Students from Huntington high schools were recently awarded “Hunting-Tonys,” for their work in plays and musicals.
The awards were given out at a ceremony at Huntington High School.
The Hunting-Tony Awards” originated in 2011 by Huntington resident Joyce Ianniciello honor the casts, crews, and school personnel that make them happen. Each year, nominees in various
performance, technical, and design categories are chosen by volunteer judges.
The June 6 featured live performances from two of the nominated musicals. Cold Spring Harbor students Annabelle Bryant, Lily Smyth, Ryan Theobald, and Thomas Tsekerides
opened the ceremony with a rendition of “Crazier Than You” from The Addams Family, while Commack students Eden Seskin and Jake Van Eycken’s performance of “In a Crowd of Thousands” from Anastasia crackled with electricity.
The awards for Best Play and Best Musical went to Half Hollow Hills High School West’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play and Northport High School’s production of Urinetown: The Musical, respectively.
“The amount of talent under one roof at the Hunting-Tony Awards is amazing to behold,” Councilwoman Joan Cergol. “I’m always proud of what these students are able to accomplish and I’m thrilled to see our Town’s vibrant theater community make a roaring comeback. My many thanks to Joyce Ianniciello, Superintendent James Polansky, Principal Brenden Cusack, our volunteer judges, and everyone else who made this night happen!”
“Being a part of this ceremony just reiterated to me how gifted the theater students in our town are,” said Councilman Dr. David Bennardo. “I have no doubt many of these amazing performers and crewmembers will find their way to Broadway, and all will enjoy a
lifelong appreciation of the arts.”
Winners were:
Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Ethan Iglesias – She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition (Cold Spring Harbor
High School)
Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Kylie Polani – With Their Eyes (Half Hollow Hills High School East)
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Jaren Smullian – Legally Blonde (Walt Whitman High School)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (2-WAY TIE)
Dessa Kavrakis – Urinetown: The Musical (Northport High School)
Lily Smyth – The Addams Family (Cold Spring Harbor High School)
Best Stage Crew for a Play
Walt Whitman High School – The Crucible
Best Stage Crew for a Musical
Commack High School – Anastasia
Best Stage Set Design for a Play
Half Hollow Hills High School West – It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Best Stage Set Design for a Musical
Huntington High School – 42nd Street
Best Orchestra Pit
Half Hollow Hills High School West – Merrily We Roll Along
Best Costumes in a Play
Huntington High School – The Curious Savage
Best Costumes in a Musical
Half Hollow Hills High School West – Merrily We Roll Along
Best Male Vocalist (3-WAY TIE)
Luke Frisoli – Urinetown: The Musical (Northport High School)
James Graziano – Urinetown: The Musical (Northport High School)
Shane McGlone – Urinetown: The Musical (Northport High School)
Best Female Vocalist
Isabella Corea – Urinetown: The Musical (Northport High School)
Best Choreography
Walt Whitman High School – Legally Blonde
Best Technical Production for a Play
Commack High School – One Stoplight Town
Best Technical Production for a Musical
Half Hollow Hills High School East – Gypsy
Best Lead Actor in a Play
Nate Blatt – One Stoplight Town (Commack High School)
Best Lead Actress in a Play (2-WAY TIE)
Gioianna DiGiorgio – It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Half Hollow Hills High
School West)
Dara Gordon – One Stoplight Town (Commack High School)
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Sam Adler – The Addams Family (Cold Spring Harbor High School)
Featured Actress in a Musical
Deanna DeVilla – Gypsy (Half Hollow Hills High School East)
Braden Gastaldi – The Addams Family (Elwood-John H. Glenn High School)
Best Lead Actress in a Musical
Maddie Quigley – Legally Blonde (Harborfields High School)
Best Ensemble in a Play
Commack High School – One Stoplight Town
Best Ensemble in a Musical
Huntington High School – 42nd Street
Best Play
Half Hollow Hills High School West – It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Best Musical
Northport High School – Urinetown: The Musical