These talented local students were nominated for Prime Stage Drama Awards. See who won!

Photo above of this year’s winners courtesy of Prime Stage.

On Jan. 11, students from 15 local high schools gathered at the Hillman Center for the Performing Arts in Fox Chapel for the fifth-annual Prime Stage Drama Awards, which celebrate non-musical productions. The teens were nominated in multiple categories including best and supporting actor/actress and best student director, as well as awards for vital backstage work and best overall production.

“This year’s Drama Awards ceremony was an amazing evening,” says Drama Awards coordinator and Prime Stage Theatre board member John Dolphin. “We had 15 participating schools. Area theatre professionals announced the winners. I feel that this is an important event for our area high school students, who are working diligently to produce quality theatre in their schools.”

Whether or not these students will pursue careers in the theater, the experience of working on a high school drama production has so many benefits.

“The arts are an important element of our society,” Dolphin says. “Working in the theatre teaches students leadership skills, problem solving skills and cooperation. No matter what profession these students choose for their careers, their experiences in theatre will have prepared them to be successful.”

This year, Pine-Richland High School earned the most wins, taking top honors in six categories: Best Overall Production, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Stage Manager, Best Scenic Design, Program/Poster Design.

“The High School Drama Awards is our way of looking to the future,” says Dr. Wayne Brinda, producing artistic director at Prime Stage, which has presented over 100 plays introducing student and family audiences to classic and contemporary works of world literature since its founding in 1996. (Click here for details on their current season.)

“By encouraging these young actors and production specialists in their early efforts, we’re building a strong foundation for Pittsburgh theatre in years to come,” Brinda says.

Here are all of this year’s nominees:

Best Overall Production
Pine-Richland High School, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon” (winner)
Avonworth High School. “12 Angry Jurors”
Carlynton High School, “Sorry, Wrong Show”
Chartiers Valley High School, “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child”
Quaker Valley High School, “Almost, Maine”

Best Actress
Jillian Uzelac, Holly in “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School (winner)
Ella Ging, Juror #3 in “12 Angry Jurors,” Avonworth High School
Abby Horn, Jo March in “Little Women,” Baldwin High School
Danielle Smith, Gail in “Sorry, Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School
Emma Leghorn, Easton & Chad in “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School

Best Actor
Connor Hart, Randall Rodgers in “Sorry, Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School (winner) 
Wesley Madge, Albus Potter in “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School
Morgan Adams, Jim Stark in “Rebel Without A Cause,” Deer Lakes High School
Brendan Plowey, Brett in “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School
Milo Taylor-Martin, Steve in “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School

Best Supporting Actor
Jake Pazin, Blake in “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School (winner)
Jaycee Kohler, Sunny Day in “Sorry Wrong, Show,” Carlynton High School
Ryan Fox, Ron Weasley in “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School
Peyton Moran, Buzz in “Rebel Without A Cause,” Deer Lakes High School
Noah Miller, Lyman Sanderson in “Harvey,” Fox Chapel Area High School

Best Supporting Actress
Callie Dailey, Mr. Voldy & Cedric in “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School (winner)
Aislinn Myrah, Delphi Diggory in “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School
Ashley Kimmell, Boris Kolenkhov in “You Can’t Take It With You,” Hampton High School
Loren Prisuta, Carol in “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School
Addyson McCarthy, Tasha in “The Craving,” Springdale Jr./Sr. High School

Best Student Director
Jack Miller, “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School (winner)
Alice Anderson & Bella Korn, “You Can’t Take It With You,” Hampton High School
Leo Matthews, “Steel Magnolias,” Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School
Nicole Short, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School
Aaron Reed & Gavin Hart, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Stage Manager
Stage Managing Team, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School (winner)
Jonathan Engle & Chloe Baum, “Sorry Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School
Theo Kistler & Luca Kraft, “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School
Jonathan Munn, “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School
Alec Mahathey, Zak Baumgardner & Danny Flatley, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Scenic Design and/or Fabrication
Wesley Wright, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School (winner)
Jonathan Engle, Austin Gamble & Austin Gonze, “Sorry Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School
Laura Wells, “Murder Can Be Habit-Forming,” North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Jack Miller & Emma Leghorn, “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School
Emma Underwood, “Little Women,” Baldwin High School

Best Student Lighting Design and/or Operation
Theo Walsh & Tyler Deski, “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School (winner)
Austin Gonze, Traivon Josey & Dominic Mollica, “Sorry Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School
Alexis Verba, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School
Braiden Hoffman, “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School
Tristan Smith, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Sound Design and/or Operation
Sound Design Team, “Sorry, Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School (winner)
Sound Design Team, “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School
Megan Black, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School
Lily Toma, “R.U.R.,” Shady Side Academy Senior School
Jeremy Thompson, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Costume Design and/or Fabrication
Lilith Bohin, “Harvey,” Fox Chapel Area High School (winner)
Marena Miller & Team, “Steel Magnolias,” Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School
Isabella Pivirotto, “Almost, Maine,” Penn Hills High School
Ana Luiza Bacchi & Evelyn Bertiaux, “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School
Liberty Neeley, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Makeup Design and/or Application
Brianna Zoller, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School (winner)
August Seman, “Little Women,” Baldwin High School
Marrianna Vergerio, “Rebel Without A Cause,” Deer Lakes High School
Makeup Team, “Harvey,” Fox Chapel Area High School
Evelyn Bertiaux, “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School

Best Student Prop Design and/or Fabrication
April Kanai, “Sorry Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School (winner)
Emma Underwood & Abby Horn, “Little Women,” Baldwin High School
Kahler Salva, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School
Gabriel Bowers & Rain Lavelle, “The Craving,” Springdale Jr./Sr. High School
Aaron Reed, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Use Of Creative Special Effects
Tyler Debski, “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School (winner)
Xi Valcheff, “Sorry, Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School
Michael Petrucci, “You Can’t Take It With You,”  Hampton High School
Special Effects Team, “The Craving,” Springdale Jr./Sr. High School
Tristan Smith, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Onstage Run Crew
Onstage Team, “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,” Chartiers Valley High School (winner)
Onstage Team, “Sorry, Wrong Show,” Carlynton High School
Onstage Team, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School
Onstage Team, “The Craving,” Springdale Jr./Sr. High School
Onstage Team, “Puffs,” Thomas Jefferson High School

Best Student Program/Poster Design and/or Fabrication
Nicole Short, “The Holiday Channel Movie Wonderthon,” Pine-Richland High School (winner)
Abby Horn, “Little Women,” Baldwin High School
Sophia Muoio & Bridget Fogle, “Steel Magnolias,” Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School
Ana Luiza Bacchi, “Almost, Maine,” Quaker Valley High School
Willow Racan, “Rebel Without A Cause,” Deer Lakes High School