Holt Students Nominated for Cappies Awards

The Cappies, short for the Critics and Awards Program, trains area students and aspiring critics nationwide by having them attend peer performances at other schools. Students then write reviews of the performances, have their worked critiqued and published in local news outlets. The year builds up to a large, critics’ choice awards ceremony in which the students vote on various aspects of local theater production and performance.

The St. Louis Cappies is one of the largest chapters in Missouri and is currently in its sixth season. It includes 17 private and public high schools from St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties. 

The awards will be presented on Sunday and model the Tony Awards for achievements in Broadway Theater. In addition to presenting the awards, the ceremony will be modeled after the Broadway-based Tony Awards, and will include brief performances from nominated productions.

Since many of the nominees are seniors, the Cappies also are an excellent send-off for students with a future in the performings arts, and a perfect way to cap their brief but memorable careers.

Below is a complete list of Cappies nominees. 's nominees are highlighted in bold.

Sound

• Madi Hunter, Kristi Helm, Emily Winborn, , Much Ado About Nothing
• Josh Eldridge and Katie Licameli, , The Diary of Anne Frank
• Maura Madinger, , Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Sydney Pourcillie, Notre Dame High School, Aida
• Maria Sanchez, Lily Sullivan, Megan Winborn, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables

Lighting     

• Mary Baker, Keri Lanneman, Alysia Leonard, Cassidy Wrap, , The Three Musketeers
• Jeremy Feldstein, , Leading Ladies
• Adam Hunn, Claire Springer, Catherine Ulivi, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Amber Pickens, Hazelwood East, And Then There Were None
• Christina Runk, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Sets

• Nick Bible, Julia Levine, Sarah Davidson, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Sean Cowell, Dan Moessner, Emily Rogers, Jeff Whitfield, Marquette, The Three Musketeers
• Sarah Davidson, Julia Levine, Rachel Schechter, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies
• Amanda Eshelman, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Karen Esswein, Jackie Buchheit, Mariel Tishma, Jenny Ebel, Notre Dame, Aida

Costumes

• Rachel Artwein, Tianna Glass, Alexis Mayes, Alexis Tucker, McCluer Senior High, Arabian Nights
• Kaylyn Bauer, Josey Coleman, Dana Engelhardt, Brian Flammang, , The Music Man
• Megan Clayton, Taylor Rohde, Erika Bibas, Notre Dame, Aida
• Olivia Ellis, Haley Sandifer, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Madyson Kendall, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Make-up

• Liz Baranowski, Endia McFarland, McCluer, The Wiz
• Lily Cella, Nealey Wallis, , Medea
• Linda Epley, Anna Holdener, Taylor Wagner, Annie Eveker, Notre Dame, Aida
• Mosie Herring, Rachel Jefferson, Katie Wu, Francis Howell, Zombie Prom
• Karlie Pinder, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Props & Effects

• Brianna Duda, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Janie Kaiser, MICDS, Hairspray
• Kristen McPike, McCluer, The Wiz
• Max Schechter, Shelby Meyer, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Jordan Schmitt, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Stage Crew

• Nick Bible, Max Schechter, Shelby Meyer, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Meaghan Brennan, Grace Floros, Elisabeth Rollings, Laura Steenburge, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Andrew Buell, Ryan Biggs, Chloe Buckman, Nico Stringfellow, Holt, The Music Man
• Karen Esswein, Amy Liggett, Michelle Allen, Mariel Tishma, Notre Dame, Aida
• Maddie Frank, Rachel Schechter, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Orchestra

• Pattonville Pit Orchestra, Pattonville, Bye Bye Birdie
• DRS Pit, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• RSHS Pit orchestra, Rockwood Summit, The Wedding Singer

Choreography      

• Intisar Faulkner, Anthony Pawnell, Hazelwood East, West Side Story
• Kevin Hayes, Northwest High School, The Wizard of Oz
• Angela Luna, Holt, The Music Man
• Melanie McCray, McCluer, Arabian Nights

Creativity  

• Ryan Biggs, Blake Brinkley, Patrick Miller, Holt, Is He Dead?
• Katharine Carney, Lauren Smith, Francis Howell North, The Calamityville Terror
• David Kirkman, Alec Swierk, McCluer, Arabian Nights
• Brandon Meshell, directing, Northwest, The Wizard of Oz
• Jacob Van Tuyl, Rockwood Summit, The Wedding Singer

Ensemble in a Play

• Chicago, Dutchy, O'Shaughnessy, Holt, Is He Dead?
• Alex Greene, Austin Jones, Matt Perry, Marquette, The Three Musketeers
• Four Lovers, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Act 1-Visitor from Mamaroneck, Rockwood Summit, Plaza Suite
• Bag Scene, McCluer, Arabian Nights

Ensemble in a Musical

• Hotel Manager & Bell Hops, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• The Nicest Kids, MICDS, Hairspray
• Nubians, Notre Dame, Aida
• Revolutionaries, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Townspeople/Revolutionaries, Bishop DuBourg High School, Urinetown

Featured Actress in a Play

• Michelle Aschenbrenner, Notre Dame, Little Women
• Lora Hakanson, Pattonville, The Diary of Anne Frank
• McKenzie Moser, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Arianna Rice, Northwest, The High Schooler's Guide to the Galaxy
• Amanda Walker, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Featured Actor in a Play

• Brandon Callahan, Holt, Is He Dead?
• Richard Klos, Marquette, The Three Musketeers
• Phill Kosta, Bishop DuBourg, The Imaginary Invalid
• David Robinson, Pattonville, The Diary of Anne Frank
• Jacob Rosnstock, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Featured Actress in a Musical

• Jessica Brunts, Pattonville, Bye Bye Birdie
• Alexa McKenna, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Lily Reed, MICDS, Hairspray
• Olivia Welby, Bishop DuBourg, Urinetown
• Amanda Jerry, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables

Featured Actor in a Musical

• Keifer Beem, Holt, The Music Man
• Zach Erhardt, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Luke Morin, Pattonville, Bye Bye Birdie
• Matt Perry, Marquette, Hairspray
• Alec Swierk, McCluer, The Wiz

Female Dancer   

• Erika Bibas, Notre Dame, Aida
• Mara Lesser, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Melanie McCray, McCluer, Arabian Nights
• Melanie McCray, McCluer, The Wiz
• Erica Ream, Pattonville, Bye Bye Birdie

Male Dancer   

• Max Friedman, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Christian Hamilton, Marquette, Hairspray
• Kevin Hayes, Jitterbug, Northwest, The Wizard of Oz
• Ethan Isaac, Francis Howell, Zombie Prom
• Dereis Lambert, McCluer, The Wiz

Female Vocalist   

• Elyse Bertani, Rockwood Summit, The Wedding Singer
• Molly Fowler, Dorothy, Northwest, The Wizard of Oz
• Courtnie Henson, Marquette, Hairspray
• Amanda Jerry, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Alexis Tucker, McCluer, The Wiz

Male Vocalist

• Patrick Beecher, MICDS, Hairspray
• Peter Billing, Holt, The Music Man
• Nate Camden, Tin Man, Northwest, The Wizard of Oz
• Sam Decker, Pattonville, Bye Bye Birdie
• PJ Palmer, Marquette High School, Hairspray

Comic Actress in a Play

• Caroline Amos, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Madelyn Brandt, Francis Howell, As it is in Heaven
• Julie Creath, Northwest High School, The High Schooler's Guide to the Galaxy
• Anne Mattson, Bishop DuBourg High School, The Imaginary Invalid
• Emily Rice, Rockwood Summit High School, Plaza Suite

Comic Actor in a Play

• Brandon Janssen, Northwest High School, The High Schooler's Guide to the Galaxy
• Joe Konroy, Bishop DuBourg High School, The Imaginary Invalid
• Matt Perry, Marquette High School, The Three Musketeers
• Alec Swierk, McCluer Senior High, Arabian Nights
• Marc Williams, Hazelwood East, And Then There Were None

Comic Actress in a Musical   

• Kassie King, Francis Howell, Zombie Prom
• Allie Luecke, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Jordan Manno, Marquette High School, Hairspray
• Sammekia McDole, McCluer Senior High, The Wiz
• Maggie Nold, Bishop DuBourg, Urinetown

Comic Actor in a Musical

• Brock Birkner, Francis Howell North, Godspell
• Spencer Blow, Rockwood Summit, The Wedding Singer
• Will Moore, Marquette, Hairspray
• Alexander Tash, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Ben Weber, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables

Supporting Actress in a Play

• Elyse Bertani, Rockwood Summit, Plaza Suite
• Erin Holiday, MICDS, Medea
• Emma Rechenberg, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies
• Madison Sportsman, Pattonville, The Diary of Anne Frank
• Claire Zimmerman, Notre Dame, Little Women

Supporting Actor in a Play

• Nate Camden, Northwest, The High Schooler's Guide to the Galaxy
• Peter Leach, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Aiden McCarter, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies
• Will Moore, Marquette, The Three Musketeers
• Kyle Twomey, Rockwood Summit, Plaza Suite

Supporting Actress in a Musical    

• Michelle Adzido, Francis Howell, Zombie Prom
• Caroline Amos, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Emily Rice, Rockwood Summit, The Wedding Singer
• Natalie Sannes, MICDS, Hairspray
• Carly Uding, Notre Dame, Aida

Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Jimmy Cambron, Holt, The Music Man
• Joe Essig, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• David Kirkman, McCluer, The Wiz
• Aidan McCarter, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Zack Zakibe, Bishop DuBourg, Urinetown

Lead Actress in a Play

• Erika Bibas, Notre Dame, Little Women
• Zoe Lefebvre, Marquette, The Three Musketeers
• Erica Ream, Pattonville, The Diary of Anne Frank
• Hattie Smith, MICDS, Medea
• Katy Strutz, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Lead Actor in a Play

• Jean-Paul Angieri, Nerinx Hall, Much Ado About Nothing
• Jimmy Cambron, Holt, Is He Dead?
• Thomas Hederman, Notre Dame, Little Women
• Ryan Martin, Marquette, The Three Musketeers
• Michael Price, Parkway Central, Leading Ladies

Lead Actress in a Musical

• Sam Auch, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Mariah Garcia, Notre Dame, Aida
• Blair O'Brien, MICDS, Hairspray
• Anna Pirrie, Pattonville, Bye Bye Birdie
• Katy Strutz, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Lead Actor in a Musical

• Jonathan Dinman, Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Andrew Huber, MICDS, Hairspray
• Zack Huels, Rockwood Summit, The Wedding Singer
• Alex Prakken, Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables
• Peter Wright, Notre Dame, Aida

Song      

• "The More We Dance," Parkway Central, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now," MICDS, Hairspray
• "The Dance of the Robe," Notre Dame, Aida
• "Honestly Sincerely," Pattonville, Bye Bye Birdie
• "The Innkeeper's Song," Nerinx Hall, Les Misérables

Play Nominees

• The Diary of Anne Frank, Pattonville
• Leading Ladies, Parkway Central
• Medea, MICDS
• The Three Musketeers, Marquette
• Much Ado About Nothing, Nerinx Hall

Musical Nominees

• Aida, Notre Dame 
• Hairspray, MICDS
• Hairspray, Marquette
• Les Misérables, Nerinx Hall
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Parkway Central

Critic Team Nominees

• Francis Howell High School
• Holt High School
• Marquette High School
• Pattonville High School
• Rockwood Summit High School

Returning Critic Nominees

• Mary Baker, Marquette 
• Elyse Bertani – Rockwood Summit 
• Sarah Clifton – Marquette 
• Carolina deLeggarreta – Notre Dame
• Audrey Lipsmire – Northwest 

Graduating Critic Nominees  

• Lora Hakanson, Pattonville 
• Sarah Hinds, Holt
• Kaylyn Hruska, Holt
• Kassandra King, Francis Howell 
• Megan Jones, Pattonville