By Callaghan Barrett
RED BANK – On April 30, Count Basie Center for the Arts announced the nominees for its 19th annual Basie Awards.
This year, the Basie Awards recognized nominees from all over the Two River area in dramas, comedies and musicals ranging from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” to “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.”
Similar to the Tony Awards, but much closer to home, the program recognizes “achievement and growth in Monmouth County’s theatre programs… in everything from acting and directing to set and costume design, choreography, lighting, and orchestra” and culminates in a highly anticipated award show each season.
Tickets are on sale now for the May 22 event which will feature the casts of the nominated musicals performing on the Basie stage, along with ensemble performances by area seniors.
Below are highlights of Two River-area nominees. For the complete list, visit thebasie.org/the-basie-awards.
Dramas and Comedies
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – COMEDY
Gemma Formisano, Rumson-Fair Haven, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood”
Alexandra Risi, Colts Neck, “Lend Me a Tenor”
Kate Schweikert, Trinity Hall, “The Learned Ladies”
Parsvi Shah, Ranney School, “She Kills Monsters”
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – COMEDY
Frankie Dige, Colts Neck, “Lend Me a Tenor”
Christina Stone, Rumson-Fair Haven, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood”
Michael Uzzi, Ranney School, “She Kills Monsters”
Lucas Wilson, Trinity Hall, “The Learned Ladies”
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE IDENTIFIED
ROLE – DRAMA
Nicole Diblasi, Holmel, “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”
Caroline Liedel, Holmdel, “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”
Michaela Mungiello, St. John Vianney, “12 Angry Jurors”
Annika Raj, Holmdel, “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – DRAMA
Rocco Impreveduto, Holmdel, “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”
Louis Ramirez, Middletown North, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
Bryan Reimertz, Middletown North, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
Simon Roche, SJV, “12 Angry Jurors”
Liam Smith, Red Bank Regional, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – COMEDY
Hailey Blum, Rumson-Fair Haven, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood”
Lorraine Lombardo, Rumson-Fair Haven, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood”
Maebh McCarthy, Trinity Hall, “The Learned Ladies”
Sarah Moser, RBC, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Joy Ogunsakin, Trinity Hall, “The Learned Ladies”
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – COMEDY
Justin Atnes, Ranney School, “She Kills Monsters”
Michael Makar, Red Bank Catholic, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Connor Colson, Rumson-Fair Haven, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood”
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – DRAMA
Georgia Attardi, CBA, “And Then There Were None”
Jacqueline Farkas, SJV, “12 Angry Jurors”
Jessica Heitmann, Middletown North, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
Gabriella Postigo, Holmdel, “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – DRAMA
Cole Bartolotti, Middletown North, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
James Nardiello, CBA, “And Then There Were None”
Andrew Poggi, SJV, “12 Angry Jurors”
Emmett Smithouser, SJV, “12 Angry Jurors”
OUTSTANDING COMPANY IN A COMEDY
Middletown South, “The Revenge of the Space Pandas”
RFH, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood”
Trinity Hall, “The Learned Ladies”
OUTSTANDING COMPANY IN A DRAMA
Holmdel, “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”
Middletown North, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
RBR, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
SJV, “12 Angry Jurors”
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Ranney School, “She Kills Monsters”
Rumson-Fair Haven, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood”
Trinity Hall, “The Learned Ladies”
Musicals
OUTSTANDING CHORUS IN A MUSICAL
Middletown North, “Young Frankenstein”
Middletown South, “The Wedding Singer”
Red Bank Catholic, “The Addams Family”
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – MUSICAL
Katie Bauer, Holmdel, “Little Women”
Elle Brandt, Ranney School, “Mean Girls”
Jessica Heitmann, Middletown North, “Young Frankenstein”
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – MUSICAL
James Nardiello, Christian Brothers Academy, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Bryan Reimertz, Middletown North, “Young Frankenstein”
Joseph Sciortino, Ranney School, “Mean Girls”
JP Shimkus, Christian Brothers Academy, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Lucas Wilson, Red Bank Regional, “Mamma Mia!”
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – MUSICAL
Hailey Blum, Rumson-Fair Haven, “Anything Goes”
Isabella Chargares, Ranney School, “Mean Girls”
Gabriella Lobosco, RBC, “The Addams Family”
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE
IDENTIFIED ROLE – MUSICAL
Christian Stone, RFH, “Anything Goes”
RJ Vandenbrouck, RBC, “The Addams Family”
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Middletown South, “The Wedding Singer”
Red Bank Catholic, “The Addams Family”
Rumson-Fair Haven, “Anything Goes”
Callaghan Barrett is a senior at Red Bank Catholic and a Two River Times intern. She was nominated for a Basie in the Outstanding Featured Performance in a Female Identified Role – Comedy Category for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
The article originally appeared in the May 9 – 15, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
