AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Paper Mill Playhouse
Rising Star Awards
The Rising Star Awards is a statewide competition that recognizes excellence in Musical Theater.
MAMMA MIA!, 2024
Winners
Student Achievement Award
Leland Borcherding and Dana Fakhar as Lighting Assistants
The Educational Impact Award
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member
Becca Axler as “Ali”
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Cameron Filepas
Student Achievement Award
Leland Borcherding and Dana Fakhar as Lighting Assistants
The Educational Impact Award
“Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
Outstanding Educator
Blake Spence
LITTLE WOMEN, 2023
Winners
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Anthony Freitas
Student Achievement Award
Skye Coen as Production Stage Manager
Janet Sovey Scholarship for the Rising Star Awards
Eddie Coen
Nominations
Outstanding Performance in a Female-Identified Leading Role
Avery Benjamin as “Jo March”
Outstanding Performance in a Female-Identified Supporting Role
Lily Bias as “Marmee March”
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Cameron Filepas
The Educational Impact Award
“Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
Outstanding Educator
Blake Spence
Honorable Mentions
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director
Blake Spence
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Linda Spence and Blake Spence
SWEET CHARITY, 2022
Winner
Investors Foundation Rising Star Scholarship
Jonathan Sterling Hart
Nominations
“Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
Outstanding Educator
Blake Spence
Honorable Mentions
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Cameron Filepas
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, 2021
Winner
“Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
Nominations
Outstanding Solo Performance by a Female
Kyra Longenecker performing “I Want to Go to Hollywood” from Grand Hotel
Outstanding Solo Performance by a Male
Collin Flanagan performing “The Lady Must Be Mad” from Ilyria
Outstanding Performance by a Large Ensemble
”On My Way” from Violet
Outstanding Educator
Blake Spence
BRIGHT STAR, 2019
Winners
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Jaron Cole as “Jimmy Ray Dobbs”
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Alex Mroczko as “Margo Crawford”
Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director
Blake Spence
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Anthony Freitas
Student Achievement Award
Erin Quinn as Assistant to the Directors
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member
Anna McCarthy as “Mama Murphy”
Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Jen Fok and Tyler McKinnon
The Educational Impact Award
“Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
Honorable Mentions
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Abigail Daniels as “Alice Murphy”
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction
Dan Malloy and Russ Batsch
FOOTLOOSE, 2018
Winners
“Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Jaron Cole as “Ren”
Student Achievement Award
Tyler McKinnon as Stage Manager
OKLAHOMA, 2017
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Max Vigotov as “Will Parker”
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member
Erin Salko as “Dream Laurie”
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Brian Toscano
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Brian Lynch
Honorable Mentions
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director
Caryn Elefante
Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
THE LITTLE MERMAID, 2016
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Performer
Max Vigotov as “Scuttle”
Honorable Mentions
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Group
”The Mersisters”
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Zach Pizza
BYE BYE BIRDIE , 2014
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Jessica Schuszler as “Rosie”
THE WIZARD OF OZ, 2012
Nominations
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Brian Lynch
Outstanding Hair and Makeup Achievement
Nancy Dugan and Maryann Post
Outstanding Graphic Design Achievement
David Jones and Caryn Elefante
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Brian Lynch
SEUSSICAL , 2008
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Graphic Design Achievement
Becky Moody
THE KING AND I , 2007
Nomination
Outstanding Graphic Design Achievement
David Jones and Becky Moody
MY FAVORITE YEAR, 2006
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Dan Silverstein as “Benjy Stone”
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Katherine Wright as “Alice Miller”
Outstanding Graphic Design Achievement
David Jones and Kathleen Wallace
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Costume Achievement
Becky Moody
THE SOUND OF MUSIC, 2005
Nomination
Student Achievement Award
John Cucco as Stage Manager
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Donna Ward as “Mother Abbess”
GUYS AND DOLLS, 2004
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Member
Dan Silverstein as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”
Outstanding Graphic Design Achievement
David Jones
Student Achievement Award
Dan Silverstein as Costume Designer and Builder
Student Achievement Award
Jean Occhiogrosso as Running Crew Chief
Student Achievement Award
Michael Holm as Stage Manager
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Aryn Wells as “Miss Adelaide”
HOW TO SUCEED…WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, 2003
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Andrew Reynolds as “J. Pierpont Finch”
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Will Thompson as “Bud Frump”
Student Achievement Award
Evan Taylor as Percussionist
Student Achievement Award
Justin Kennard as Drums
Student Achievement Award
Stage Crew
CAROUSEL, 2001
Nomination
Student Achievement Award
Isaac Abrahamson as Stage Manager
THE WIZARD OF OZ, 1999
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Drew Kyser as “Zeke/Cowardly Lion”
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Gale Boepple
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Gale Boepple
THE MUSIC MAN, 1998
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by a Child Actress
Julie Regan as “Amaryliss”
KISS ME, KATE, 1997
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Stephen Fried as “Bill Calhoun/Lucentio”
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 1996
Nominations
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Stephen Fried as “Lazar Wolf”
Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director
Gale Boepple
Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra