Pleasantville HS to Perform at Metro Awards

As if the end of the school year weren’t busy enough with exams, playoff games, prom, awards nights, concerts and more, the Pleasantville High School drama club has also been rehearsing a scene from its spring musical, “Bye, Bye Birdie.”

It is a lot of work, but nobody is complaining. Pleasantville was one of six schools – out of 56 high schools in the region – chosen to perform at the 2023 Metro Awards on June 12 at the Tarrytown Music Hall.

“It feels a bit like March again, except without the threat of snowstorms,” Nadia Rizzo, the Pleasantville High School choral teacher and theater director, joked. “But it is such an honor to be nominated in so many categories. We are really looking forward to performing at the Tarrytown Music Hall. The full cast, crew, hair, makeup, costumes, music – everyone – is hard at work to help make this special performance shine.”

“Bye, Bye Birdie” received 11 nominations in the Metros, the Metropolitan High School Theater Awards sponsored by Lohud.com. Only two other productions, Blind Brook High School’s “Something Rotten” and Rye Neck High School’s “Anastasia” were nominated for as many awards.

“I can’t believe that my last day of school will be going to The Metros,” said Adriana, a sophomore who played the teenager Helen in the spring musical. “That’s a way to go out with a bang.”

Kelsey, a sophomore who was part of the ensemble, said she was thrilled to be invited to perform at the awards show.

“When I first heard about The Metros, I hoped we would maybe get one or two nominations,” she said. But we got 11, and now we get to perform at the show. It is so exciting.”

The list of Pleasantville High School's 11 nominations follows.

Outstanding overall production of a musical: “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding performance in a leading female-identified role: Alice Cabral as Rosie Alvarez in “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding performance in a supporting male-identified role: Alejandro Martinez as Conrad Birdie in “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding achievement in music direction: Jon Vercesi and Nadia Rizzo, “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding achievement in costume design: Eileen Cerrati, “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding achievement in hair and makeup: Fiona Brennan, Jane Murphy and Amy Pedulla, “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding performance by a stage crew: Pleasantville

Outstanding performance for a small group number: “Hymn for a Sunday Evening,” “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding comedic performance by a female-identifying performer: Elsie Sabol as Ursula Merkle in “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding performance by a child performer: Julian Dundie as Randolph MacAfee in “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Outstanding student technical achievement (teacher-nominated): Elizabeth Hoadley, Technical Director “Bye, Bye Birdie”