Another strong year for the Huntington High School drama club has been capped off with two Hunting-Tony Awards. The prizes were presented during a star-studded evening before a capacity crowd at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.
The Huntington actors were vying for awards against teenagers from high school drama clubs across the town. There were separate categories for drama productions and musicals. Huntington High School’s shows this year were Lady Windermere’s last fall and The Sound of Music in the spring. Huntington was nominated for seven awards in all.
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Huntington junior Monica Owen won the award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as “Elsa Schraeder” in The Sound of Music. Huntington’s second award was for the Best Costumes for The Sound of Music.
“I was in complete shock when they announced my name,” said Ms. Owen, who is completing her junior year. “I was actually a little flustered because I had to make a little acceptance speech and I was so surprised I didn’t know what to say! But overall it was a great experience and I was just happy to dress up and have fun with my friends.”
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Huntington’s nominees in the drama category included:
• Best Lead Actress: Katherine Gerdes (Lady Windermere) – Lady Windermere’s Fan
Huntington’s nominees in the musical category included:
• Best Lead Actress: Katherine Gerdes (Maria) – The Sound of Music
• Best Supporting Actress: Monica Owen (Elsa Schraeder) – The Sound of Music
• Best Female Vocalist: Chelsea Holmes (Mother Abbess) – The Sound of Music
• Best Musical: The Sound of Music
• Best Costumes: The Sound of Music
• Best Stage Crew: The Sound of Music
Huntington High School’s acting elite where on hand at the Engeman Theatre for the festive evening. The event drew drama clubs from across the town. It was modeled after the real Tony Awards. Huntington High School had a substantial cheering section supporting its award nominees.
The evening included performances by many of the actors nominated for awards. Huntington juniors Katherine Gerdes and Chelsea Holmes performed “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music and received a rousing round of applause from the crowd of more than 400.
A Wonderful Experience
“It was a wonderful experience getting to be a part of the Hunting-Tony Awards again this year,” said Ms. Gerdes, a stage veteran. “Huntington was nominated for many awards, which I was extremely proud of, although I do think we should have been nominated for best orchestra. The pit was amazing! The best part of the Hunting-Tony Awards is getting to meet so many other theatre kids from the area and seeing what other schools are doing. It’s nice for us drama and music kids to get recognition, especially in a town like Huntington where it feels as though the world revolves around sports!”
Hunting-Tony Award judges watched every high school drama club production in the town this year, forming the basis for the nominations and ultimate honors in each category.
“The Hunting-Tony Awards was so much fun,” junior Stephanie Shea said. “Everyone got dressed up and it was so nice to be reunited with the cast. It’s really great that there is an awards night for kids in the arts like this because the shows deserve to be recognized and it’s fun to see other high school kids with the same passion as ours. We were all so proud of our nominations and our wins. I can’t wait for next year!”
It was a special kind of evening. They took delight in all the hoopla, enjoying wearing their finest clothing and basking in the attention directed their way.
“I think the Hunting-Tony Awards is a great event,” junior Sarah Mosden said. “It’s a night for the drama club to get all dressed up and get together to attend an award show put together just for us. Although we didn’t win many awards, we know our show was the best. The night was great overall.”
The event was hosted by Town Board members Susan Berland and Mark Cuthbertson in cooperation with the John W. Engeman Theater. Once the awards night had concluded, the Huntington High School drama club advisors headed to Main Street Café in Northport where the group shared a meal.
“It’s an excellent night to dress up and meet people from other drama clubs around the Huntington area,” senior Laura Ironman said. “It’s so fun, especially since we work so hard for our productions, that we get a night of celebration. It’s not all about the trophies; more of a night to enjoy yourself and enjoy theater.”
Tense Night for Nominees
While the night was tense for nominees, those inside the theater clearly reveled in the festivities. “They were so much fun,” junior Zach Burden said. “The night started by waiting with the rest of the Huntington drama club to go in to the theater. When we got in you could feel the sense of excitement for the show to begin. Our seats this year were very close to the front so we had a great view. It was a fun time to see all of the other people from different schools and have everyone dressed up all fancy.”
The Huntington drama club came together this past year to stage two fine productions. Crowds for three performances of The Sound of Music this spring were the largest in at least a decade, if not longer.
The Huntington contingent had a ball at the Engeman Theater. “It was a fantastic night filled with laughs and great spirits,” senior Anna Schiffmacher said. “It was so nice being with my cast again and enjoying the awards together. It’s always fun to dress up, take pictures and be around the drama club again for one last time. Whether nominated or not; whether the winner or not; we still know how great of a show we put on and believe in one another no matter what.”
“We were up for seven awards this year, which was awesome,” Mr. Burden said. “I was so proud of Monica Owen for winning best supporting actress in a musical, as well as best costumes, which Katherine Gerdes accepted for our cast. Though we didn’t win as much as we might have liked, it was an honor to be nominated. The night is designed to have fun, get dressed up and appreciate all of the hard work that goes into shows in the Huntington area.”
For senior Anna Wertheim, this year’s Hunting-Tony Awards marked the last such ceremony she will attend. “It was a fabulous night,” she said. “Everyone was dressed to the nines. I always enjoy seeing what other drama clubs in Huntington have been working on this year.”
