The Huntington High School drama club and its actors captured a sensational 13 Hunting-Tony Award nominations for its fall and spring productions of The Laramie Project and Once Upon a Mattress.
Huntington’s fall production of The Laramie Project captured six Hunting-Tony Award nominations while the spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress earned seven award nods.
Hunting-Tony Awards judges watched every high school drama club production in the town over the past year, forming the basis for the nominations and ultimate honors in each category.
Keenan Lyons received two Hunting-Tony Award nominations. (Darin Reed photo.)
This year’s award recipients will be announced during a gala ceremony on Monday, June 5 at the John W. Engemann Theater on Main Street in Northport. The nominees will walk the red carpet outside the theater at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony kicks off at 7 p.m.
This marks the seventh annual Hunting-Tony Awards ceremony. Huntington High School actors have fared well in previous years. Drama club faulty advisor Michael Schwendemann is excited that his program has received so many nominations. “It’s really an honor to be recognized with so many nominations,” he said.
Huntington’s nominees in the drama category include:
• Best Supporting Actor: Keenan Lyons (multiple roles) – The Laramie Project
• Best Supporting Actor: Logan Rice (multiple roles) – The Laramie Project
• Best Supporting Actress: Maddie Shea (multiple roles) – The Laramie Project
• Best Supporting Actress: Jordan Biener (multiple roles) – The Laramie Project
• Best Technical Production: Huntington High School - The Laramie Project
• Best Play: Huntington High School - The Laramie Project
Huntington’s nominees in the musical category include:
• Best Lead Actress/Musical: Maddie Shea (Princess Winifried) – Once Upon a Mattress
• Best Supporting Actor/Musical: Keenan Lyons (Sir Harry) – Once Upon a Mattress
• Best Supporting Actress/Musical: Olivia Baldanza (Queen Aggravin) – Once Upon a Mattress
• Best Featured Actor/Musical: Robert Jean-Gilles (King Sextimus) – Once Upon a Mattress
• Best Featured Actress/Musical: Abby Semelsberger (Minstrel) – Once Upon a Mattress
• Best Orchestra Pit: Huntington High School – Once Upon a Mattress
• Best Ensemble: Huntington High School – Once Upon a Mattress
A select group of students will perform for the crowd, expected to number about 400 in the Engemann Theater. Many of the nominees are expected to come decked out in tuxedos and evening gowns. This is their night to shine.
“It will be a very exciting evening,” Mr. Schwendemann said. “We’re all looking forward to it with a great deal of anticipation.”
