The Middletown High School North Drama Program had quite the week as the program was recognized with 29 Basie nominations for the 2022-23 school year.  Middletown High School North Drama teacher and Middletown Township Arts Academy Advisor Amanda Faria is extremely proud of her students being recognized for all of their hard work.

According to the Count Basie website, “The Count Basie Center’s annual Basie Awards is a program modeled after Broadway’s Tony™ Awards, honoring excellence in high school theatre in Monmouth County. Each year, adjudicators are sent to review straight plays and musicals. Nominations are made, and the culminating awards ceremony is a not-to-be-missed celebration honoring those who share a passion and understanding of the power of theatre and the arts. ”

During each school year, the Basie’s Education department creates a committee of theatre production attendees, performers and educators, who then attend and officially score and rank nearly 50 school productions. The Basie Awards recognize all facets of theatre excellence ranging fromacting and directing to set and costume design, choreography, lighting, and orchestra.  This year’s Middletown High School North Nominees are:

1. Best Featured Actress in a Drama: Jessica Heitmann and Annie Kissinger
2. Best Featured Actor in a Drama: Cole Bartolotti and Sealth Grover
3. Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Rebecca Grodek
4. Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: John Martin
5. Best Leading Actress in a Drama: Ava Giglia
6. Best Leading Actor in a Drama: Samuel Cusson
7. Outstanding company in a drama
8. Outstanding production of a play
9. Spring Musical- “Les Miserables”
10. Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Jessica Ardolina and Rebecca Grodek
11. Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Bryan Reimertz
12. Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Ava Giglia and Jessica Heitmann
13. Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Sealth Grover and Daniel Stefanski
14. Best Lead Actor in a Musical: Samuel Cusson and John Martin
15. Outstanding Chorus in a Musical
16. Outstanding Production of a Musical