Maplewood's High School Musical Snags 2 Prestigious 'Rising Star' Theater Awards

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Many working actors and actresses from New Jersey were recognized early on, during their high school theater days, with "Rising Star Awards" from Millburn's Paper Mill Playhouse, a community theater.

Now, a new slew of winners has been announced, including from Columbia High School, which serves Maplewood and South Orange.

Paper Mill announced the short list of winners in a release this week.

The most coveted award, the award for the overall best high school production, went to Ridge High School in Basking Ridge for their performance of "Matilda."

However, Columbia High School made a strong showing as well, winning more than one award, an accomplishment only shared by a few high schools in the state.

Columbia's production of "Newsies" won these two Rising Star Awards:

• Outstanding Achievement in Choreography and Staging
• Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design

The only other award-winner in Essex County was Jonah Ruderman of Livingston High School, who won Outstanding Solo Performance for his performance of “If I Were a Rich Man."

Several Columbia students and teachers were nominated for the awards earlier this year, but only a few could prevail.

See the livestream of the award announcement on Monday here.

See the original list of nominees here.