The list of Metro Award nominees was so long that editors decided I should put it on my blog (HERE) and not run it in the paper. Even in small type, it would have taken three-quarters of a newspaper page. (I suggested that that was a newspaper page I’d love to read, but was outvoted.) So read it here, print it out, make a ballot, and second-guess the judges. Isn’t that’s what’s great about awards?

Congratulations to all the nominees and, sincerely, to everyone who took the leap and participated in their high-school musicals this year. If you held a paintbrush, a flat, a program or the audience’s attention with a dance or a song, you are richer for the experience, nomination or not.

Spring Valley High School’s production of “Fame” — about a high school of talented performers — just garnered 13 nominations for the Metropolitan Awards, honoring the best in high-school musicals from among participating schools in Rockland, Westchester and Bergen counties.

(Watch the announcement on demand here.)
(Read the entire list of nominees here.)
(You can also read stories about nominated productions in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam County, and see videos, here.)

Here are the just-announced nominees for The Metropolitan Awards, honoring achievements in high-school musicals among the participating schools. The awards will be handed out at a ceremony June 8 at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill. To watch the awards announcement on-demand, go to www.lohud.com/inthewingslive. You’ll also find archived interviews there, including one with Danielle Rudess, producer of the Metro Awards, about the awards process. Now to the nominees…

Outstanding Overall Production
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors”;
Don Bosco Prep, “Les Miserables”;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”;
New Milford, “Working”;
Spring Valley, “Fame”

Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role
Blind Brook, “The King and I,” Stacey Lurie (Anna Leonowens);
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Michelle Rubich (Audrey);
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Julia Knitel (Millie Dillmount);
Mahwah, ““All Shook Up”,” Sarah Moyer (Natalie Haller);
Rockland Country Day, “She Loves Me,” Isabelle McCalla (Amalia Balash);
Rye Neck, “42nd Street,” Lauren Amrhein (Dorothy Brock);
St. Joseph, “Tommy,” Taryn Tonelli (Mrs. Walker);
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Kristen Santos (Carmen Diaz)

Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Harrison Johnson (Seymour);
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Aaron Sauer (Valjean);
Hastings, “Rent: School Edition,” Niko Gelfars (Mark);
Hendrick Hudson, “The Wizard of Oz,” Steven Kane (Scarecrow);
Mahwah, “All Shook Up,” Eric J. Fuchs-Stengel (Chad);
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” William McEntee (Aimable Castagnet);
St. Joseph, “Tommy,” Joseph DePietro (Tommy);
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Alex Domini (Nick Piazza)

Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role
Albertus Magnus, “Guys and Dolls,” Jessica Muttitt (Arvide Abernathy);
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Colleen Martorano (Fantine);
Hastings, “Rent: School Edition,” Zoey Hart (Maureen);
Mamaroneck, “Footloose,” Audrey Pincus (Rusty);
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Vanessa Milanesi (Denise);
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Liz Lehman (Gertrude McFuzz);
Rockland Country Day, “She Loves Me,” Hailey Fyfe (Ilona Ritter);
Yorktown, “Good News,” Lauren Wagner (Babe O’Day)

Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Dan Schwartz (Herr Schultz);
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Nick Hampson (Trevor Graydon);
Mahwah, “All Shook Up” TC Lind (Dennis);
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Cole Marino (Dominique);
Rye Neck, “42nd Street,” Parker Morgan Kazanji (Billy Lawlor);
Spring Valley, “Fame,” James Murray (Tyrone Jackson);
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Ryan Norris (John Jasper/Mr. Clive Paget);
Yorktown, “Good News,” Anthony Melillo (Bobby Randall)

Outstanding Chorus
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains”;
Clarkstown North, “Pippin”;
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife”;
Port Chester, “Godspell”;
Rye Neck, “42nd Street”;
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”;
Westlake,” Bye Bye, Birdie”

Outstanding Production Number
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “The Speed Test”;
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” “Don’t Tell Mama”;
Hastings, “Rent: School Edition,” “La Vie Boheme”;
Kennedy Catholic, “How to Succeed…,” “Coffee Break”;
New Milford, “Working,” “All the Live Long Day”;
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” “Bread”;
Paramus, “Annie Get Your Gun,” “I Got the Sun in the Morning”;
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “Off to the Races”

Featured Ensemble Member
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Evan Weissblum (Voice of Audrey II);
Clarkstown North, “Pippin,” Darian Marchetto (Female Courtier);
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Joe Baccan (Enjolras);
Peekskill, “Guys and Dolls,” Danny Bush (Benny Southstreet);
Putnam Valley, “Urinetown,” Nicole Benvenuti (Police/Exec/Rebel);
Ramsey, “How to Succeed,” Sarah Hammond (Miss Jones);
River Dell, “Beauty and the Beast,” Julianne Wieboldt (Babette);
Saddle River Day, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Georges Roc (Voice of Audrey II);
Solomon Schecter, “Anything Goes,” Melody Flores (Erma);
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Erik Herskowitz (Deputy)

Featured Ensemble Group
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Crystal, Ronette, Chiffon (Sarah Crosswell, Laura Johnson, Livy Glass);
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Kit Kat Girls (Malika Samuel, Martina Weidenbaum, Sophia Perri, Annmarie Zito, Stephanie Brenner, Colette Gelman, Rebecca Chandler, Nicole Celio);
Edgemont, “Guys and Dolls,” Hot Box Dancers (Jocelyn Bibi, Elena Gold, Kyara Romeu, Alexandra Glade, Liz Han, Isabelle Kuhn, Jocelyn Resnick, Julie Robine, Evie Tzelios, Amberly Wilenski);
Kennedy Catholic, “How To Succeed…,” The Executives (Michael Campobasso, Anthony Ruperto, Matt Espejo, Nico Van den Bergh, Tom Grecco, Matthew Pereira, Christian Paulmann, Robbie Bittlingmaier);
Mahwah, “All Shook Up,” Principal Dancers (Julie Baker, Nicole Chin-Lyn, Sol Ezra, Kim Gillen, Paul Grunert, Ryan Hartwick, Eireann Ingersoll, Mike Kemner, Chris Kolwicz, Shivani Patel, Caroline Vogt, Sam Waxenbaum, Joseph Zack);
Ramsey, “How to Succeed…,” The Executives (Jonathan Boone, Jung Chu, Michael Ferrucci, George Heftler, Jeremy Landes, Anthony LiGregni, Chris Nagel, Nat Troyer, Joey Tumulty, Drew Vernon);
Saddle River Day, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Crystal, Ronette, Chiffon (Brittany Singer, Skylar Gottlieb, Regan Moro);
St. Joseph, “Tommy,” The Harlots (Ava Josephson, Caroline Ogden, Lara Treacy, Amanda Bossard, Chelsea Sica);
Spring Valley, “Fame,” The Dance Majors (Tendrina Alexandre, Esoshani Barton, Renee Evans, Jenna Ford, Dominique Petit-Mickens, Bianca Pierre, Elya Shavrova)

Outstanding Duet
Albertus Magnus, “Guys and Dolls,” Scarlett Moore (Adelaide) and Julianne Mandara (Sarah Brown) for “Marry the Man Today”;
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains,” Julian Amato (Lt. Frank Cioffi) and Katie Jo Flanagan (Niki Harris) for “A Tough Act to Follow”;
Clarkstown North, “Pippin,” Seth Nachimson (Pippin) and Alex Annunziata (Catherine) for “Love Song”;
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Kelsey Gatto (Eponine) and Steven Conzo (Marius) for ”A Little Fall of Rain”;
Hastings, “Rent: School Edition,” Alex Walton (Roger) and Niko Gelfars (Mark) for “Rent”;
New Milford, “Working,” Sarah Torpie (Amanda) and Lijin Joy (Rex) for “Office S”;
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Melissa Hirsch (Edwin Drood/Miss Alice Nutting) and Melissa Dimataris (Rosa Bud/Miss Deirdre Peregrin) for “Perfect Strangers”;
Yorktown, “Good News,” Lauren Wagner (Babe O’Day) and Anthony Melillo (Bobby Randall) for “Button Up Your Overcoat”

Outstanding Child Actor
Blind Brook, “The King and I,” Cole Bauer (Louis Leonowens);
Clarkstown North, “Pippin,” Adam Feldman (Theo);
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Megen Roche (Young Cosette);
Paramus, “Annie Get Your Gun,” Samantha Brady (Little Jake);
St. Joseph, “Tommy,” Ryan Bogdanski & Calvin Rezen (Young Tommys);
Tuckahoe, “Once On This Island,” Julia Moschetta (Little Ti Moune)

Outstanding Vocal Performance
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains,” Emily Schlotman (Georgia Hendricks);
Mahwah, “All Shook Up,” Genesis Guzman (Sylvia);
Mamaroneck, “Footloose,” Benjamin Viagas (Rev. Shaw);
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Allison Benoit (Genevieve Castagnet);
Paramus, “Annie Get Your Gun,” Alexis Wolfer (Annie Oakley);
Park Ridge, “Curtains,” Nicole Padula (Carmen Bernstein);
Port Chester, “Godspell,” Danielle Grandazzo (The Rebel);
Salesian, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Morgan Judge (Annas);
Woodlands, “42nd Street,” Stephanie Sanchez (Peggy Sawyer)

Outstanding Dancer
Albertus Magnus, “Guys and Dolls,” Shannon Bradley (Mimi);
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains,” Taylor Cambria (Bambi Bernet);
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Brittany Meshberg (Sally Bowles);
Mahwah, “All Shook Up,” Nicole Chin-Lyn (Featured Dancer);
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Katie Menna (Meadowlark Dancer);
Rye Neck, “42nd Street,” Jaclyn Pipolo (Peggy Sawyer);
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Lindsay Strasser (Iris Kelly);
Woodlands, “42nd Street,” Dominique Forbes (Annie)

Outstanding Acting
Clarkstown North, “Pippin,” Lindsey Sherman (Leading Player);
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Josh Kay (Clifford Bradshaw);
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Steven Conzo (Marius);
Edgemont, “Guys and Dolls,” Molly Rabinowitz (Miss Adelaide);
Emerson, “Mr. Cinders,” Taryn Pizza (Lady Lancaster);
Peekskill, “Guys and Dolls,” Vertis McMillan (Nathan Detroit);
Pleasantville, “Hello Dolly,” Anthony da Costa (Horace Vandergelder);
Saddle River Day School, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Justin Clark (Seymour);

Outstanding Comic Performance
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Maura Barrett (Mrs. Meers);
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains,” Samer Akroush (Sidney Bernstein);
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Chelsea Sica (Mme Thenardier);
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Katherine Riley (Cat in the Hat);
River Dell, “Beauty and the Beast,” Justin Stevens (Lumiere);
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Ryan Mulholland (Bazzard/Mr. Phillip Bax);
Westlake, “Bye Bye, Birdie,” Lauren Pizzolla (Mrs. Mae Peterson);
Woodlands, “42nd Street,” Elizabeth Sanchez (Maggie)

Orchestra
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors”;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”;
Mahwah, “All Shook Up”;
Rockland Country Day, “She Loves Me”;
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”;
Woodlands, “42nd Street”

Outstanding Instrumentalist
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Natasha Gonzalez (Piano);
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains,” Phil Rosenstock (Bass, Guitar);
Clarkstown North, “Pippin,” Nikki Schachman & Liz Shiang (Violin Soloists);
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Angela Hong (Keyboard);
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Matt D’Amiaco (Bass);
Edgemont, “Guys and Dolls,” Dan Newman (Baritone Sax);
Emerson, “Mr. Cinders,” Nikhil Deshpande (Clarinet);
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Angela Chen (Piccolo);
Mahwah, “All Shook Up,” Regan Vier (Drums);
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Graham Terry (Keyboards);
Rye Neck, “42nd Street,” David Gaita (Stage Piano);
Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Andy Chung (Clarinet)

Production categories

Outstanding Stage Crew
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains”;
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables”;
Emerson, “Mr. Cinders”;
Pascack Hills, “Guys and Dolls”;
Pascack Valley: “Seussical the Musical”;
Rye Neck, “42nd Street”;
St. Joseph, “Tommy”;
Spring Valley, “Fame”

Outstanding Lobby Display
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Donna Faulborn, Barbara Johnson, Elaine Barett, Sherry DeLuca, Geraldine Cotter;
New Milford, “Working,” Hayley Barton; Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Anne Goddard;
Pascack Hills, “Guys and Dolls,” Debi Plasker;
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Amanda Williamson;
Port Chester, “Godspell,” Mark Zizolfo and cast;
St. Joseph, “Tommy,” Terri Antoniou;
Westlake, “Bye Bye, Birdie,” Taylor Cambria, Genya Gurvich, Vinny Mangiere, Jeff Marron, Lauren Pizzolla, Danny Pucarelli, Amanda Urban

Outstanding Graphic Design
Albertus Magnus, “Guys and Dolls,” Linda Marotta;
Blind Brook, “The King and I,” Eddie Licitra;
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Joan K. Rosen;
Edgemont, “Guys and Dolls,” Purvesh Patel, Leah Seligman, Adrianne Amorosa;
Hastings, “Rent: School Edition”;
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Sean Quirk;
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Melissa Neils, Ashley Niedelman, Alex Domini, Elya Shavrova

Costuming Achievement
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Mary Gore;
Emerson, “Mr. Cinders,” Lisa Ullman, Gloria Bonelli, Salmiyeh Khan, Alexis Teats;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Jennifer Larsen-Fernandez;
Hastings, “Rent: School Edition,” Penny Margeotes;
Pleasantville, “Hello, Dolly!” Debbie Paruolo & Norma DeSousa;
Port Chester, “Godspell,” Ingrid Gomez, Mark Zizolfo;
Rye Neck, “42nd Street,” Karen Fontecchio, Jenn Marks, Randi Strauss, Amanda Pugliese;
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Susan Rutkowski

Lighting Achievement
Clarkstown North, “Pippin,” Joe DiGennaro;
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Ryan Bell;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” John Mule;
Pascack Hills, “Guys and Dolls,” Rob Levy;
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Luke Krauss;
Putnam Valley, “Urinetown,” Kevin Gleason;
Rye Neck, “42nd Street,” Devon Brown;
Tuckahoe, “Once On This Island,” Andrew Gmoser

Scenic Achievement
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors,” James Britt;
Don Bosco, “Les Miserables,” Mary & Chris Mitsinikos;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Daniel Vincent Panessa and Laurie Hall;
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” David T. Jones;
Pascack Hills, “Guys and Dolls,” Debi Plasker and Larry Weiner;
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Tom and Merielle Lupfer;
Port Chester, “Godspell,” Mark Zizolfo;
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Alex Spiteri

Outstanding Direction By Teacher
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Ian Driver;
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Mike DeLucia;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” John Giresi;
New Milford, “Working,” Alexander Diaz;
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Thomas Paster;
Port Chester, “Godspell,” Mark Zizolfo;
St. Joseph Regional, “Tommy,” John T. Asselta;
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Stacey Tirro

Outstanding Choreography
Archbishop Stepinac, “Curtains,” Charlotte Newman;
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Justin Boccitto;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Tami Maurer;
Rye Neck, “42nd Street,” Deborah Spahr;
Saddle River Day, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Jennifer Bauer-Conley;
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Stacey Tirro;
Woodlands, “42nd Street,” Angela Reid, Miriam Bernabei;
Yorktown, “Good News,” Linda Duci

Outstanding Musical Direction
Briarcliff, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Nadia Rizzo;
Clarkstown South, “Cabaret,” Kip Bonsignore;
Fair Lawn, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Paul A. Kafer and Steven Bell;
Hastings, “Rent: School Edition,” Remy Kurs;
New Milford, “Working,” Kerr Lockhart;
Northern Highlands, “The Baker’s Wife,” Thomas Paster and Eugene Ryman;
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Terri Klausner; Tappan Zee, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Janice Tocco

Technical Merit Award (Nominated by Teacher):
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Julia Emmanuele (Producer);
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Natasha Gonzalez (Musical Director);
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Maggie Gleason (Graphic Arts);
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Cassie Faulborn, Nicole Johnson, Grace Cunning, Rob Johnson, Victoria Lorenzo, Veronica Polce, Jessica O’Hagan (Assistant Costume Designers);
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Nicole Johnson (Assistant Director);
Holy Angels, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Cassie Faulborn, Jessica O’Hagan (Choreographers);
Albertus Magnus, “Guys and Dolls,” Vin Vercillo (Assistant Musical Director);
Blind Brook, “The King and I,” Eddie Licitra (Stage Manager);
Edgemont, “Guys and Dolls,” Jonathan Cutler (Sound Engineer);
Kennedy Catholic, “How to Succeed…,” LeeAnn Lisella (Production Assistant);
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Rebecca Riley (Stage Manager);
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Cheryl Reman (Master Carpenter/Sound Board Operator);
Pascack Valley, “Seussical the Musical,” Sarah Kapilow (Master Carpenter/ Ass’t Stage Manager);
Pleasantville, “Hello, Dolly!” Ariane Prache (Tech Director);
Rockland Country Day, “She Loves Me,” Molly Klinghoffer, Matthew Zeltzer (Lighting Designers);
Spring Valley, “Fame,” Julie Ventura (Lighting Designer & Student Director);
Woodlands, “42nd Street,” Shaunice Alexander (Dance Captain);
Woodlands, “42nd Street,” Dominique Forbes (Dance Captain)

Every family has its stories.

The Nowaks of Buffalo have a doozy.

In Tom Dudzick’s heartwarming and clever comedy, “Our Lady of South Division Street” — getting its world premiere at Stony Point’s charming Penguin Rep through June 7 — Clara and her three children live in the shadow of that story.

More specifically, they live in the shadow of a small shrine that was built to mark the day when, as they repeat to passersby in what they have come to call “the statue speech,” “the blessed Mother appeared” to Henry Nowak, the family’s patriarch, a barber just off the boat from war-torn Poland in 1944.

Tune in to lohud.com tonight to check out the nominees for the 11th annual Metropolitan Awards, honoring the best of the participating high school musicals in Rockland, Westchester and Bergen counties. We had planned to cover them from Riverspace in Nyack, where the awards began, but we’ll instead have them live in our Harrison studio, a more intimate setting.

Go to www.lohud.com/live and watch the nominations live at 7 p.m. You can also catch them on demand there, too.

It’s official: Schoolhouse’s “Biography” sets Off-Broadway run. Here’s the release: Read more of this entry »

There’s something for nearly every theatergoer’s taste this weekend, from brand-new works to a Pulitzer Prize-winner to a couple of Shakespeare works and even a Disney musical. Read more of this entry »

Early on in Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Dinner with Friends,” — on stage through June 7 at The Schoolhouse Theater in Croton Falls — Gabe poses a simple but profound question.

When he learns that Tom, his friend of 24 years, is leaving  Beth, his wife of 12 years, he asks: “How can he walk away?”

Gabe knows that Tom’s decision will change forever the way he and his wife, Karen, interact with Tom and Beth.

There are 26 categories for this year’s Metropolitan Awards, to be handed out June 8 at the Paramount Center for the Arts. The nominees for this year’s awards will be announced LIVE, a www.lohud.com/live, on Monday at 7 p.m. (If you miss the live Webcast of the announcements, it will be available on demand.) Here are the categories. Read more of this entry »

Some schools choose not to take part in what are now called The Metropolitan Awards, honoring the best in high-school-musicals from Rockland, Westchester and Bergen counties. But here is the list of 40 schools that have thrown their hats in the ring to be considered, with the shows that were judged.

Audiences at Nyack’s Elmwood Playhouse might recognize that fellow as Othello this weekend through June 6.

Phil Hannah, who plays the Moor in Shakespeare’s story of love and jealousy, has been in “Two Trains Running,” “Ragtime” and “Urinetown” on the tiny Nyack stage.

But the Chestnut Ridge resident has never done Shakespeare.
“This was a challenging role and I always like challenges,” he says. “I’m meeting it head-on.”

Pamela Moller Kareman, artistic director at the Schoolhouse Theater in Croton Falls, phones from an outlet mall in Secaucus, N.J., where the props are reportedly cheaper.

As a kid in Buffalo, Tom Dudzick would walk by a tiny brick building with a statue of the Virgin Mary inside. Local lore held that a barber had built the shrine after Mary had visited him, right there in Buffalo.

Elmwood Playhouse, which is preparing “Othello” for Friday’s opening, is ready to audition for Alan Ayckbourn’s “Relatively Speaking,” the next show up. Read more of this entry »

Jack Rosen & Co. are gearing up for Clarkstown Summer Theatre Festival, known around Rockland as “Summer Theater.” Read more of this entry »