Central Theatre Wins 3 Awards At Montclair State University

LONG VALLEY, NJ — West Morris Central Theatre's fall production of "Mermaid" took home three of the 11 Foxy Awards it was nominated for at Montclair State University at a ceremony last week.

The production won Outstanding Overall Production of a High School Play and Outstanding Production of a Dramatic Stage Adaptation of a Literary Work or Film. Additionally, director and theater teacher Jeffrey Hogan won the Peter Filichia Award for Pushing the Envelope in Academic Theatre (a full list of their nominations are below).

This is the first time in the 10-year history of the awards that a production won best in their category and best overall.

The awards were given out at a May 20 ceremony at Montclair State.

Up to 75 New Jersey schools can submit DVDs of their productions to be considered for the Foxy Awards. The Awards honor student productions in the areas of performance, direction, design and technical theater, as well as over-all awards for drama, comedy, classical, and new work. The awards are decided by a panel of MSU graduate students, undergraduate theater majors and professors, and industry professionals.

Here are all of the production's nominations, with winning categories in bold:

• Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
• Outstanding Achievement in New Media/Special Effects
• Outstanding Achievement in Choreography/Movement
• The Peter Filichia Award for Pushing the Envelope in Academic Theatre: Jeffrey Hogan
• Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Dramatic Stage Adaptation of Literary Work or Film: Lars Olsen
• Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Dramatic Stage Adaptation of Literary Work or Film: Caitlin Reilly
• Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Stage Adaptation of Literary Work or Film: Maggie Riley
• Outstanding Achievement by an Acting Ensemble of a Dramatic Stage Adaptation of a Literary Work or Film
• Outstanding Production of a Dramatic Stage Adaptation of a Literary Work or Film
• The Jo Anne Fox Award: Jeffrey Hogan
• Outstanding Overall Production of a High School Play