Rye Neck HS Students, Production Receive Metro Award Nominations

MAMARONECK, NY — Rye Neck High School’s theater program received three award nominations for its musical production of “Damn Yankees” by the prestigious 2018 Metropolitan High School Theater Awards, which are organized by the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre.

Junior Stella Ewen-Tanaka was nominated in the Featured Ensemble Member category for her role as Gloria Thorpe and senior Emma Finkenberg was nominated in the Technical Merit category for her work as director of costumes. Rye Neck High School also received a nomination in the Production Number category for its performance of the “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo” dance number.

"We are very excited for and proud of our students for their individual nominations,” theater director Scott Harris said. “We are also excited for the Production Number nomination, which is really a reflection of the entire production. The bulk of the cast took part in that dance number, so congratulations to the entire cast of the show, and our amazing choreographer Francesca DeAngelo, whose choreography surely helped us nab that nomination."

The Metro Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional musical theater productions, talented actors and actresses and creative teams from Bergen, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties. The annual awards ceremony will be held on June 11 at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College.

Photo caption: Rye Neck High School received a nomination in the Production Number category for its performance of the “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo” dance number. Photo credit: Rye Neck Union Free School District.