Nerinx Hall Thespians Lead Cappie Award Nominations

Nerinx Hall High School leads the 2011 Cappie award nominations with 33 students and two ensembles nominated in 20 categories, plus nominations for Best Song, Best Play and Best Musical. The school stands to improve on last year's 2010 awards, where they took home four honors.

The Cappies are given in every category from Best Actor and Actress in a Musical to Best Set, Props and Stage Crew, all of which have garnered Nerinx Hall students nominations, plus many more.

The Cappies, short for the Critics and Awards Program, trains high school theater and journalism students as critics. The student critics attend shows at other schools and write theater reviews, which then are published in local news outlets. At the end of the year, the critics vote for awards that are presented at the formal Cappie Awards Gala.

“The event is very much like the Tony awards,” said Judi Greene, co-founder and chair of the St. Louis Cappies and Marquette High School theatre director. “The kids get all dressed up. The school critics are the ones who vote. They're in control.”

Greene first heard about the Cappies program while at a state conference, which sparked her interest. “What they were doing intrigued me,” Greene said. “I got in touch with the national group. The next thing I know, Mike Isaacson of Fox Associates contacted me and wanted to support the group. The Fox hosts welcome events for us still, and the Muny supports us as well.”

Now in its sixth season, the St. Louis Cappies includes 17 private and public high schools from St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties, down from last years total of 24 schools. Some schools opted out this year due to budget concerns, Greene said. It costs a school $150 dollars to participate.

This year the awards ceremony takes place Sunday at Missouri Baptist University and will feature performances from several schools along with guest speakers, including local professional actors and high school principals. But the Cappies represent far more than just a star-studded awards gala for the students.

“It's great to see kids from the inner city become friends with kids from the county,” Greene said. “There are so many residual benefits for these kids.”

Maggie Ryan, theatre director at Nerinx Hall, concurred. “I really do think it provides an opportunity for student critics to go to all the shows and improve their writing skills. To see what it takes to make a great show,” she said.

Having the students' efforts validated also is an important part of the program. “The Cappies is a chance for the kids to be rewarded for their work,” Ryan said. “It affirms their skills.”

For the students, however, the emphasis is on fun, the thrill of the ceremony and the opportunity to mingle with performing arts students from other schools.

“The kids are very excited,” Ryan said. “It's very exciting, and of course we're thrilled with the students and their nominations.”

Nerinx Hall Cappie Award Nominees

Sound:
Madi Hunter, Kristi Helm and Emily Winborn for Much Ado About Nothing

Maria Sanchez, Lily Sullivan and Megan Winborn for Les Misérables

Lighting:
Adam Hunn, Claire Springer and Catherine Ulivi for Much Ado About Nothing

Sets:
Amanda Eshelman for Much Ado About Nothing

Costumes:
Olivia Ellis and Haley Sandifer for Much Ado About Nothing

Props & Effects:
Brianna Duda for Les Misérables

Stage Crew:
Meaghan Brennan, Grace Floros, Elisabeth Rollings and Laura Steenburge for Les Misérables

Ensemble in a Play:
Four Lovers in Much Ado About Nothing Revolutionaries in Les Misérables

Featured Actress Play:
McKenzie Moser for Much Ado About Nothing

Featured Actress Musical:
Amanda Jerry for Les Misérables

Featured Actor Musical:
Zach Erhardt for Les Misérables

Female Vocalist:
Amanda Jerry for Les Misérables

Comic Actress Play:
Caroline Amos for Much Ado About Nothing

Comic Actress Musical:
Allie Luecke for Les Misérables

Comic Actor Musical:
Ben Weber for Les Misérables

Supporting Actor Play:
Peter Leach for Much Ado About Nothing

Supporting Actress Musical:
Caroline Amos for Les Misérables

Supporting Actor Musical:
Joe Essig for Les Misérables

Lead Actor Play:
Jean-Paul Angieri for Much Ado About Nothing

Lead Actress Musical:
Sam Auch for Les Misérables

Lead Actor Musical:
Alex Prakken for Les Misérables

Best Song:
“The Innkeeper's Song” in Les Misérables

Best Play:
Much Ado About Nothing

Best Musical:
Les Misérables