Waterbury - Seven Angels Theatre presented the second night of the 19th Annual Halo Awards 2022 on Wednesday evening at the magnificent Palace Theater in Waterbury. The program that is like the Tony Awards for high school performers is the event for students involved in their school’s theater department. The energy at the second evening was high and many of the participants were dressed for the red carpet at the gala.
The Halo Awards Coordinator is the actor Constantine Pappas, assisted by Melissa Stemmer. Michelle Gotay, actress and motivational speaker, returned for the ninth year to serve as host of all three evenings. If anything, Gotay was even funnier than she had been the first night. Actor Jimmy Donohue was her partner in crime, representing voting company Dewey Cheatum and Howe and delivering pizza to the stage to kick off intermission.
The original 12 schools that participated in Halo judging have grown to an impressive 80 high schools in all corners of Connecticut. Judges attended 135 productions this year, shows that included 6,500 high school students as actors, musicians and crew.
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In her opening remarks, Semina De Laurentis, the Artistic Director of Seven Angels and the beloved Halos guru, reminded every student in the audience to hang on to their ticket so that they could use it as Halos Pass to attend any upcoming production at 7A free of charge. De Laurentis has been at Seven Angels for 32 years.
Wednesday evening presenters included “mi” actor Justin Torres, Director/Founder of City Youth Theater Shelby C. Davis, Mattatuck Museum Director “Mattatuck Bob” Burns, WATR General Manager and Radio Host Tom Chute (who hosted the first ten years of the Halo Awards,) Actress/Director/Choreographer Shannon-Courtney Denihan (who brought her sparkly daughter Grace as her date,) State Senator Joan Hartley, Halo winner Jessica Irizarry (who was magnificent in “Pippin” when she was a student at CCSU,) Main St. Waterbury’s Anabela Maia, Arts & Culture Collaborative, and CT State Rep. Geraldo Reyes, Jr.
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Also presenting were AEA member Patti Guarantano, Diana Ploch, 7A Artistic Director Semina De Laurentis, professional actress Joyce Jeffrey, the Palace Theater’s Frank Tavera, and Pappas. I sat next to the charming Clivel Charlton, Head of Children and Youth Service at the Silas Bronson Library, and filled him in on what I had learned about presenting on Tuesday night. He did very well when he headed to the stage to present three Halo Awards. However, the Halo for the presenter with the biggest personality goes to Retired Waterbury Mayoral Aide Monroe Webster, making him a tough act to follow.
Click here to view the entire list of Halo Award winners for the second night.
My favorite part of every Halo Awards gala is being able to enjoy many performances by the nominated productions.
Waterbury Arts Magnet School opened the show with “All Shook Up” from their production of “All Shook Up in full costume. WAMS received Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Quinn Soulliere as Dennis in “All Shook Up.” The school also won Best Costume Design and/or Execution for Liani Diaz, Wynne Lewis and Marie Syla for their musical, as well as the Best Dancing Halo Award.
Wolcott High School took to the stage to perform “It’s Possible” from “Seussical” in their costumes. Wolcott won one of the Halo Awards for Best Performance by a Couple or Dynamic Duo in a Musical for Julia Thies and Angelina Emanuel as Cat in the Hat and Jojo in “Seussical.”
After some special recognition awards, a student from Crosby High School/Waterbury Career Academy performed Audrey’s solo “Somewhere That’s Green” from “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Oxford High School showed off Paulette’s solo “Ireland” in their “Ireland/So Much Better Mashup” from their show “Legally Blond” and Oxford won Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical for Ashley Carpp as Paulette in “Legally Blonde.”
Bethel High School “showed off” the number “Show Off” from “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Bethel took Best Comic Female Performance in a Musical for Lana Botx as Adolpho in “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Bethel took Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for Jack Boucher as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.” Bethel also took Best Musical for “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
Middletown High School closed the first act with “God’s Love Nubia” from “Aida,” accompanied by a drum and dressed in black and white. Middletown was awarded Best Sound Design and/or Execution for Trever Farrington, Jordan Blaise and Natalie Ciarleglio for “Employees Must Wash Hands Before Murder…And Covid,” and Best Incidental or Original Music in a Play for Natalie Ciarleglio.
Act II opened with a performance from Pomperaug High School of the high-energy “Jitterbug” from “The Wizard of Oz.” The students wore their original costumes to show off the wonderful choreography. Pomperaug was awarded Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Aisling Gowen as Dorothea Stapleton in “Hound of the Baskervilles: A Comedy Starring Jennie Watson and Shirley Holmes.” The school also took Best Comic Male Performance in a Musical for Jimmy Hunter as Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz.” Kate Goncalves of Pomperaug won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play as Jennie Watson in “Hound of the Baskervilles: A Comedy Starring Jennie Watson and Shirley Holmes.”
After the Harmony Robe Parade honoring the best chorus winner, The Hotchkiss School presented their Donna from “Mamma Mia!” performing “Winner Takes it All.” Hotchkiss took Best Scenic Design and/or Execution' for their committee of students for “Mamma Mia!” Hotchiss students Stella del mazza Rocha, Parth Jain and Aiden Wang took Best Specialty Ensemble as Taverna House Singers in the show.
Wilby High School then performed “Brianna’s Place/Hades and Persephone” from their original show “Fractured Fairy Tales.” Accompanied by a piano, two high school students and two young girls who played your Rapunzels performed well. Wilby took “Best Hair and/or Makeup Design and/or Execution for Lisbeth Adames-Estevez, Angelica Garcia and Jenessa Figueroa for “Fractured Fairy Tales.”
Then Nonnewaug High School performed a mash up of numbers from their production of “Chicago” in full costume. Nonnewaug walked away with Best Props Design and/or Management for Nicole Dionne, Polina Mylus, Shelby Rushin and Ryan Kostenko for “The Laramie Project,” as well as one of the Halos for Best Performance by a Cast in an Ensemble Production for “The Laramie Project.”
Nathan Hale-Ray High School came out in full costume to present “Moonlight/Lovely Night” from their production of “Cinderella.” This school won Best Special Effects for Drew MacNeil, Sally Riley, Aiden Bonilla, Ziggy Matthews, Michael Jordan, Ean Steflik, James Chemacki and Chelsea Valli for “Cinderella.” They also won Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play for Aiden Bonilla as Bob Cratchit/Mr. Fezziwig in “A Christmas Carol,” as well as Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical for Tyler Warren as Lionel in “Cinderella.”
Fairfield College Preparatory School performed the number “On the Right Track” from their show “Pippin,” featuring the students who played Pippin and The Leading Player. Fairfield Prep took Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for Evan Jang as Cedric/Mr. Voldy in “Puffs.” The school also took Best Chorus for “Pippin,” as well as one of the Halos for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical” for Jenny Silence as Leading Player in “Pippin.”
Southington High School wowed the audience with their Ariel singing “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid.” Southington took Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play for Asia Aloma as Cherry-Tracy Pulcifer in “Last Gas.” The school also walked away with Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Eva Bilodeau as Ariel in “Little Mermaid.”
Mark T Sheehan High School was the final school to take to the stage, performing “Megamix” from “High School Musical.” The entire cast was in their red and white costumes and nailed the challenging choreography. Sheehan took Best Featured Dancer(s) for Julie Rochniak in “All Together Now!” as well as one of the Best Male Standout Performance in an Ensemble Production for Sajag Timilsina in the show.
Berlin High School won a Halo for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Laura Sarrazin as Cinderella in “Into The Woods.” Berlin won one of the Halos for Best Female Standout Performance in an Ensemble Production for Ruth Brown as Witch/Beggar Woman in “A Voice in the Dark: A Salem Story.” The school also walked away with Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for Paul Kendrick as The Baker in “Into the Woods.”
Norwich Free Academy took Best Comic Male Performance in a Play for Christopher Turner as Colonel Mustard in “Clue.” Norwich got Best Lighting Design and/or Execution for Aidan O’Farrell and Emily Topalis for “Clue,” and Best Running Crew for “Clue.”
Holy Cross High School got the Halo for Grace Persuad as Juliette in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” and Best Program Art for Grace Graziano for “The Addams Family.” Holy Cross also won one of the Best Performance by a Couple or Dynamic Duo in a Musical for Jillian Guerette and Jaela Rivera as Mal and Alice Beineke in “The Addams Family.”
Woodland High School earned Best Stage Management for Hannah Mudry, Julianna Fernandez (PSM) and Mia Swabski (ASM) for “Emma: A Pop Musical” and Best Play for “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong.”
Stratford High School took Best Orchestra for the orchestra for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Best Performance by a Cast in an Ensemble Production for “Spelling Bee,” and Best Male Standout Performance in an Ensemble Production for Tyler Tripodi as Trotter in “The Mousetrap.” Stratford High also took one of the Best Female Standout Performance in an Ensemble Production” for Olivia Orris as Olive in “Spelling Bee.”
Wooster School took Best Performance by a Couple or Dynamic Duo in a Play for Ben Greco and Alli Byrne as Smee and Black Stache in “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
The Seven Angels Awards Team includes Semina De Laurentis, Mary Ann DeSorbo, Jimmy Donohue, Stephanie Gordner, Morgan Griffin, Debra Healy, Jewell Hearon, director Scott Kealey, Bob Keating, Lyn Licese, Joshua Lopez, Katrina Paul, 7A press representative Paul Roth, Christine Simone and Melissa Stemmer.
