Columbia High School In Maplewood Gets Slew Of 'Rising Star' Theater Nominations

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Columbia High School, which serves students in Maplewood and South Orange, grabbed a slew of nominations for the prestigious Rising Star Awards for school theater, run by Paper Mill Playhouse.

The 2022 nominees for the statewide Rising Star Awards were announced on May 2. The winners will be announced live on June 6.

For the coveted prize, Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, these are the nominees and honorable mentions:

• Clearview Regional High School, Mullica Hill, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Columbia High School in Maplewood, Newsies
• Immaculate Heart Academy, Legaly Blonde
• Ridge High School, Basking Ridge, Matilda
• Scotch Plains Fanwood High School, Les Miserable
• Summit High School, Footloose
• West Milford Township High School, Anastasia

Columbia High School theater participants, including teachers, also won a slew of nominations in other categories, more than most high schools in the state.

The following won for their role in "Newsies":

• Grace Trenouth as “Katherine Plumber”
• Rocky Anicette as “Medda Larkin”
• Alex Iozzio as “Davey”
• Katie Trzaska as “Race”
• “The Bowery Beauties” ensemble
• Tricia Benn, Bethany Pettigrew
• The Chorus
• Louis J. Medrano
• Tara Marie Abbondante
• Derek Alfano

Award Announcements

Tickets to the live Rising Star Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 6 will be made available to final nominees via their school contact on May 4.

The Rising Star Awards will be livestreamed for free on Monday June 6 at 7:30 p.m. Go to PaperMill.org for moreinformation and log in details.

Scholarship applicants and recipients will be notified by email the week of May 9.

See a video of the announcement of nominees here.

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