Freehold High School Receives Basie Award Nomination

has revieved a nomination for a Basie Award this year, an annual award show sponsored by the Count Basie Theatre.

This year marks the seventh annual Basie Awards, which recognizes high school performing arts with the purpose to foster an appreication for the arts and honoring excellence in high school theater.

"Little Shop of Horrors" has received a nomination for Outstanding All Student Orchestra led by Pamela Massimini.

The awards show will be held on Wednesday, May 23, at 7 p.m.

A complete list of the nominations:

Outstanding Set Design in a Drama

• Asbury Park High School: Backstage; Robert Rutt & Gary Kilmer
• Ocean Township High School: Noises Off; Tom Collins
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: It’s a Wonderful Life; Dino Pagano
• Monmouth Regional High School: The 39 Steps; Anthony Greco
• Middletown High School South: The Rimers of Eldritch; Alexis Kozak
• Mater Dei Prep: Almost Maine; John Budzyna

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama

• Middletown High School South: The Rimers of Eldritch; Cory Golusinski
• Raritan High School: Alice in Wonderland; Michael Jacoby
• Marlboro High School: Maybe Baby, It’s You; Kevin Gunther
• Monmouth Regional High School: The 39 Steps; David Ahlers
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: It’s a Wonderful Life; Dino Pagano

Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama
(The Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design)

• Monmouth Regional High School: The 39 Steps; Jacquie Revier
• Manalapan High School: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Meghan Reeves
• Raritan High School: Alice in Wonderland; Melanie Taylor
• Middletown High School South: The Rimers of Eldritch; Jacqueline Mazza
• Ranney School: And Then There Were None; John Doyle

Outstanding Direction in a Drama

• Robert Angelini, Ocean Township High School - Noises Off
• Alexis Kozak, Middletown High School South - The Rimers of Eldritch
• Anthony Greco, Monmouth Regional High School - The 39 Steps
• Melanie Taylor, Raritan High School - Alice in Wonderland
• Suzanne Sweeney, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School - It’s a Wonderful Life
• Jesse Grabowski, Manalapan High School - A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

• Raritan High School: Alice in Wonderland; Melanie Taylor
• Monmouth Regional High School: The 39 Steps; Anthony Greco
• Manalapan High School: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Jesse Grabowski
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: It’s a Wonderful Life, Suzanne Sweeney
• Ocean Township High School: Noises Off; Robert Angelini
• Middletown High School South: The Rimers of Eldritch; Alexis Kozak

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

• Alyssa Figueroa, Asbury Park High School - Backstage
• Victoria Keiser, Raritan High School - Alice in Wonderland
• Caroline Palsi, Communications High School - Rumors
• Suzie Hicks, Colts Neck High School - Isn’t It Romantic
• Krista Skribner, Mater Dei Prep - Almost, Maine
• Kim Alexis Kallok, Ocean Township High School - Noises Off

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

• Dan Hamm, Raritan High School - Alice in Wonderland
• CJ Marsini, Middletown High School South - The Rimers of Eldritch
• Nate Fields, Asbury Park High School - Backstage
• Phil Limeri, Mater Dei Prep - Almost, Maine
• Matt Melleby, Mater Dei Prep - Almost, Maine
• Shaun Nerney, Mater Dei Prep - Almost, Maine

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

• Melissa Albert, Marlboro High School - Maybe Baby, It’s You
• Dani Gordon, Monmouth Regional High School - The 39 Steps
• Kelly Lozo, Middletown High School South - The Rimers of Eldritch
• Alicia Moeller, Red Bank Regional High School - Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Nicole Friedman, Manalapan High School - Midsummer Nights’ Dream
• Julie Ripple, Matawan Regional High School - Gramercy Ghost

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

• Patrick Leeman, Matawan Regional High School - Gramercy Ghost
• Chris Dubrow, Red Bank Regional High School - A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Noah Goldstein, Ranney School - And Then There Were None
• Robert Resnick, Marlboro High School - Maybe, Baby It’s You
• Kevin Karol, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School - It’s a Wonderful Life
• Nick D’Ambrosio, Monmouth Regional High School - The 39 Steps

Nominees for Musical Presentations:

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical

• Mater Dei Prep: Flat Stanley; D. Horowitz & M. Cahill
• Monmouth Regional High School: Seussical; Anthony Greco & Jack Pensabene
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Jekyll & Hyde; Dino Pagano & Suzanne Sweeney
• Red Bank Catholic High School: Into the Woods; Fred Sorrentino
• Ocean Township High School: Miss Saigon; Tom Collins
• Shore Regional High School: Annie Get Your Gun; Scott Naef

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

• Asbury Park High School: The Wiz; Robert Rutt
• Ocean Township High School: Miss Saigon; George Ripley & Victoria Cascaes
• Howell High School: Cabaret; Travis Popiel
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Jekyll & Hyde; Matthew Hervilly & Suzanne Sweeney
• Shore Regional High School: Annie Get Your Gun; Scott Naef & Todd Aikens
• Red Bank Catholic High School: Into the Woods; Frank Bell

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical
(The Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design)

• Asbury Park High School: The Wiz; Trina Peduto Colford
• Howell High School: Cabaret; Jacquie Revier
• Mater Dei Prep: Flat Stanley; Cindy Dwyer & Jacquie Revier
• Middletown High School South: Bye Bye Birdie; Jacqueline Mazza & Laura Mazza
• Red Bank Catholic High School: Into the Woods; Fred Mayo, Debra Thime, & Fred Sorrentino
• Monmouth Regional High School: Seussical; Jacquie Revier

Outstanding Musical Direction

• Howell High School: Cabaret; Regina McAllen
• Red Bank Catholic High School: Into the Woods; Shawn Mack
• Mater Dei Prep: Flat Stanley; Cindy Dwyer
• Monmouth Regional High School: Seussical; Mary Mindas
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Jekyll & Hyde; Bill Grillo & Vincent Mottern
• Mater Dei Prep: Once Upon a Mattress; Cindy Dwyer

Outstanding All Student Orchestra

• Freehold High School: Little Shop of Horrors; Pamela Massimini
• High Technology High School: Little Shop of Horrors; Lisa Zahray
• Manalapan High School: The Wedding Singer; Adam Glenn

Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra

• Howell High School: Cabaret; Regina McAllen
• Ocean Township High School: Miss Saigon; Mark Cook
• Red Bank Catholic High School: Into the Woods; Shawn Mack
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Jekyll & Hyde; Bill Grillo & Vincent Mottern

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical

• Howell High School: Cabaret; Lisa Twamley
• Matawan Regional High School: Guys and Dolls; Julie Takacs
• McKurth Middletown High School South: Bye Bye Birdie; Jacqueline Mazza
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Jekyll & Hyde; Alexis Marinov
• Monmouth Regional High School: Seussical; Donna Battaglia
• Raritan High School: The Wizard of Oz; Lisa Catena

Outstanding Ensemble Group

• The Gamblers, Matawan Regional High School - Guys and Dolls
• The Kit Kat Girls, Howell High School - Cabaret
• Sweet Apple Teens, Middletown High School South - Bye Bye Birdie
• Hot Box Girls, Matawan Regional High School - Guys and Dolls
• The Gospeleers, Neptune High School - Finian’s Rainbow

Outstanding Featured Ensemble in a Musical

• Uzo Amuzie, Matawan Regional High School - Guys and Dolls
• Emily Mitro, Shore Regional High School - Annie Get Your Gun
• Kelly Lozo, Middletown High School South - Bye Bye Birdie
• Erin McGuiness, Middletown High School South - Bye Bye Birdie

Outstanding Chorus in a Musical

• Raritan High School: The Wizard of Oz
• Red Bank Catholic: Into the Woods
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Jekyll & Hyde
• Howell High School: Cabaret
• Middletown High School South: Bye Bye Birdie

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Brianna McDonald Vitale, Red Bank Catholic High School - Into the Woods
• Kayla Ryder, Matawan Regional High School - Guys and Dolls
• Michaela Farrell, Red Bank Catholic High School - Into the Woods
• Briana Luguori, St. John Vianney High School - Legally Blonde
• Samantha Sayah, Howell High School - Cabaret

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Patrick Leeman, Matawan Regional High School - Guys and Dolls
• CJ Marsini, Middletown High School South - Bye Bye Birdie
• Jake Cameron, Shore Regional High School - Annie Get Your Gun
• Mark Regan, Jr., Red Bank Catholic High School - Into the Woods
• Conall McNelis, Red Bank Catholic High School - Into the Woods

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

• Sarah Bartosh, Ranney School - Drood
• Hannah Simpson, Ranney School - Drood
• Chloe Chalakani, Shore Regional High School - Annie Get Your Gun
• Amanda Lefkowitz, Howell High School - Cabaret
• Julia Whary, Ocean Township High School - Miss Saigon

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

• Harrison Best, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School - Jekyll & Hyde
• Shaun Nerney, Mater Dei Prep - Flat Stanley
• Ari Beller, Red Bank Regional High School - Forum
• Richard Huy, Ocean Township High School - Miss Saigon
• Lucas Manfredi, Ocean Township High School - Miss Saigon

Outstanding Direction in a Musical

• Cindy Dwyer, Mater Dei Prep - Flat Stanley
• Stephen Kazakoff, Howell High School - Cabaret
• Andrew De Prisco, Red Bank Catholic High School - Into the Woods
• Suzanne Sweeney, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School - Jekyll & Hyde
• Anthony Greco, Monmouth Regional High School - Seussical
• Robert Angelini, Ocean Township High School - Miss Saigon

Outstanding Musical Presentation

• Red Bank Catholic High School: Into the Woods; Andrew De Prisco
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Jekyll & Hyde; Suzanne Sweeney
• Howell High School: Cabaret; Stephen Kazakoff
• Monmouth Regional High School: Seussical; Anthony Greco
• Ocean Township High School: Miss Saigon; Robert Angelini