Huntington Wins Two
Hunting-Tony Awards
| Huntington wins Hunting-Tony Award for Best Playbill & Marketing of a Musical |
A banner year for the Huntington High School drama club was capped off with two Hunting-Tony Awards. The prizes were presented during a festive evening before a crowd of 400 at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.
Huntington senior Mary-Liz O'Neill won the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Play for her role as the fortune teller in "The Skin of Our Teeth" last fall. Huntington's second award was for the Best Playbill & Marketing in a Musical for "Carousel."
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 "The Skin of Our Teeth" last November and "Carousel" in April.
Star Huntington High School actors, Jonah Kramer and Chelsea Holmes performed a spirited duet of "If I Loved You" from "Carousel" to much fanfare during the awards show.
| Jonah Kramer and Chelsea Holmes perform a duet at the Hunting-Tony Awards |
"Jonah and Chelsea were amazing," said junior Michael Lambui, who was at the Engeman Theater as a representative of Huntington's stage crew. "It was as if we went back in time to the night of the performances, with all the same motions, gestures and enthusiasm in their singing. The other acts were great as well. The whole show was just breathtaking with all the lights, the venue and the set."
Michael Schwendemann, Huntington's drama club advisor, was pleased with this year's club members and productions. How couldn't he be? "The shows were well-acted and the sound, scenery, props and costumes were all first-rate," Superintendent John J. Finello said. Everyone in the district is proud of the drama club for winning two Hunting-Tony Awards."
Huntington parent Matt Harris, whose daughter, senior Anna Harris is a veteran member of the drama club, attended the awards show. "It was a very nice event with a full house," Mr. Harris said. "There was lots of excitement. It's a great school community event for the entire town's high school drama kids."
| Mary-Liz O'Neill wins Hunting-Tony Best Supporting Actress Award |
Huntington's nominees in the drama category included:
- Lead Actor: Jonah Kramer (Mr. Antrobus) – The Skin of Our Teeth
- Lead Actress: Ally Kiley (Sabina) – The Skin of Our Teeth
- Supporting Actress: Mary-Liz O'Neill (Fortune Teller) – The Skin of Our Teeth
- Best Playbill/Marketing: The Skin of Our Teeth
- Best Scenery/Props: The Skin of Our Teeth
Huntington's nominees in the musical category included:
- Lead Actor: Jonah Kramer (Billy Bigelow) – Carousel
- Supporting Actress: Rebecca Deegan (Carrie Pipperidge) – Carousel
- Best Male Vocalist: Jonah Kramer (Billy Bigelow) – Carousel
- Best Female Vocalist: Chelsea Holmes (Julie Jordan) – Carousel
- Best Featured Male Performer: Richard Gray (Enoch Snow) – Carousel
- Best Featured Female Performer: Anna Harris (Nettie Fowler) - Carousel
- Best Musical: Carousel
- Best Playbill & Marketing in a Musical: Carousel
- Best Scenery/Props in a Musical: Carousel
- Best Choreography: Carousel
The event was hosted by Town Board members Susan Berland and Mark Cuthbertson.