Morristown High Theatre Department Wins Prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse Awards

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – The Morristown High School theatre department has been nothing short of extraordinary during the 2015-16 school year, and now they’ve got the accolades and hardware to prove it.

But don’t let us tell you, hear it straight from Producer Ralph Losanno in a letter written to students and staff:

The Morristown High School Theatre finished our theatre season with multiple nominations and wins! Morristown High School Theatre started the awards season with five nominations and one win, for Best Ensemble in a Drama - in the WHOLE STATE, from The NJ State Theatre Awards for our production of A Christmas Carol.

Tonight Morristown High School Theatre was celebrated with three nominations and two wins from Paper Mill Playhouse's Rising Star Awards for our musical of Once Upon A Mattress. Morristown High School Theatre took home “Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion & Access Award which recognizes excellence in the promotion and practice of creative inclusion of students and adults with disabilities as performers, designers, musicians and production staff. Additionally, this award also seeks to recognize and reward a school that takes steps to ensure their performances are accessible to audiences with disabilities.

An award of $1,000 was given to a single deserving school - Morristown High School - selected by a panel of Evaluators from Paper Mill Playhouse, VSA - The State Organization on Arts and Disability of New Jersey and the Cultural Access Network of New Jersey.

Morristown High School is deeply honored by this award as we work each and every day to make the theatre a place where every student can find a “home,” acceptance, and a chance to shine. We are working hard to make the theatre a place where all MHS students are “All In” and celebrated for their dedication, hardwork, and determination to put on the best production they can. This recognition is without a doubt of the best accolades the theatre and school can receive and should feel overwhelming joy and pride to call the school truly an inclusive environment for all.

Morristown was also nominated in a very stiff competition for a student achievement award in Graphic Design for seniors Alexandra Fielding and Julia Halasz. Allie and Julia were selected as one of the only twenty nominations in the state, from which ten winners were awarded among all aspects of theatre ranging from Hair and Makeup Design to Costume Design to Student Direction and Choreography among many other categories. Allie and Julia worked tirelessly on their graphic design for this show and for anyone who saw the poster, Showgram, or other promotional materials can agree, it is without a doubt the work of true artists and winners!

Morristown High School Theatre Senior Stage Manager Sydney Scheer won the Jane Burgio Memorial Scholarship for her theatre studies next fall at Ithaca College. Senior at Morristown High School, Sydney Scheer, selected by the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award committee as one of five students to receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The Jane Burgio Memorial Scholarship, is given in memory of a pioneer in the arts in New Jersey. Jane was the first female Secretary of the State, serving for eight years under Governor Thomas Kean, where she helped to establish the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, which provides support to theatres, museums, orchestras, and dance companies throughout the state.

Out of hundreds of applications, which consist of a student essay describing what the performing arts means to he/she, grade point average, participation in school, extra-curricular theatre activities, acceptance to a college or university, and a directing team essay detailing his/her role in the theatre and why he/she deserve the award, Sydney’s application was selected.

It is with overwhelming happiness, pride, and true joy that the directing team shares this information. Congratulations to all of the cast, crew, pit, families, faculty, administration, and community supporters who made all of this possible! Wow! What a season! Now onto next year...enjoy your summer and congrats again!