Teens In Maplewood Nab Prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse Nominations

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Over the years, theatrical stars from Anne Hathaway to Laura Benanti to Shanice Williams have won prestigious awards from Paper Mill Playhouse when they were teen thespians in New Jersey. Now, students at Columbia High School in Maplewood have been nominated to follow in their footsteps.

In early May, the prestigious theater house in Millburn announced the schools and teens who have been nominated for various Paper Mill Playhouse "Rising Star" awards for 2023.

The winners will be announced live on June 13.

Columbia High School and its students and teachers are in the running for several awards again this year.

These are just some of the nominations announced for the school:

• Outstanding Overall Production Of A Musical: Columbia HS for "Something Rotten"
• Outstanding Lead Performer In A Male-Identified Role: Quincy Hampton as “Nick Bottom”
• Supporting Performer: Scarlett Choi as “Portia” in "Something Rotten"
• Supporting Performer: Owen Umiker as “Will Shakespeare”
• Supporting Performer (honorable mention): Scott Barton as “Nigel Bottom”
• Outstanding Achievement By A Teacher: Tricia Benn, Bethany Pettigrew

See the full list of "Rising Star Award"-nominated teachers and students for 2023 here.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater have been given each year starting in 1996.

Columbia High also received nominations last year. See that story here.