ANNUAL CAPPIES AWARDS TO HONOR HIGH SCHOOL THEATER EXCELLENCE AT THE BROWARD CENTER

Published: Apr 23, 2025

Photo credits:

Alice by Heart by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Hadestown by NSU University School
Metamorphoses by A.W. Dreyfoos School for the Arts

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and South Florida Cappies Inc. proudly present the 23rd Annual Cappies Awards to recognize achievements in high school theater on Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the Au-Rene Theater.

Nominees from 28 schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties will compete for awards in 49 categories honoring performers, orchestras, designers, technicians, publicists and creatives. Modeled after Broadway's Tony® Awards, the Cappies Awards ceremony will kickoff with an opening featuring students from the nominated schools, under the direction of Music Director Nic Aquino and Choreographer Madeline Dunn.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s Alice By Heart and NSU University School’s Hadestown: Teen Edition were tied for most nominations received for a musical production (21), closely followed by South Plantation High School’s Ride The Cyclone (High School Edition) with 19 nominations. A.W. Dreyfoos School for the Arts in Palm Beach County received the most nominations for a play (14) for the second year in a row, this time for the production of Metamorphoses. Archbishop McCarthy High School’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace was the second most nominated play with 13. With seven, Cooper City High School received the most nominations for criticism for the second straight year.

Nominations for Cappies Awards are submitted by student critics from participating schools who attend productions at other schools and write reviews. These reviews are then edited by theater educators and published on FloridaTheaterOnStage.com. Winners are selected through a weighted peer-review voting process conducted by students.

For more information on the South Florida Cappies, visit Cappies.com/sfc and follow @sfcappies on Instagram and South Florida Cappies on Facebook.

Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit BrowardCenter.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.

The Broward Center 2024/2025 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Nicklaus Children’s Health System.

About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts

One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 850 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons, displaying a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Nicklaus Children’s Health System Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 100,000 students annually. The Broward Center also manages The Parker, an iconic Fort Lauderdale venue, the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in Miami-Dade County. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.

The list of nominations by school begins on the next page.

2024-2025 CAPPIES AWARDS NOMINEES BY SCHOOL

American Heritage Broward

Six nominations for Into the Woods

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Nathan Rothbard

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Matthew Squeri

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Jaden Mantis

Vocalist in a Male Role: Jack Ryan

Orchestra: American Heritage School Pit Orchestra

Props in a Musical: Feryal El'Ashmawy

American Heritage Palm Beach Campus

Six nominations for The Marvelous Wonderettes

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sofia Jorgensen

Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: Jonathan Jacknow, Laila Thaler Sucher & Crew

Sound in a Musical: Andrew Auster & Simone Zickl

Props in a Musical: Jade Keskinen

Lighting in a Musical: Jack O'Donnell, Sophia Luque and Company

Junior Critic: Jonathan Jacknow

Archbishop McCarthy High School

13 nominations for Arsenic and Old Lace

Play

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Julia Gouldthorpe

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Ernesto Fernandez

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Sofia Cabrera

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Dominic Grossi

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Tamara Toma

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Joselin Ruble

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Braden Luongo

Ensemble in a Play: The Aunties

Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Allie Lynch

Creativity: Tamara Toma (Dramaturgy)

Sound in a Play: Callie Green

Hair and Make-up in a Play: Olivia Pereira

Atlantic Community High School

Four nominations for Doubt, A Parable

Play

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Alana Pearce

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Erik Edwards

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Jaedah Jones

AW Dreyfoos School of the Arts

14 nominations for Metamorphoses

Play

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Melanie Simmons

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Shane Rainsburg

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Colton McMackin

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Graham Gilbert

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Andrew Hopta

Dancer in a Female Role: Kirra Bevilacqua

Ensemble in a Play: Movement Ensemble

Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Aniston Jennings, Sherry Wiedrich, & Charlotte Wooley

Sets in a Play: Penelope Hess, Juliana Priddy and Company

Costumes in a Play: Rikki Crossland, Kylie Motta & Company

Hair and Make-up in a Play: Ren Christopher and Company

Props in a Play: Niko Gerrard, Alice Novak and Company

Lighting in a Play: Amira Green & Joey DiMare

The Benjamin School

Eight nominations for The 39 Steps

Play

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: David Frear

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Sage Sorenson

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Ilia Peck

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Ava Shawe

Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Michael Alvarez, Betsy Farmer and Crew

Costumes in a Play: Andrea Arendts, Hailey Cischke, Lily Eidelman, Rebekkah Merkel

Props in a Play: Isabella Anthon & Devin Farmer

Calvary Christian Academy

Seven nominations for As You Like It

Play

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Lily Shein

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Jesse Oliva

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Desi Sewell-Browne

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Aliyah Kallioinen

Ensemble in a Play: Forest Folk

Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Charleigh Huisman, Wesley Maye, Josh Godbey, Nicolette Suarez

Cardinal Gibbons High School

Two nominations for Shrek the Musical

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Jacob Miers

Special Effects and/or Technology: Deveyn Baptiste, Micah Boyce, Summer Helm, Angelica Zannella

Chaminade Madonna College Prep

One nomination for Shrek

Vocalist in a Female Role: Abigail Murillo

Cooper City High School

14 nominations for Sweeney Todd (School Edition)

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Brooke Shears

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Zoe Kent

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Maximus Dellaria

Vocalist in a Female Role: Saeryn Jones

Ensemble in a Musical: Townspeople

Choreography: Isa Gomes and Company

Lighting in a Musical: Avery Garfinkel and Company

Sophomore Critic: Gavin MacArthur

Junior Critics (3 nominations): Alexis Adler, Avery Garfinkel and Kenny Gervais

Senior Critics (2 nominations): Abby Goldberg and Mia Wilson

Critic Team – Lead Critic Kenny Gervais

Coral Glades High School

Eight nominations for Puffs

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Ivy Levine

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Stephen Karow

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Nialya Flores

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Abigail Miller

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Malakai Rosemey

Ensemble in a Play: Puffs

Sets in a Play: Donald DiCarlo, Kenneth Dunn, Delaney Littman

Props in a Play: Gabriela Barrios

Coral Springs High School

Four nominations for EMMA! A pop musical

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sofia Palhano

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Gabi Florvil

Dancer in a Female Role: Elisse Rodriguez

Sets in a Musical: Brady Porter & Samara Ramos

Cypress Bay High School

Seven nominations for Pippin

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Alexander Gomez

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Martina Rodriguez

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Isabel Rodarte

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Amogh Abhinanda

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Yoav Dahan

Choreography: Isabel Rodarte & Martina Rodriguez

Marketing and Publicity: Sophie Rajotte and Company

David Posnack Jewish Day School

Five nominations for Fiddler on the Roof

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Sacha Codron

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Alyssa Tuchinsky

Dancer in a Male Role: Katelyn Lips

Orchestra: The OYchestra

Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Sasha Shor, Olivia Benson, Leah Wolf

Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School

Seven nominations for Alice in Wonderland

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Evan Paggi

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Marcelle Chemtob

Costumes in a Play: Miranda Pachter and Company

Special Effects and/or Technology: Taylor Fossen

Props in a Play: Evan Paggi, Juliet Cintron and Company

Lighting in a Play: Charlotte Olivera

Sophomore Critic: Charlotte Olivera

J.P. Taravella High School

13 nominations for The Wizard of Oz

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Brianna De Los Santos

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Marco Medina

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Benjamin Vela

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Aasiya Vann

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Austin Blakely

Dancer in a Male Role: Benjamin Arteaga

Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: Krissy Orellana, Miles Pope, Genesis Ramirez, Anthony Totaram

Costumes in a Musical: Jennifer Fier and Crew

Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Abigayle Hurst, Semya Ketant, Sophia Greene, Samuel Caycedo and Company

Sound in a Musical: Aubree Fogle, Kayla McInnis-Convery, Dominic Santana, Alyssa Hrenick

Lighting in a Musical: Julisa Landin, Shayna Silverstein, Emma Khodadadi

Senior Critic: Brianna De Los Santos

Critic Team – Lead Critic Julisa Landin

Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS

21 nominations for Alice By Heart

Musical

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sydney Lotz

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Max Herman

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sam Herman

Vocalist in a Female Role: Alanis DeSouza

Dancer in a Male Role: Ava Fronstin

Ensemble in a Musical: Wonderland Ensemble

Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: Isabella Wilson, Justin Galit, Jenna Martin

Creativity: Sydney Lotz (Vocal Direction)

Song: Down The Hole

Orchestra: MSD Band

Sound in a Musical: Belinda Beuke

Choreography: Ava Fronstin, Zoe Schwartzberg

Sets in a Musical: Gracy Fraysure and Crew

Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Leila Zollo, Stella Pappas, Shani Shtaeinweis

Lighting in a Musical: Alyx Carr, Bridget Hart

Props in a Musical: Karen Nixon, Rania Ismail, Charlotte Schroeder, Jules Murphey

Freshman Critic (2 nominations): Brooklyn Bhim and Ellie Pulsifer

Junior Critic: Maggie Starr

Critic Team – Lead Critic Sydney Lotz

Monarch High School

Seven nominations for Clue (High School Edition)

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Julia Debrito

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Audrey Gomez

Hair and Make-up in a Play: Sofia Nayar & Crew

Sets in a Play: Morgan Rens & Crew

Lighting in a Play: Michael Trager & Crew

Props in a Play: Valeria Feria, Brooke Miller, Jamie Gordillo, Alexis Bayley-Hay

Freshman Critic: Daniella Abadir

North Broward Preparatory School

11 nominations for Disaster!

Musical

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Dakotah Berk

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Mario Galdames

Vocalist in a Female Role: Kailah Lavoie

Vocalist in a Male Role: Jay Boegem

Ensemble in a Musical: The Survivors

Song: Sky High

Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Alanna Maurer

Costumes in a Musical: Ethan Barracos

Props in a Musical: NBPS Production and Design Class

Marketing and Publicity: Sydney Atherton

NSU University School

21 nominations for Hadestown: Teen Edition

Musical

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sofia Casares

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Rubi Katz

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Sam Dyer

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Lea Boldon

Vocalist in a Male Role: Josh Diaz

Dancer in a Female Role: Hadley Mantell

Dancer in a Male Role: Sean Longman

Ensemble in a Musical: The Workers

Song: Road to Hell

Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: David Taylor & Crew

Creativity: Sam Dyer and Nicole Janoff (Dramaturgy)

Choreography: Sofia Casares and Rubi Katz

Costumes in a Musical: Lucy Crawford

Sets in a Musical: Sam Dyer, Karina Lopez, and Jack Steinman

Sound in a Musical: Cora Rodriguez

Marketing and Publicity: Zoey Connor, Sydney Margolis, Emma Rodriguez, and Company

Freshman Critic: Mattingly Zonis

Sophomore Critic: Zachary Kopelman

Senior Critic: Sam Dyer

Critic Team – Lead Critic Sam Dyer

Piper High School

Six nominations for 12 Angry Jurors

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Xharia Campbell

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Afreeca Fullwood

Ensemble in a Play: Jury

Hair and Make-up in a Play: Taylor Rosado & Tamia Galloway

Sets in a Play: Violet Brown & Fabiana Redon

Costumes in a Play: Afreeca Fullwood & Emilia Harris

Saint Thomas Aquinas High School

Eight nominations for The Great Gatsby

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Cole Christianson

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Alexi Arocho

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Avery Patterson

Costumes in a Play: Abigail Hilbert, Elizabeth Gerhardt, Amanda Henry, Mickenna Desroches and Crew

Special Effects and/or Technology: Carolina Reverte, Victoria "Bird" Patten, Vincent Poehnelt

Lighting in a Play: Emily Reich, Alistair Bass, Michaela George

Senior Critic: Lila De Almeida

Critic Team – Lead Critic Lila De Almeida

Somerset Academy Key High School

Seven nominations for Everything is Super Great

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Hector Mejia

Special Effects and/or Technology: Head in the Clouds Production

Hair and Make-up in a Play: Secilia Ruiz & Alisson Jimenez

Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Tatianna Bethel, Gabriel Rodriguez, Hector Mejia and Company

Creativity: Head in the Clouds Productions (for Screenwriting)

Sound in a Play: Alexander Livelli and Company

Lighting in a Play: Shamya Brown and Company

Somerset Arts Conservatory

Five nominations for The Secret Garden

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Suraj Kaniyur

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Apryl Cabrera

Sets in a Musical: Secret Garden Set Team

Freshman Critic: Valentina Exposito

Sophomore Critic: Gabriel Cadet

South Plantation High School

19 nominations for Ride The Cyclone (High School Edition)

Musical

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Kay Regalado

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Jaxon Reid

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: David Denman

Vocalist in a Male Role: Liam Bourbeau

Dancer in a Female Role: Doris Diaz

Ensemble in a Musical: Choir and their Interpreters

Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: Armani Norris & Annie Frischkorn

Creativity: ASL Team

Choreography: Isabel Merritt

Costumes in a Musical: Liam Bourbeau, Hannah Teston, Leah Millon

Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Isabella Morales and Company

Sets in a Musical: Jaxon Reid

Song: The Ballad of Jane Doe

Sound in a Musical: Avery Laganiere

Special Effects and/or Technology: Brianny Frias, Lily Moscowitz, and Company

Lighting in a Musical: David Denman and Company

Marketing and Publicity: Damian Howson and Company

Sophomore Critic: Annie Frischkorn

Spanish River High School

One nomination for The Lightning Thief

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Joseph Alkon

West Boca Raton Community High School

11 nominations for Once Upon a Mattress

Musical

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Marni Gass

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Brady Lord

Dancer in a Male Role: Ethan Slavic

Vocalist in a Female Role: Gabriella Estabrook

Song: Shy

Props in a Musical: Nolan Balais & Rebecca Swanson

Costumes in a Musical: Maia Stein

Orchestra: Angelina Slayton, Daniel Silva, Angie Stancampiano, Isaac Ribas

Marketing and Publicity: EditionMila Freineit, Becca Rayman, Justin Swab

Sophomore Critic: Grecia Ortiz

Westminster Academy

Three nominations for The Lightning Thief

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Olivia Oropesa

Vocalist in a Male Role: Liam Pace

Dancer in a Female Role: Kathryn Wright

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Link to images (courtesy of South Florida Cappies): https://tinyurl.com/hs6u6whb