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FHS Drama Club Honored at Bucks County Theater Festival
Students in Freehold High School’s Dramatic Arts Club attended the Bucks County Playhouse Theater Festival on April 17th.
The Bucks County Playhouse Theater Festival is an opportunity for young artists from throughout the region to come together to showcase their work, receive feedback and training from professional actors, directors, and writers, and celebrate the performing arts.
During the morning of the festival, students attended professionally led workshops, ranging from Audition Techniques to Broadway Dance sessions and beyond. The competition portion began in the afternoon with 20 minute production slots.
Freehold’s productions won big this year in both the play and musical categories. Freehold took home Outstanding Production of a Play for the fall production, "Shuddersome: Tales of Poe"; Outstanding Production of a Musical for the spring production, "The Addams Family"; Outstanding Director for English teacher and club advisor KasiAnn Sweeney; Outstanding Musical Director for music director Eric Gross; and Outstanding Actress for Rachel Calvosa.
Not only did the group take home awards, the drama club was also invited back to perform in the "Best of Fest" on April 19th, in which six outstanding productions were invited to return to the playhouse for a special evening performance to showcase their talents in front of family, friends, and the public.
In addition to their recognition at the Bucks County Playhouse Theater Festival, Freehold High School has been nominated for several Basie Awards. The Basie Awards began in 2005 as a way to honor and recognize high school-level actors, actresses and productions in the Monmouth County area.
Freehold has been nominated for the following Basie Awards:
Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama - Lisa Bravo Zimmerman for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama - Andrew Diaz for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama - John Lerman for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Direction in a Drama – Ms. Sweeney for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Overall Drama Production for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Musical - Kevin Gunther for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical - Kevin Gunther for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical - Lisa Bravo Zimmerman for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - Valerie Herman for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Musical Direction – Mr. Gross for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding All Student Orchestra – Mr. Gross for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical – Robert Rotunno for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical – Rachel Calvosa for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - Andrew Diaz for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Chorus in a Musical for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Ms. Sweeney for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Overall Musical Production – Ms. Sweeney for “The Addams Family”
The Bucks County Playhouse Theater Festival is an opportunity for young artists from throughout the region to come together to showcase their work, receive feedback and training from professional actors, directors, and writers, and celebrate the performing arts.
During the morning of the festival, students attended professionally led workshops, ranging from Audition Techniques to Broadway Dance sessions and beyond. The competition portion began in the afternoon with 20 minute production slots.
Freehold’s productions won big this year in both the play and musical categories. Freehold took home Outstanding Production of a Play for the fall production, "Shuddersome: Tales of Poe"; Outstanding Production of a Musical for the spring production, "The Addams Family"; Outstanding Director for English teacher and club advisor KasiAnn Sweeney; Outstanding Musical Director for music director Eric Gross; and Outstanding Actress for Rachel Calvosa.
Not only did the group take home awards, the drama club was also invited back to perform in the "Best of Fest" on April 19th, in which six outstanding productions were invited to return to the playhouse for a special evening performance to showcase their talents in front of family, friends, and the public.
In addition to their recognition at the Bucks County Playhouse Theater Festival, Freehold High School has been nominated for several Basie Awards. The Basie Awards began in 2005 as a way to honor and recognize high school-level actors, actresses and productions in the Monmouth County area.
Freehold has been nominated for the following Basie Awards:
Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama - Lisa Bravo Zimmerman for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama - Andrew Diaz for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama - John Lerman for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Direction in a Drama – Ms. Sweeney for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Overall Drama Production for “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe”
Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Musical - Kevin Gunther for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical - Kevin Gunther for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical - Lisa Bravo Zimmerman for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - Valerie Herman for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Musical Direction – Mr. Gross for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding All Student Orchestra – Mr. Gross for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical – Robert Rotunno for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical – Rachel Calvosa for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - Andrew Diaz for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Chorus in a Musical for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Ms. Sweeney for “The Addams Family”
Outstanding Overall Musical Production – Ms. Sweeney for “The Addams Family”