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Awards recognize students in the performing arts

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Cast members from Muncy High School present a medley from The Little Mermaid during the Ray of Light Awards at the Community Arts Center Saturday.

The house lights dimmed and hundreds of audience members grew quiet as the Community Theatre League’s 11th annual Ray of Light awards kicked off on Saturday afternoon. Students, wearing in elegant dresses and dapper suits, took to the Community Arts Center’s stage to perform this past year’s musicals.

Prior to the start of the awards, cast members, crew and directorial staff strutted through the star-shaped balloon arch and down the red carpet to strike a pose for onlooking family and friends. The loud applause filled the street outside the CAC and was carried inside to the first performance of the afternoon by each school’s student representatives.

In the welcome speech, Seth Sponhouse and Philip J Vonada, program coordinators, revealed the winners of both scholarships and awards would be taking home a combined total of $6,000. Also new to the award day were two new scholarships, including a leadership in the arts award, in hopes to recognize individuals and schools that go above and beyond the everyday tasks of a theater program.

The 2018-19 adjudicators have witnessed over 300 performances in the year, and recognized the accomplishments of each cast and crew. Presentors entered the stage to introduce nominees before revealing the winner who would rise to the occasion of a thank you speech.

One such winner, Caleb Wertz, walked on stage with a pink vest and matching heels after winning the award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical. In the musical, “Wiz,” Wertz played female character Addaperle.

“I would like to thank Mrs. Boyer, my parents, my grandparents, Miss Flow, Marilyn #1, Tina, Jesus and RuPaul,” said Wertz. “I would also like to say how grateful I am for the opportunity to bring drag to my small town. I think we need to realize it is our responsibility to create the world that we want to live in and it starts here.”

Other winners, including Camden Hare, walked on stage with big smiles and a shock that they won. Hare was awarded Best Performance by a Leader Actor in a Play.

“How?” asked Hare. “I really was not expecting this, but I have to thank the CTL, Mrs. Boyer, all the amazing cast and crew members and my mom and dad for putting up with me.”

Hare added a gratitude for the other members in the award category with him and complimented each for their talents in their own plays.

The afternoon itself had a great emphasis of talent, as students took to the stage in between awards to showcase a number or two from their individual show. The audience clapped along to “Dancing Queen,” from the hit musical “Mamma Mia,” performed by Central Columbia High School.

The audience also yelled out for Loyalsock student Hannah Rankey’s vocals in “Skid Row,” from “Little Shop of Horrors,” and gave a standing ovation to Shikellamy student Destiny Lopez for her vocal performance of “Home,” from “The Wiz.”

The show was a family affair as winners thanked their parents and their musical families they had grown close to in long rehearsal nights. Luke Hayman of Benton Area Junior-Senior High School, even had the opportunity to thank his family who made their way to the Community Arts Center all the way from England to witness his win of Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical.

Kathryn Gaugler, director of Midd-West High School’s “The Music Man,” spoke highly of her “babies,” that worked hard to put on a show that won Best Large-Scale Musical at the awards. Gaugler also noted the “giants,” that their show stood amongst in the category and how incredibly talented each one was.

Earlier in the awards, the students of The School Board Quartet from “The Music Man,” won Best Performance by a Cameo Role in a Play and sang their thank you speech in a quartet like fashion.

In the end, Shikellamy High School, under the direction of Ellen Boyer, was awarded the Ray Phillips Memorial Trophy for Best Dramatic Program. This award recognizes the school with the highest combined score in both play and musical.

“We forgot to write a closing,” joked Sponhouse and Vonada at the close of the awards. “But we want to thank all of the amazing directors for giving their time. We are so excited to see what you come up with next year. Everyone drive safely and have a great Memorial Day weekend. We will see you all next year.”

The full list of awards follows:

Maddy Bowers, Derek Matthews, and Peyton Moylan, Shikellamy High School, Student Design Award, “The Wiz.”

Kasey Uhter, Loyalsock Township High School, Student Design Award, “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Williamsport Area High School, Best Ensemble Work in a Play, “Clue.”

Elise McBride, South Williamsport Area High School, Best Performance by a Cameo Role in a Play, “Midsummer/Jersey.”

Gavin Flather, Nathan Herrold, Jacob Houtz, Hunter Hunsberger, and Carson Witherite as The School Board Quartet, Midd-West High School, Best Performance by a Cameo Role in a Musical, “The Music Man.”

Gale Hall, Williamsport Area High School, Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play, “Clue.”

Caleb Wertz, Shikellamy High School, Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical, “The Wiz.”

Amber Fry, Muncy Junior-Senior High School, Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play, “The Little Princess.”

Cassie Conklin, Montoursville Area High School, Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical, “Footloose.”

Shikellamy High School, Best Choreography Execution, “The Wiz.”

Loyalsock Township High School, Best Vocal Performance by an Ensemble in a Musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Sacha Alvarez, Muncy Junior-Senior High School, Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Play, “The Little Princess.”

Maiah Farley, Central Columbia High School, Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical, “Mamma Mia.”

Camden Hare, Shikellamy High School, Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Luke Hayman, Benton Area Junior-Senior High School, Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical, “Newsies.”

Montoursville Area High School, Best Small-Scale Play, “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering Anne Frank.”

Muncy Junior-Senior High School, Best Large-Scale Play, “The Little Princess.”

Hughesville Junior-Senior High School, Best Small-Scale Musical, “The Addams Family.”

Midd-West High School, Best Large-Scale Musical, “The Music Man.”

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