Awards shine ray of light

Williamsport Area High School student Amy Peck said her mind was racing as her name was read Sunday night at the Community Arts Center.

"I was so nervous," she said. "I was thinking, 'OK, I'm not going to be upset if I don't get it.' Then they said my name and I was just so honored."

Peck won "Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical," during the first Community Theatre League Ray of Light Awards, which were presented during a lavish ceremony.

Students from across Lycoming County were honored at the event, which had the feel of an Academy Awards show, complete with a red carpet, musical performances, award statuettes and thank-you speeches.

Many of the night's honorees seemed overwhelmed.

"Wow, this is a really big honor," said Mackenzie Hengler, a South Williamsport High School student who won "Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play," for her role in the school's production of "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild's Dramatic Society's Production of "Christmas Carol."

But master of ceremonies Rob Steele, executive director of the Community Arts Center, enjoyed the displays of sincere gratitude.

"Unbridled excitement - I love that," he said.

The evening's top honor, the Ray Phillips Memorial Trophy for Best Dramatic Program, was presented to South Williamsport High School for its shows "Christmas Carol" and "Little Shop of Horrors," which also were awarded "Best Play" and "Best Small-Scale Musical," respectively. Williamsport Area High School was awarded "Best Large-Scale Musical" for "Kiss Me Kate."

In addition to Hengler and Peck, student winners included Zach Wagner of Williamsport High School, "Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical" for his role in "Kiss Me Kate," Jeanna Stiadle of Montgomery High School, "Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical" for her work in "Once On This Island" and Williamsport Area High School's Razaaq Taylor, presented with "Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play" for his role in "Bang, Bang, You're Dead."

Winners were selected by a committee of adult and student adjudicators, who scored each play and musical based on a standardized rubric.

Andree Phillips, Community Theatre League president, said the competition for the night's awards was stiff.

"Nominees were separated by a few hundredths of a point," she said.

Many of the ceremony's nominees also were excited to be a part of Sunday's festivities.

"This is so exciting, I've never seen anything like it," Nicole Pagana of Montoursville High School said.

"It's better than prom," Abigail Hess of Hughesville High School said.

But the bright lights, sparkling dresses and flashing cameras did not distract attendees from the main purpose of the ceremony, which was to honor the "best and brightest of our teenage performers," according to Steele.

"Academic achievement goes hand-in-hand with participation in the arts," he said. "Please, do whatever you can to support the arts in your school."

Pagana agreed.

"Sometimes the arts aren't really recognized as much as sports, so it is nice to be here," she said.