On Tuesday, the curtain opened for drama students, but instead of a performance, they were honored with an awards night. The Upper School Theater Awards Night is held annually at the end of the school year to recognize the Rams who have had stellar performances as cast members and/or significant contributions as crew members in the thespian world. The awards are given out by Carolyn Hood, Upper School Performing Arts Teacher, and Patrick Huber, Upper School Fine & Performing Arts Teacher. Please give a standing ovation to the list below of our award recipients. As Mr. Huber sait, “We said goodbye, both to a lot of great theater artists in the Class of 2024 and to Mr. Brian Purlee, Upper School Theater Technical Director, Maker and Robotics Coordinator, & Science Teacher, who is leaving the theater program to work full time in Maker and ceramics.” What a talented group made for some incredible performances this past school year!
Congratulations to our thriving actors, actresses, and crew members!
The 2024 Production Awards
…in the 11th/12th Grade Production of Silent Sky:
- Best Actress in a leading role – Abby Gray ’24
- Best Actor in a leading role – Grant Nicholson ’24
- Best Actress in a supporting role – Katherine Rose Ellenhorn ’26
- The Technical Excellence Award – Greysen Brown ’24*
*Greysen also received an award for completing over 1,800 hours of production work during her high school career.
…in the Fall Production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare:
- Best Actress in an ensemble role – Ava Casillas ’26
- Best Actor in an ensemble role – Grant Krainik ’27
- The Technical Excellence Award – Grace Powell ’26
…in the Troubadours Production Amélie:
- Best Actress in a leading role – Natalie Benoist ’25
- Best Actor in a leading role – Anik Jukanti ’25
- Best Actress in a supporting role – Gigi Koster ’26
- Best Actor in a supporting role – Grant LaMartina ’25
- Best Actress in a featured role – Reese Brinker ’26
- Best Actor in a featured role – Ryan Jan ’25
- Best Actor in an ensemble role – Samuel Glasser ’26
- Best Actress in an ensemble role – Carrie Clennan ’26
- The Technical Excellence Award – Sahar Bhutto ’24
…in the Student-Directed Production of The Good Doctor:
- Best Actress (NB) – Rose Sabalvaro ’26
- Best Actor – (NB) – Nolan Jones ’26
- Best Actress (KE) – Robyn Davies ’26
- Best Actor – (KE) – Cam Cozad ’27
- Best Actress (AJ) – Ava Casillas ’26
- Best Actor – (AJ) – Samuel Glasser ’26
- Best Actress (GN) – Riley Crawford ’26
- Best Actor – (GN) – Jace Felder ’27
- Best Director – Natalie Benoist ’25
- The Technical Excellence Award – Ana McNeill-Estes ’24
Most Promising Newcomers:
- Jace Felder ’27
- Avery Brooks ’27
Special Awards:
- Ashley-Druck Design Award – This award is presented annually for excellence in theatrical design: Ace Derdeyn ’25
- Anthony Chivetta Seldom Scene Award – This award is presented annually to the student who contributes most to the technical excellence of the Theater Program: Charlie Mills ’26
- J. Evan Phillips Award – This award is presented annually to a senior for Excellence in Dramatics: Abby Gray ’24 and Grant Nicholson ’24
- Shepherd Mead Award is presented in Recognition of That Student Who Contributes the Most in Effort and Attitude to the Spirit of the Troubadour Production: Virginia Portell ’24
At the awards ceremony, new Rams were also inducted into the International Thespian Society.
Bravo, Rams, and thank you for all of your contributions this school year to theater at MICDS!