The Paper Mill Playhouse has announced recipients of its Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre.

This year Union High School took the prize for "Outstanding Overall Production." A complete list of award winners is below.

Among the top nominated high schools, Union High School had 12 nominations, Columbia High School had nine nominations, Delaware Valley Regional High School and West Morris Central High School each had eight nominations, Moorestown High School had seven nominations, Eastern Regional High School, Ridge High School and Toms River High School North each had six nominations, Morristown High School had five nominations and Fair Lawn High School, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Wallkill Valley Regional High School and Westfield High School each had four nominations.

These totals do not account for Student Achievement Award nominations.

"We are very excited to celebrate excellence in high school musical theater with the students of New Jersey," commented Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director. "For many New Jersey schools, the prestigious honor of a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star nomination is the culmination of their hard work in a high school musical. Many of our Rising Star nominees and winners are now working professionally and have won esteemed industry awards while working in theater and film."

Paper Mill Director of Education Lisa Cooney explains, "What's happening in high school musical productions here in New Jersey and around the country is remarkable. Programs like the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards raise the bar and create opportunities for student performers and theater technicians to be recognized for their achievements, while giving them access to thousands of dollars in scholarships and professional training. We consistently hear from top-tier colleges and casting directors that a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award is a significant accolade for an aspiring theater artist."

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Presented by the Investors Foundation are modeled after the Tony Awards, and Paper Mill Playhouse's program serves the entire state of New Jersey, with nearly 100 entered productions from public, private and parochial high schools.

Paper Mill Playhouse conceived and created the awards in 1996 to give schools the opportunity to showcase their musical arts programs on a statewide level. The musicals are adjudicated by Paper Mill Playhouse throughout the spring by a group of 70 evaluators, with each school receiving four independent evaluations. Schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Musical and Leading Actor/Actress nominees perform at the event, and award recipients are presented with an engraved crystal award from Tiffany & Co.

"Recognizing someone's talent, hard work, and dedication can be a validation that propels them forward in pursuing their dreams. The Rising Star Awards can be that impetus for the student performers and theater technicians it honors each year," said Investors Bank President and CEO Kevin Cummings. "Investors Bank is grateful for the opportunity to acknowledge, not just the students, but the theater programs in which they participate in high schools throughout New Jersey. Congratulations to everyone, and never stop working toward achieving your dreams."

Paper Mill Playhouse also awards $5,000 in scholarships at the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Presented by the Investors Foundation.

Four $1,000 cash scholarships are given to outstanding individual students who plan to continue studying theater performance in college.

Paper Mill Playhouse is pleased to award a prize of $500 to a school receiving the 2018 Educational Impact Award, which acknowledges a school that successfully connects the musical to the district's curriculum, using the production as a teaching tool for the greater student body and local community.

Through the Rising Star "Theater for Everyone" Inclusion and Access Award and a partnership with The Cultural Access Network of New Jersey, a project of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Paper Mill Playhouse will present a cash award of $1,000 to a school to recognize excellence in the promotion and practice of creative inclusion of students and adults with disabilities as performers, designers, musicians and production staff. Additionally, this award seeks to recognize and reward a school that takes steps to ensure their performances are accessible to audiences with disabilities.

Lastly, students receiving final nominations in the lead and supporting acting categories receive a scholarship to Paper Mill Playhouse's competitive Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory, a professional training program, which, along with advanced classes in singing, acting and dance, offers the nominees an opportunity to perform in the season finale concert, "New Voices of 2018: From Sea to Shining Sea" on July 27 and July 28 at Montclair State University.

Rising Star Awards - Presented by the Investors Foundation is generously supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.

Rising Star scholarships are made possible by Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio, Walt Santner in honor of Janet Sovey, and the Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship Fund Trust. The Theatre for Everyone Inclusion and Access Award is supported by the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is grateful for generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals.

2018 Rising Star Award Winners



Outstanding Hair and Make-up Achievement

Danielle Garritt and Keleyn Wraga

Toms River High School North

THE ADDAMS FAMILY



Outstanding Costuming Achievement

Katie Adams

Morristown High School

ANYTHING GOES



Outstanding Costuming Achievement

Barbara Canace, Carol Rutledge, and Suzanna Roghanchi

Columbia High School

HAIRSPRAY



Outstanding Lighting Achievement

Coby Chasman-Beck

Union High School

PETER PAN



Outstanding Scenic Achievement

Jamie Allaire

Jackson Memorial High School

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST



STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Kaila Lewis

Lighting Designer

Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts

INTO THE WOODS



Ellis Stanton

Light Board Operator

Delaware Valley Regional High School

GREASE



Matt Mruz and Grace Prachthauser

Sound/Film Designer

Morristown High School

ANYTHING GOES



Andrew Laudor

Lighting Designer

Mount Olive High School

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN



Patricia Patalinjug

Graphic Designer

Nutley High School

PIPPIN



Rakesh Potluri

Assistant Lighting Designer/Master Electrician

Princeton Day School

BAT BOY THE MUSICAL



Costume Crew

Summit High School

LEGALLY BLONDE



Matthew Nowell

Technical Director/Sound Designer

Voorhees High School

FOOTLOOSE



Morgan L. Eng

Graphic Designer/Pit Orchestra

Westfield High School

FOLLIES



Daniel Suriel

Lighting Designer/Board Operator

Carteret High School

IN THE HEIGHTS



Educational Impact Award

Summit High School

LEGALLY BLONDE



"Theatre for Everyone" Inclusion & Access Award

Madison High School

FOOTLOOSE



Outstanding Choreography / Musical Staging

Jennifer Williams

Union High School

PETER PAN



Outstanding Music Direction

Charles Santoro

Fair Lawn High School

ONCE



Outstanding Direction

Jeff Hogan

West Morris Central High School

THE PIRATE QUEEN



Outstanding Orchestra

Fair Lawn High School

ONCE



Outstanding Chorus

Princeton Day School

BAT BOY THE MUSICAL



Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group

The Lost Boys

Union High School

PETER PAN



Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role

Alyssa Carbonell as "Tiger Lily"

Union High School

PETER PAN



Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member

Joshua Nilsen as "Eugene Florczyk"

Delaware Valley Regional High School

GREASE



Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role

Caroline Herbert as "The Chaperone"

Hopewell Valley Central High School

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE



Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role

Nick Scafuto as "J. Bowden Hapgood"

Bridgewater-Raritan High School

ANYONE CAN WHISTLE



Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role

Matthew Losco as "Igor"

Vernon Township High School

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN



Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role

Mira Mookerjee as "Lilli Vanessi/Katharine"

Moorestown High School

KISS ME, KATE



Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role

Jovanni Aparicio as "Usnavi"

Carteret High School

IN THE HEIGHTS



Outstanding Overall Production

Union High School

PETER PAN

Submitted by Paper Mill Playhouse