Wednesday Halo Awards Wrap Up

Waterbury, CT - The second night of the Halo Awards was held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Waterbury’s Palace Theater. Michele Gotay, actress and motivational speaker, again served as the evening’s host.

Featured schools for the Wednesday event included Avon HS, Crosby HS, Darien HS, Fairfield Preparatory School, Hopkins School, The Hotchkiss School, King School, Mark T. Sheehan HS, New Canaan HS, New Fairfield HS, New Milford HS, Old Saybrook HS, Oxford HS, Sacred Heart Academy, Seymour HS, Shepaug Valley HS, Suffield Academy, Waterbury Arts Magnet School, Waterbury Career Academy, Weston HS, Westover School and Woodland Regional HS.

Act I opened with Darien HS giving a smashing performance (in full costume) of “All That Jazz” from CHICAGO. Grady Allen when on to win a Halo for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Classical Musical for the role of Billy Flynn in this production. Darien also took home the Halo for Best Chorus.

Ms. Gotay went over the housekeeping matters at the beginning of evening, reminding the students to clap only once when the nominees were read and assuring them that they could use social media on their cell phones to post with the hashtag #halos2019 or #7angels. Artistic Director Semina De Laurentis explained to the students in the audience that they could use their ticket to the gala as a “Halo Pass” to attend their choice of an Equity production coming to Seven Angels during the next season. She also mentioned that internships are available for interested teens.

After the opening remarks, Avon HS performed “Magic to Do” from their musical PIPPIN in medieval-inspired costumes complete with magical tricks. Avon took home the Halo for Best Hair and/or Makeup Design for PIPPIN, as well as Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Hae Young Yi as Catherine.

The all-girls Westover School showed off their musical THE DROWSY CHAPERONE with “Bride’s Lament.” Larissa Davidowitz won a Halo for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Janet Van De Graff in this production and Ben Dressel won a Halo for his performance as Aldolpho in this production. New Fairfield HS performed a lovely medley from CINDERELLA (The Enchanted Edition) that appeared to have been double cast.

After the special recognition awards presented by Halos guru Melissa Stemmer, Fairfield College Preparatory School performed“Cop Song” in great police uniforms from their musical URINETOWN. Stamford HS’ performance was “Pulled” from their production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Arianna Hernandez showed off her powerful singing voice as Wednesday Addams. Stamford HS won the Halo for Best Contemporary Musical at the evening’s end.

Suffield Academy was unable to perform “Angry Dance” from BILLY ELLIOT. Woodland Regional HS performed “The Impossible Dream” from MAN OF LA MANCHA accompanied by a guitar played by a student. Robert Hansen from Woodland won the Halo Award for Best Original Program Cover Design or Artwork. King School entertained the audience with “Dancing Queen” from their production MAMMA MIA! Many sang along.

After the Gypsy of the Year was announced, Hopkins School showed off the musical number “Finale/Children Will Listen” from INTO THE WOODS with piano accompaniment.

The students from Waterbury Arts Magnet School made it back from their field trip in time for Juliana Nasciemento to pick up her Halo Award for Best Female Standout Performance in an Ensemble Play for her role as Diana Morales in their musical A CHORUS LINE.

After a short intermission, Crosby HS and Waterbury Career Academy students in costume joined to present “Seasons of Love” from their joint production of RENT. Students in the audience waved their lighted cell phones in time to the ballad. Nicole Thomas took home the Halo Award for her work as choreographer on this production. Then Ms. Stemmer invited the teachers from all the participating schools to be recognized with a gift bag and ovations from their students.

Shepaug Valley School performed “Be the Hero” in full costume from their production of BIG FISH. Prop people threw fish onstage at the appropriate time. Oxford HS had the opportunity to show off “The Very Best Week of Our Lives” from SMILE.

Sacred Heart Academy sang “River Deep, Mountain High” from LEADER OF THE PACK in their red show t-shirts and Ms. De Laurentis helped out a student with a swift handheld microphone switch. Sacred Heart Academy went on to win the Halo Award for Best Classical Musical and the nuns associated with the high school cheered. Members of the cast from Old Saybrook performed “You Got Me” from their production of ON THE TOWN. Maggie Maselli won a Halo Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Classical Musical for her role as Ivy Smith in this production. Old Saybrook also took home a Halo for Couple or Dynamic Duo in a Musical for Olivia Gaidry and John Gabelmann as Clare and Ozzie, as well as the Halo for Best Specialty Ensemble.

New Canaan HS’ musical was ANYTHING GOES (Beaumont Version) and the group chose the number “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.” In full costumes, the large group wowed the crowd with some very strong dancing. Sadie Seelert as Reno Sweeney won the Halo Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Contemporary Musical and the show was awarded the Halo for Best Dancing. The good-sized cast from Weston HS did “When You’re An Addams” from THE ADDAMS FAMILY and did a great job with the fun number. Weston took home the Halo for Best Stage Management.

Mark T. Sheehan HS performed a medley from CINDERELLA (2013 Edition) and yes, Cinderella and her fairy godmother transformed their costumes onstage.Terrence Bogan won a Halo for Best Performance by a Leading Actor for his role as Topher in this production. New Milford HS closed the performances with their rousing “Finale” from FOOTLOOSE and showed off some fine dancing. New Milford took home the Halo for Best Specialty Ensemble for Madeline de la Parra, Lily Boisvert and Madison LaFonatan as Rusty, Wendy Jo and Urleen.

After Diane Magas awarded the Dance Molinari Scholarships and Ms. De Laurentis announced the winner of the Artistic Director Award, the final awards of the night were presented.

Click here to see the list of Wednesday Halo Award winners.

Presenters at the Wednesday evening event included actress Brittany Mulcahy, Dan Pesce with the City of Waterbury, Diane Ploch, Administrator of Arts & Culture Collaborative, Carl Rosa, Executive Director of Main St. Waterbury, Kadie Lee Tolderlund, actress Madeleine Tommins, Sheree Marcucci, Marketing & PR Officer of the Palace Theater, actress Joyce Jeffrey, actress and photographer Holly Martin, actress Sydney Yargeau, actress Patti Paganucci, actor Justin Torres (TOMMY at 7A,) and actor Robert Melendez.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417