WHAT STARTED AS A DARK AND RAINY DAY TURNED BRIGHT AND MAGICAL AS THE UNION HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY WALKED AWAY WITH NINE PAPER MILL RISING STAR AWARDS, THE MOST AWARDS WON IN ONE NIGHT, INCLUDING THE TOP PRIZE, BEST MUSICAL, FOR THEIR PRODUCTION OF DUKE ELLINGTON’S SOPHISTICATED LADIES. CELEBRATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RISING STAR AWARDS, THE NIGHT HAD THAT SPECIAL FEELING IN THE AIR AS THE STUDENTS AND STAFF ENTERED THE DOORS OF THE PAPER MILL.
ADDING TO THE FESTIVITIES, THE AWARDS WERE TELEVISED ON HOMETOWNE TV, ALLOWING THE NIGHT TO BE SHARED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO COULDN’T ATTEND THE AWARDS. DIRECTOR JAMES MOSSER SHARED “THE ENTIRE COMPANY IS ELATED. IT IS WONDERFUL TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR ALL THE HARD WORK WE HAVE PUT IN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT RECOGNITION COMES FROM THE PAPER MILL WHO IS SO WELL RESPECTED IN THE THEATER COMMUNITY”.
ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:
•OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
•OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE – KRISTIAN ADAP
•OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE GROUP – THE SOPHISTICATED GENTLEMEN
•OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ORCHESTRA
•OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BY A TEACHER OR OUTSIDE DIRECTOR – JAMES MOSSER
•OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AS MUSICAL DIRECTOR – JAMES MOSSER & LAURA MULLER
•OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHOREOGRAPHY/MUSICAL STAGING – JENNIFER WILLIAMS & JAMES MOSSER
•OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTNING – COBY CHASMAN-BECK
•STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – JASMINE DURHAM
UNION HIGH SCHOOL ENTERED THE COMPETITION AS THE MOST NOMINATED SCHOOL WITH SIXTEEN NOMINATIONS. THE STUDENTS ALSO GOT A CHANCE TO PERFORM A MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM THEIR AWARD WINNING MUSICAL INCLUDING EXCERPTS FROM “RUG CUTTER,” “COTTON TAIL,” AND “DON’T MEAN A THING.” LEAD ACTOR AND ACTRESS NOMINEES JONATHAN DUVELSON, JAMES FRAZIER AND BERNICE ONANUGA ALSO PERFORMED.
CHOREOGRAPHER JENNIFER WILLIAMS ADDED – “WORDS CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE EMOTIONS I’M FEELING RIGHT NOW. THE STUDENTS OF THE CAST, BAND AND CREW POURED THEIR HEART AND SOULS INTO THIS PRODUCTION AND ALL OF THAT HARD WORK PAID OFF. AND, TO CELEBRATE THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHILE CELEBRATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RISING STAR AWARDS! – WOW, WHAT A TRULY SPECIAL NIGHT.”