Langley HS Critic Snags Cappies Award, Tony's Of High School Theater

MCLEAN, VA — A Langley High School student took home a Cappies award, the Tony's of the DC region's high school theater, for their work as a critic.

The Cappies Gala was held Monday night at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Cappies, a program providing reviews of high school theater shows by high school journalism students, was founded in 1999 by the late Bill Strauss. His wife, Janie Strauss, a former Fairfax County School Board member, has served as chair. At the Cappies gala, their daughter Victoria Hays revealed Janie Strauss is battling a recent brain cancer diagnosis.

The Cappies program trains student critics, who attend high school shows throughout the year and write reviews. The best student reviews are published in local media. At the end of the season, student critics vote for the awards. Cappies awards are given in 40 performance and technical categories.

Langley High School's winner was Ellen Lawton, who took home the Maryland Theater Guide Returning Critic Award on Monday. Neither Langley's production of "Alice in Wonderland" or McLean High School's play "Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play" won any awards this year despite receiving five and seven nominations, respectively.

RELATED: McLean Schools Nominated For Cappies, Tony's Of High School Theater

The Cappies will be broadcast on Fairfax County Public Schools Red Apple 21 channel (Verizon FIOS and Cox Cable within Fairfax County) at 7 p.m. on June 14. Outside Fairfax County, check the live streaming schedule for FCPS TV.

Here is a full list of winners:

Andy Mays Rising Critic: Alden Walcott, Langley High School

Maryland Theater Guide Returning Critic: Ellen Lawton, Herndon High School

Bill Strauss Graduating Critic: McKenzie Phelan, Quince Orchard High School

Marketing and Publicity: Ava Turley, Chicago: Teen Edition, Quince Orchard High School

Special Effects and or Technology: Peyton Morales, Christopher Seeger, Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School

Hair and Make-up: Brianna Turner, Anabelle Volpe, Alina Yang, and The Sweeney Hair & Makeup Team, Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School

Sound: TJ Schultz, and the Yorktown Sound Crew, Les Misérables School Edition, Yorktown High School

Props: Riley Kozal, and the Props Crew, Romeo and Juliet, Lake Braddock Secondary School

Lighting: Zachary Kearny, Rakeb Yihunie, and The Sweeney Lighting Team, Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School

Costumes: Gaby Adumua, Caitlin Grycewicz, Lilly Kyle, Anastasia: The Musical, Fairfax High School

Sets: Madison Beisner, Sam Rutledge, and the Dramahawks Set Team, Les Misérables School Edition, Hayfield Secondary School

Orchestra: The Sweeney Pit, Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School

Choreography: Noah Kennedy, Anna Leo, August Rivers, Big Fish School Edition, South Lakes High School

Creativity: Carlos Ortiz, composer, Frankenstein, Meridian High School

Stage Management: Charly Olsen, Fiddler on the Roof, Herndon High School

Stage Crew: Amelie Aubouin, Hailey Klein, Fiddler on the Roof, Herndon High School

Ensemble in a Play: Stage Managers, Ruby Kodis, Ariel Russel, Willow Singleton, Our Town, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Ensemble in a Musical: Small Ensemble, Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Fortune Picker, Deadwood Dick, or A Game of Gold, James Madison High School

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Colt Craddock, The Doctor in Wonderland, Oakton High School

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Jordyn Sooley, Les Misérables School Edition, Hayfield Secondary School

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Carter Elliff, Les Misérables School Edition, Hayfield Secondary School

Dancer in a Female Role: Kathryn Edmonds, Cabaret, Walt Whitman High School

Dancer in a Male Role: Sam Wolff, Anything Goes, Chantilly High School

Vocalist in a Female Role: Itsuko Scoville, Big Fish School Edition, South Lakes High School

Vocalist in a Male Role: Ethan Hardy, Fiddler on the Roof, Herndon High School

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Kira Gilligan, Pride and Prejudice, Robinson Secondary School

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Eitan Amster, Lavender, Albert Einstein High School

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Tiffanie Kim, Mean Girls High School Version, Clarksburg High School

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Ryan Schimenti, Les Misérables School Edition, Yorktown High School

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Princess Louden, Our Town, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Sofia Hemmens, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Justice High School

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Bella Houston, Les Misérables School Edition, Yorktown High School

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Nate Wheeler Smith, Anastasia: The Musical, Fairfax High School

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Abby Berg, Frankenstein, Meridian High School

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Elijah Kassa, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Justice High School

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Elina Viana, Into the Woods, Bishop Ireton High School

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Christopher Seeger, Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School

Song: The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Act I), Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School

Critic Team: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Play: Romeo and Juliet, Lake Braddock Secondary School

Musical: Sweeney Todd School Edition, West Springfield High School