Taravella & University School Take Most Cappies Awards

University School’s production of Tarzan, The Stage Musical

Theater students from 14 public and private high schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties received awards from the Critics’ Awards Program at the 11th Annual Cappies Awards Gala held Tuesday, recognizing excellence in both productions and theater criticism.

J.P. Taravella took home the most awards with eight for its production of Leading Ladies, which won more awards than any other production including Best Play.

University School of Nova Southeastern University had the most honored musical production with five awards for Tarzan The Stage Musical including Best Musical.  The school also received one of the awards for criticism.

Award winners were determined by votes from the students themselves through a weighted peer review voting process.

The ceremony, which includes scenes from nominated productions, was presented at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which has hosted the awards since the South Florida chapter was founded in 2002 as a part of the national non-profit organization honoring theater programs.

The winning schools and their major production of the year were:

Boca Raton Community
(Anything Goes)
Best Song: “Anything Goes”
Stage Crew: Kelley Cunningham and Crew
Special Effects/Technology: Senior and Co.
Lighting: Parker, Shackelford and Co.

Coral Glades
(Midsummer/Jersey)
Ensemble in a Play: The Hairdressers

Cypress Bay
(Legally Blonde the Musical)
Featured Actress in a Musical: Gillian Rabin

JP Taravella
(Leading Ladies)
Best Play
Featured Actress in a Play: Casey Hernandez
Lead Actor in a Play: Christian Frost
Supporting Actor in a Play: Patrick Saxer
Supporting Actress in a Play: Mia Cleary
Make-up: Shaina Zwiebel and Crew
Sets: Chris Arata and JPT Stagecraft Class
Sound: Alex Hoffman, Todd Silver, Alex Montesino

Marjory Stoneman Douglas
(Grease and criticism)
Critics’ Team
Senior Critic: Skyler Evans
Junior Critic: Marissa Krantz
Comic Actress in a Musical: Carly Seidner
Female Vocalist: Carolina Meneses
Marketing and Publicity: Jessie Karlen, Carly Sadicario

North Broward Preparatory
(A Flea in Her Ear)
Comic Actor in a Play: Neil Goodman
Costumes: Devon Horn

Pine Crest School
(Oklahoma!)
Comic Actor in a Musical: Patrick Boyle
Female Dancer: Laura Sky Herman

Pompano Beach
(As You Like It)
Male Vocalist: Nicholas Guinta

Pope John Paul II
 (You Can’t Take It With You)
Lead Actress in a Play: Lauren Nolan
Comic Actress in a Play: Jessica Coons

South Plantation
(Big and criticism)
Sophomore Critic: Aaron Bourque
Male Dancer: Lance Spencer
Creativity: Julia Rodriguez, Christina Nunes, Shen Rogus, ASL translation and instruction

St. Thomas Aquinas
(Dead Man Walking)
Featured Actor in a Play: Jake Mathwich

Suncoast Community
(In the Heights)
Lead Actor in a Musical: Joel Gutierrez
Featured Actor in a Musical: Taige Mills
Choreography: Kyle Cortes
Props: Shoshana Cohen, Melanie Grande

University School
(Tarzan The Stage Musical and criticism)
Best Musical
Freshman Critic: Carlo Feliciani
Supporting Actor in a Musical: Ryan Juda
Supporting Actress in a Musical: Laura Galindo
Ensemble in a Musical: Apes Ensemble
Orchestra: Jammin’ Jungle Orchestra

West Boca
(9 to 5 The Musical)
Lead Actress in a Musical: Jade Zaroff

For a complete list of nominees, click here.