Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards encourages and rewards exceptional accomplishments in the production of New Jersey high school musicals. Over 90 schools across the state participated this year, including public, private, and performing arts magnet schools—all of which are in the same nominations pool.

We earned the following nominations:

• Outstanding Leading Performer in a Female-Identified Role: Katie Walsh as “Ella”
• Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role: Erica Watts as “Charlotte”
• Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
• Outstanding Costuming Achievement: Sabrina Windt & Matt DiDonato
• Outstanding Hair & Makeup Achievement: Dawn Scheidt
• Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction: Tyler Mills
• Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director: Matt DiDonato

We also earned honorable mentions for Overall Production, Choreography, Scenic Design, and Lighting Design.

At the awards ceremony on June 6, 2022, our very own Cinderella, Katie Walsh, performed with the other nominees for Outstanding Leading Performer. Well done, Katie!