Hoboken Teens And Middle Schoolers Win Awards At Theater Competitions

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken High School's Thespian Competition Team and Hoboken Middle School's Junior Thespians won a slew of awards in two statewide competitions earlier this month.

They competed with young performers from around the state on Jan. 7 and on Jan. 8.

On Jan. 7, the students attended the Speech & Theatre Association of New Jersey's Governor's Awards in Arts Education Theatre Competition held at Montclair State University. There were 25 schools with over 500 students in attendance.

While the competition is for grades 7-12, Hoboken Middle School was the only middle school present. They still competed with students in all grade levels.

"Our Hoboken Theatre Department is extremely proud of our students who attended," said Danielle Miller, supervisor of fine and performing arts at the high school. "They have been working diligently and dedicated the past two months to their pieces that ranged from comedic monologues, dramatic monologues, comedic pair, dramatic pair, scenes, improvisation, solo musical theatre, duet musical theatre, and ensemble musical theatre."

She added, "There are around 100 entries in all of these categories so to place (top six) is a huge honor. The students all had an amazing theatrical experience and have grown as performers."

HHS Thespians :

Kendall McDonough, Naomi Cooke, Daniel Weintraub, Arcadio Torres, Anthony Barahona, Lucas Daly, Gabriel Rivas, Miguel Cabelin, Mable Blischke-Villavicencio, Alana Rivas, Riddhi Damani, Halie Benway, Shai Warshawsky Sihana Alaj

HMS Junior Thespians:

Pria Wolsky, Sophia Castiglione, Ezra Horn, Charles Bird, Cameron Daly, Violetta Martin, Mallory Whitmore, Kevin Melendez, Tyler Mara, Emerson Blishke-Villavicencio, Gabriel Colon, Ruby Henik

Award Winners:

• First Place Character Analysis Monologue: Kendall McDonough
• Second Place Comedic Monologue: Kevin Melendez (HMS)
• Third Place Comedic Duet: Anthony Barahona & Arcadio Torres
• Six Place Musical Theatre Solo: Shai Warshawsky

Teaching Team:

Mr. Derek Kinnear High School Theatre Director
Mr. Patrick Benson Middle School Theatre Director
Ms. Gina Rotondi Elementary School Theatre Director

New Jersey Thespians Competition

On Jan. 8, Hoboken High School's Thespian Competition Team went to Robbinsville High School in Trenton to participate in the New Jersey Thespians Festival. There were 41 schools with over 900 students in attendance.

Hoboken students took home first place in the Chapter Select One Act Play category for the second year in a row.

"This means that we will be our entire state's representative at the International Thespians Festival, earning a spot to perform the play on the main stage in front of the entire festival. It is a huge honor, as we are State Theatre Champions," Miller said.

The Superior Medals won mean that students received a perfect score on a rubric by multiple adjudicators and now get to compete with that same piece at The International Thespians Festival at Indiana University Bloomington. Now the students will try to win national recognition.

Awards Won:

1st Place Chapter Select One Act Play for "Know Your Role" written by Brandi Owensby:

Kendall McDonough, Naomi Cooke, Daniel Weintraub, Arcadio Torres, Anthony Barahona, Lucas Daly, Gabriel Rivas, Miguel Cabelin, Mable Blischke-Villavicencio, Alana Rivas, Riddhi Damani, Halie Benway, Shai Warshawsky, Sihana Alaj

Halie Benway also won 3rd Place Best Supporting Actress for her monologue in the play.

Superior Medal Duet Acting: Kendall McDonough and Mable Blischke-Villavicencio.

Superior Medal Solo Musical Theatre: Halie Benway

Superior Medal Group Musical Theatre for "Snuff That Girl" from Urinetown:

Kendall McDonough, Naomi Cooke, Daniel Weintraub, Arcadio Torres, Anthony Barahona, Lucas Daly, Gabriel Rivas, Miguel Cabelin, Mable Blischke-Villavicencio, Alana Rivas, Riddhi Damani, Halie Benway, Shai Warshawsky, Sihana Alaj

Superior Medal Contrasting Monologue: Lucas Daly

Derek Kinnear said, "I am so incredibly proud of the students and the time, energy, and dedication they offered this production. They are wonderful at collaborating with one another in regard to coming up with staging that reflects complex issues and ideas. Their admiration for one another is also an essential component to the success of our shows. They are constantly encouraging one another to be the best they can be."