student critics from participating schools nominate candidates after attending and writing reviews of productions from rival schools. The winners are then selected through a weighted peer-review voting process also conducted by students.
“I’m so proud of the volunteers who have made the Cappies program run for 23 years,” said South Florida Cappies Founder and Chair Lori Sessions. “The student performances this year were outstanding. During a time when arts funding is being cut in our schools and communities, I’m grateful we could come together to celebrate the high caliber of theater education in Broward and Palm Beach counties.”
For more information on the South Florida Cappies, visit Cappies.com/sfc and follow @sfcappies on Instagram and South Florida Cappies on Facebook.
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 2024/2025 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Nicklaus Children’s Health System.
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 850 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons, displaying a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Nicklaus Children’s Health System Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, 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 also manages The Parker, an iconic Fort Lauderdale venue, the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in Miami-Dade County. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
Photo cutlines (from left to right):
Photo 1: Best Play - Susana Ninomiya (host), Marlo Rodriguez (host), Kalen Hansen, Sanai McCray, Sarah O’Donnell, Sophia Papayannis, George Bostic and Carlo Feliciani (host)
Photo 2: Best Musical - Susana Ninomiya (host), Marlo Rodriguez (host), Rubi Katz, Sofia Casares, Jack Steinman, Karina Lopez, David Taylor and Carlo Feliciani (host)
Photo 3: Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play - Julia Gouldthorpe with Troy Davidson (Cappies Board Member)
Photo 4: Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play - Ernesto Fernandez with Monica Andrews (Cappies Treasurer)
Photo 5: Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical - Sofia Casares with Troy Davidson (Cappies Board Member)
Photo 6: Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical - Sacha Codron with Monica Andrews (Cappies Treasurer)
Photo 7: Critics Team - Marlo Rodriguez (host), Susanna Ninomiya (host), Abby Goldberg, Mia Wilson, Alexis Adler, Kenny Gervais, Jake Terl, Gavin MacArthur, Avery Garfinkel, Carlo Feliciani (host)
Photo 8: Best Song (Road to Hell - Hadestown) - Joshua Diaz, Jack Steinman, Lucy Crawford, Lea Boldon, Gabi Diaz and presenter Krissi Leljedal
Photo 9: Best Orchestra (Into the Woods) – American Heritage School Pit Orchestra members and Jill Kratish (Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Director of Programming)
Photo 10: Opening Number
Photo 11: Performance of Road to Hell from Hadestown
Photo 12: Performance of Metamorphoses
The list of winners by school begins on the next page.
2024-2025 CAPPIES AWARDS WINNERS BY SCHOOL
American Heritage Broward Campus
Into the Woods
Orchestra: American Heritage School Pit Orchestra
American Heritage Palm Beach Campus
The Marvelous Wonderettes
Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sofia Jorgensen
Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: Jonathan Jacknow, Laila Thaler Sucher & Crew
Archbishop McCarthy High School
Arsenic and Old Lace
Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Julia Gouldthorpe
Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Ernesto Fernandez
Sound in a Play: Callie Green
Hair and Make-up in a Play: Olivia Pereira
The Benjamin School
The 39 Steps
Props in a Play: Isabella Anthon & Devin Farmer
Calvary Christian Academy
As You Like It
Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Aliyah Kallioinen
Cardinal Gibbons High School
Shrek the Musical
Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Jacob Miers
Cooper City High School
Sweeney Todd (School Edition)
Vocalist in a Female Role: Saeryn Jones
Junior Critic: Kenny Gervais
Critics Team
David Posnack Jewish Day School
Fiddler on the Roof
Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Sacha Codron
Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Alyssa Tuchinsky
Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Metamorphoses
Best Play
Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Melanie Simmons
Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Shane Rainsburg
Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Colton McMackin
Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Graham Gilbert
Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Andrew Hopta
Ensemble in a Play: Movement Ensemble
Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Aniston Jennings, Sherry Wiedrich, & Charlotte Wooley
Sets in a Play: Penelope Hess, Juliana Priddy and Company
Lighting in a Play: Amira Green & Joey DiMare
Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School
Alice in Wonderland
Costumes in a Play: Miranda Pachter and Company
J.P. Taravella High School
The Wizard of Oz
Costumes in a Musical: Jennifer Fier and Crew
Lighting in a Musical: Julisa Landin, Shayna Silverstein, Emma Khodadadi
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Alice By Heart
Dancer in a Male Role: Ava Fronstin
Choreography: Ava Fronstin, Zoe Schwartzberg
Props in a Musical: Karen Nixon, Rania Ismail, Charlotte Schroeder, Jules Murphey
Freshman Critic: Ellie Pulsifer
NSU University School
Hadestown: Teen Edition
Best Musical
Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sofia Casares
Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Rubi Katz
Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Sam Dyer
Vocalist in a Male Role: Josh Diaz
Ensemble in a Musical: The Workers
Song: Road to Hell
Sets in a Musical: Sam Dyer, Karina Lopez, and Jack Steinman
Sound in a Musical: Cora Rodriguez
Sophomore Critic: Zachary Kopelman
Senior Critic: Sam Dyer
South Plantation High School
Ride The Cyclone (High School Edition)
Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: David Denman
Creativity: ASL Team
Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Isabella Morales and Company
Special Effects and/or Technology: Brianny Frias, Lily Moscowitz, and Company
West Boca Raton Community High School
Once Upon a Mattress
Marketing and Publicity: EditionMila Freineit, Becca Rayman, Justin Swab
Westminster Academy
The Lightning Thief
Dancer in a Female Role: Kathryn Wright
###