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2023 Cappies Celebrate High School Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts

J.P. Taravella High School’s Radium Girls and Coral Springs High School’s “In the Heights” were nominated for several Cappies.

By Sharon Aron Baron

Broward Center for the Performing Arts is hosting the 21st annual Critics’ Awards Program, or Cappies, celebrating outstanding achievement in high school theater.

Nominees from 21 schools in Broward and Palm Beach will compete for the awards in 47 categories, recognizing performers, designers, technicians, publicists, and critics. Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards, the Cappies Awards will feature songs and scenes from the top-nominated shows.

The Cappies takes place on Tuesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in the Au-Rene Theater, where the program was launched over two decades ago.

This year, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School leads the field with 21 Cappies nominations, consisting of four for criticism and 17 for its production of Head Over Heels, which ties for the most-nominated musical with Coral Springs High School’s production of In the Heights.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s production of “Head Over Heels” {MSD Drama}

South Plantation High School’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream received 14 Cappies nominations, making it the most nominated play.

Cappies Nominees Are:

Freshman Critic
Nominees:
Kenny Gervais, Cooper City High School
Brooke Koch, David Posnack Jewish Day School
Emily Orenstein, Coral Glades High School
Alyvia Rigg, J.P. Taravella High School

Sophomore Critic

Nominees:
Lila De Almeida, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
Shayna Gainsburg, North Broward Preparatory School
Sydney Lotz, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS
Aled Perkins, Monarch High School
Jack Steinman, NSU University School

Junior Critic

Nominees:
Giovanna Dellaria, Cooper City High School
Samantha Johns, Monarch High School
Oliver Paul, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS
Avery Redlich, NSU University School
Sophie Simon, American Heritage School

Senior Critic

Nominees:
Maddie Musso, NSU University School
Jaire St. Ange, Dillard Center for the Arts
Isabella Saralegui, Cypress Bay High School
Naomi Sternberg, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS
Zoe Tibbs, Calvary Christian Academy

Critic Team

Nominees:
American Heritage School
Calvary Christian Academy
Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS
Monarch High School
NSU University School

Marketing and Publicity

Nominees:
Chantal Mann and Abigail Alder, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Miguel Cabrerra and Crew Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Ella Martinez, Rachel Sadow, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Julia Kim and Isabella Ruiz, Archbishop McCarthy High School, The Game’s Afoot
Jack Steinman, Ellie Esquenazi, Emma Rodriguez, NSU University School, Head Over Heels

Special Effects and or Technology

Nominees:
Jaire St. Ange & Ty’Won Gunns, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Jacob Harris, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Nico Wellons, Sam Dyer and Crew, NSU University School, Head Over Heels

Hair and Make-up in a Play

Nominees:
Alexi Arocho, Isabella Baena, Jade Edwards, Andi Klein, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Brianny Frias, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Emma Kolb and Sydney Herzbrun, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Abigail Jackson and Christiane Ovalle, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls

Hair and Make-up in a Musical

Nominees:
Rebecca Rayman and Shayne Buddman, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Carly Gaynor, Alanis DeSouza, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Haleigh Mish, Farah O’Halloran, Shayna Soffer, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Julia Montesino, Morgan Seeley, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Avery Rivas,Annabell Desouza, Anneliese Hernandez, Alexandra Denison, Calvary Christian Academy, Cinderella

Sound in a Play

Nominees:
Damien Ellowitz, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Mariana Garzon, Manu Gomez, Nina Morandi, Caitlin Petrovich, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Tyler Rosado, Orville Scott, Piper High School, Clue
V Vasquez, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Props in a Play

Nominees:
Jovanni Azpiri, Dylan Degenhardt, Deanna Wallace, Ashley Zyjewski, Saint Thomas Aquinas High
School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Hyacinth Fishman, Valerie Martinez & Company, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Adylan Quach, Amelia Rodriguez, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Jaiden-Alexa Reid, Kiersten Worthy, Zahra Day, Valerie Marin, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Rebecca Weltmann, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit

Props in a Musical

Nominees:
Valerie Joy, Chelsea Moraes, Sofia Sierra, Eduarda Silva, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Mel Kahan, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Karina Lopez, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Karen Nixon, Mia Velazquez, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Neena Shaw, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde

Lighting in a Play

Nominees:
Cam Davis, Julisa Landin, Shayna Silverstein, Shelby Watt, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Eva Davis, Victoria Verlangieri, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Avery Garfinkel, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Ian Morel, Luca Zicarelli, Piper High School, Clue

Lighting in a Musical

Nominees:
Kai Cooper, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Samantha Johns, Alexia Amoroso, Travis Cousino, Avery Davidson, Monarch High School, Firebringer
Maya Rowe, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
MSD Lighting Team, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Crew, NSU University School, Head Over Heels

Costumes in a Play

Nominees:
Rachel Weiss & Company, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Emma Coronado, Celeste Estrada, Abigail Hilbert, Ryan Porter, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Emma Feinstein, Aasiya Vann and Crew, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Julia Mosher, Amaiah Baez, Trinity Pierre, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Ani Gutierrez Quintanilla, Piper High School, Clue

Costumes in a Musical

Nominees:
Sofia Casares and Lucy Crawford, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Costume Crew, Monarch High School, Firebringer
Tyler Hess, Nicole Scalise, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Sienna Tang, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Morgan Wilder, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition

Sets in a Play

Nominees:
Anngelie Gomez, Piper High School, Clue
Melina Lugo & Kaylee Mastrangelo, Cooper City High School, Puffs
JPT Tech Theatre, Cast and Crew, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls

Sets in a Musical

Nominees:
2233 Tech Theatre Class, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Tech Crew, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Mikayla Blue & Melanie Escalante, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Connor Lirio, Gianna Gomez, Sami Garcia, Laura Navas, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Briana Ary Ojeda, Nicole Ary Ojeda, Ivy Neves, Valentina Rincon, Boca Raton Community High School, Theory of Relativity

Choreography

Nominees:
Nick Bedusa, Ashley Fronstin, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Maddie Galan, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Keira Hochberg, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Maddie Musso, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Essence Fowler & Trey’lon Salley, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical

Creativity

Nominees:
Dina Budraj, Liam Connor, Musicianship, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Adriana Pena, Vocal Direction, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Nisa Guvenilir & Alejandro Quinones, Vocal Direction, Boca Raton Community High School, Theory of Relativity
Trey’lon Salley, Musicianship, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Brittany Zevallos, Vocal Director, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights

Stage Management and Crew in a Play

Nominees:
Peyton Barnett, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Ree Byfield, Ashe Dickerson, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Brooke Cooney, Sammy Hawa, Paris Key, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Peter and the Starcatcher
Abby Goldberg, Melina Lugo, Hamilton Laboranti, Lucas Lowe, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Julia Kim, Archbishop McCarthy High School, The Game’s Afoot

Stage Management and Crew in a Musical

Nominees:
El Bartoszak, Ash Putnam and Crew, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
David Taylor and Crew, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Hannah Hackney, Christina Garofalo, Gabrielle Hoffman, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Jasmine Klein, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Caiden Talbert, Angelina Uzdavines, Arianna Rotondo, Calvary Christian Academy, Cinderella

Ensemble in a Play

Nominees:
The Women In The Factory, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Houseguests, Archbishop McCarthy High School, The Game’s Afoot
Rude Mechanicals, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Orphans, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Peter and the Starcatcher
The Puffs, Cooper City High School, Puffs

Ensemble in a Musical

Nominees:
The FBI Agents, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Featured Dancers, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Featured Ensemble, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Step Family, Calvary Christian Academy, Cinderella
The Seniors, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play

Nominees:
Sarah Abisror, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Ava Chen, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Diane Li, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Sage Sorenson, The Benjamin School, Distracted
Fiona Westermarck, Piper High School, Clue

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play

Nominees:
Christian Cardamone, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Peter and the Starcatcher
Samuel Franco, Coral Glades High School, Arsenic and Old Lace
Jareb Goldston, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Justin Gulbranson, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Andrew MacArthur, Cooper City High School, Puffs

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Ally Babincak, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Elisabeth Chew, Calvary Christian Academy, Cinderella
Jasmine Coronado, Monarch High School, Firebringer
Marni Gass, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Sofia Olvera, Boca Raton Community High School, Theory of Relativity

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Sam Dyer, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Mason Fineman, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Jacob Harris, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Aled Perkins, Monarch High School, Firebringer
Antonio Saladino, Boca Raton Community High School, Theory of Relativity

Dancer in a Female Role

Nominees:
Christine Johnson, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Rubi Katz, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Sydney Lotz, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Evena Michel, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Gianna Shultz, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde

Dancer in a Male Role

Nominees:
Jay Boegem, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Joey Mejia, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Sofia Palhano, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Oliver Paul, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Trey’lon Salley, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical

Vocalist in a Female Role
Nominees:

Nisa Guvenilir, Boca Raton Community High School, Theory of Relativity
Sara Judd, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Jolie Lubar, NSU University School, Head Over Heels
Adriana Pena, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Julia Romero, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition

Vocalist in a Male Role

Nominees:
Jaire St. Ange, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Sacha Codron, David Posnack Jewish Day School, The Addams Family
Lemari Hills, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Daniel Poulos, Calvary Christian Academy, Cinderella
Jack Steinman, NSU University School, Head Over Heels

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play

Nominees:
Camila Bezerra, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Cam Davis, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Sienna Martinez, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Isabella Ruiz, Archbishop McCarthy High School, The Game’s Afoot
Liliana Shaw, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play

Nominees:
Ryan Cullen, Archbishop McCarthy High School, The Game’s Afoot
Julia Mosher, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Kristopher Olinsky, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Sean Roberts, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Peter and the Starcatcher
Christopher Zarn, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Yael Eliani, David Posnack Jewish Day School, The Addams Family
Isabella Leon, Calvary Christian Academy, Cinderella
Mikayla O’Brien, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Elisse Rodriguez, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Neena Shaw, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Miguel Cabrera, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Omar Flores, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Isaac Lynne, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Michael Norman, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Tommaso Randis, Monarch High School, Firebringer

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play

Nominees:
Amaiah Baez, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Jessi Kaplan, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Samantha Salazar, Piper High School, Clue
Brianna De Los Santos, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Tamara Toma, Archbishop McCarthy High School, The Game’s Afoot

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play

Nominees:
Anthony DeLeo, Cooper City High School, Puffs
Zachary Krouch, Coral Glades High School, Arsenic and Old Lace
Danny Landin , J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Daniel Ramos, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Jaxon Reid, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Emma Bruce, Calvary Christian Academy, Cinderella
Malia Bryan, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Gianna Gomez, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Maia Martinez, Boca Raton Community High School, Theory of Relativity
Isabella Le Sante, Monarch High School, Firebringer

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Adrian Graff, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde
Alex Jolly, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Jack Stone, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Austin Tindell, Boca Raton Community High School, Theory of Relativity
Malaya Zabat, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play

Nominees:
Sarah Brown, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Alejandra Fernandez, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Bella Nanavichit, Archbishop McCarthy High School, The Game’s Afoot
Tatyana Ramlogan, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Katherine Rodgers, The Benjamin School, Distracted

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play

Nominees:
Achillea Befeld, South Plantation High School, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Bailey Fier, J.P. Taravella High School, Radium Girls
Christopher Moody, American Heritage School, Blithe Spirit
Anthony Porcelli, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Peter and the Starcatcher
Bryan Solsbery, Coral Glades High School, Arsenic and Old Lace

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Abigail Alder, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Lamacia Lewis, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
Pearl Mass, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Angelina Nazario, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Lindsay Stern, NSU University School, Head Over Heels

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical

Nominees:
Lucas Brown, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
Alejandro Cirino, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Matthew Feinstein, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Logan LaPierre, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels
Connor Lirio, Cypress Bay High School, Legally Blonde

Song

Nominees:
Blackout, Coral Springs High School, In The Heights
Goodbye, West Boca High School, Catch Me If You Can
In, Dillard Center for the Arts, Carrie the Musical
And All That Jazz, North Broward Preparatory School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Mad About You, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, Head Over Heels

Play

Nominees:
The Game’s Afoot, Archbishop McCarthy High School
Distracted, The Benjamin School
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, South Plantation High School
Radium Girls, J.P. Taravella High School
Blithe Spirit, American Heritage School

Musical

Nominees:
Catch Me If You Can, West Boca High School
Chicago: Teen Edition, North Broward Preparatory School
Head Over Heels, NSU University School
Head Over Heels, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS
In The Heights, Coral Springs High School

The Cappies winners are determined by votes from students through a weighted peer-review voting process. Nominations are made by student critics from participating schools who attend productions at rival schools and write reviews, which are then edited by theater educators and published on FloridaTheaterOnStage.com.

General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at BrowardCenter.org, by phone at 954-462-0222, or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office at 201 SW 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.

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