RFH Tower Players in the Spotlight for Slew of Theater Award Wins

The Tower Players of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School have taken center stage in theater excellence this school year by winning a slew of awards from several organizations for their art's sake.

By participating and performing in local and out-of-state venues — The Basie Awards, Bucks County Theater Festival, Mainstage Theater Arts Festival and the Montclair State University Theater Awards — that celebrate excellence in high school theater, the Tower Players ended up getting 18 awards in several different categories among the three organizations.

By participating in the Basie Awards, as they have since the program was initiated in 2006, and competing with 20 other Monmouth County high schools, RFH invited Basie Award judges from the Basie Awards to its fall drama and spring musical productions. The judges then nominated RFH's productions in specific acting, musical and tech categories.

As a result of judging, the Tower Players earned a number of nominations for their fall production of A Christmas Carol and for the spring musical, Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA.

At the Eighth Annual Basie Awards ceremony, held at Red Bank's Count Basie Theater on May 22, A Christmas Carol received the Outstanding Production ~ Drama award. The play's director, Suzanne Sweeney, won the Basie for Outstanding Direction in a Drama for her work on the show.

Jack Newsome won in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama category for his role in A Christmas Carol. Also, for the same show, lighting director Matthew Hervilly and assistant director KasiAnn Sweeney were honored for Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama, and Dino Pagano took the award for Outstanding Set Design in a Drama.

Though nominated for several Basie awards, AIDA did not end up winning any. However, it did in the other venues.

On April 29, the Tower Players entertained the audience at the Bucks County Theater Festival in New Hope, Pennsylvania. As a result, AIDA garnered the award for Best Production. Clare Fitzgerald was recognized as Best Actress for her portrayal of the title character, and the pit orchestra, under the leadership of RFH Music Director Bill Grillo, won a Special Sponsor's Spotlight Award.

The RFH troupe also performed at the Mainstage Theatre Arts Festival held at Camden County College, Camden, on April 27. At this event, AIDA earned the award for Best Overall Production of a Musical and Sweeney was recognized as Best Director of a Musical.

Also at Mainstage, Julia Mosby received the award for Best Actress in a Musical, RFH senior Kristen Pellizzi was honored as Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, and Newsome was recognized as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. AIDA also earned Mainstage Awards for Best Ensemble in a Musical, Best Chorus in a Musical, and Best Choreography in a Musical

At the Montclair State University Theater Awards for Drama, held on April 26, the Tower Players' A Christmas Carol won the award for Best Overall Production. Hervilly and Sweeney were once again recognized for Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama.

The Tower Players is a student activities organization consisting of actors, singers, dancers, set designers, lighting technicians, and costume designers. It is open to all RFH students in grades nine through twelve.