Star-Studded Night At 2017 Hunting-Tonys

Long Islander News photos/David Weber
Huntington councilmembers Susan Berland, left, and Mark Cuthbertson, right, pose on the red carpet with nominees Kyle Dana, Ashley Gomerman, and Noah Marcus, from Half Hollow Hills High School West.

Marco Chiraboga, left, and Samantha Ruotolo, right, stars from the Walk Whitman High School’s production of “The Curious Savage,” pose on the red carpet.

Marley Jacobsen, left-center, and Sean Morris-Cammock, right-center, reveal what they loved about performing in Half Hollow Hills High School East’s production of “The Addams Family.” Morris-Cammock said, “The thing I like the most about acting is getting an opportunity to become someone else.”

Lexie Spelman, left, and Felipe Gonzales, both of Elwood-John Glenn High School, perform “Mooning,” the comical duet from “Grease.”

Half Hollow Hills High School West’s Noah Marcus belts out the final note in “Stranger” from musical “Big Fish.”

“Biloxi Blues,” written by Neil Simon and reimagined by the students of Half Hollow Hills High School West, won the award for “Best Ensemble in a Musical.”

Harborfields High School’s Finn MacDevitt, above, and Cold Spring Harbor’s Zach Campbell, not pictured, were named co-winners of the “Best Lead Actor in a Play” award.

Samantha Ruotolo, of Walt Whitman High School, accepts the award for “Best Lead Actress in a Play” for her role in “The Curious Savage.”

Cast members of Harborfields High School's “Guys and Dolls” celebrates their win for “Best Musical” at this year’s Hunting-Tony awards show.

The cast of “Biloxi Blues” won the award for “Best Play on Monday” at this year’s Hunting-Tony Awards.

“Oh wow, this is really awkward,” says Nikki Balducci, recipient of the award for “Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.” She played the role of “Miss Adelaide” in Harborfields High School’s “Guys and Dolls.”

Terrence Sheldon, of Elwood-John Glenn High School, was awarded “Best Supporting Actor in a Musical” for his role as “Doody” in “Grease.”

Theodora Siegel, of Cold Spring Harbor High School, was awarded “Best Lead Actress in a Musical” for her performance as “Mary Poppins.”

The award for “Best Stage Crew in a Musical” went to Cold Spring Harbor High School’s “Mary Poppins.”

By David Weber
info@longislandergroup.com

The Town of Huntington hosted Monday its seventh-annual Hunting-Tony Awards, a night honoring the stars of this school year’s high school theatrical productions.

The ceremony was held John W. Engeman Theater in Northport and hosted by town councilmembers Susan Berland and Mark Cuthbertson, both heavy supporters of the performing arts.

“It is my hope that this ceremony helps to celebrate and recognize the dedication, talent, and hard work exhibited by all involved students,” Cuthbertson said. “There is an immense effort put into each and every show.”

Berland said she was honored to recognize the hard work the students put into their craft.

“The talented performances in this year’s productions were a testament to their dedication and commitment,” she added.

After meeting the hosts on the red carpet for an interview, nominees, many dressed in tuxedos and gowns, stopped by the theater lobby archway as ecstatic parents and friends snapped photos.

A total of 128 nominations were handed out in 25 award categories, each highlighting the best acting performances, stage crews, orchestras, and costumes from students of the nine public high schools across town.

A medley from Walk Whitman’s production of “Aida” was sung by Ifedayo Balogun, Sam Hoffman, and Lauren Giglio. Balogun later won “Best Female Vocalist” amid roaring cheers from the audience.

Matt Fisher, of Commack, and Maddie Shea, of Huntington, took home the awards for “Best Supporting Actor in a Play” and “Best Supporting Actress in a Play” respectively, while John H. Glenn’s Terrence Sheldon and Harborfields’ Nikki Balducci snagged the awards for “Best Supporting Actor in a Musical” and “Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.”

Half Hollow Hills High School West’s “Biloxi Blues” earned three awards, “Best Scenery in a Play,” “Best Stage Crew in a Play,” and “Best Play.”

Noah Marcus then gave a strong performance of “Stranger,” a song from Hills West’s production of “Big Fish,” which landed him a nomination for “Best Male Vocalist.” That category was ultimately won by Commack’s Adam Brett.

Half Hollow Hills High School East’s production of “The Addams Family” was awarded for “Best Orchestra Pit,” and led to Ashley Gomerman’s “Best Featured Actress in a Musical” win for her role as “Alice Beineke.”

Commack’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Northport’s “Seussical” were awarded “Best Costumes in a Play” and “Best Costumes in a Musical” respectively.

“Best Dance Performance,” meanwhile, went to Walt Whitman’s “Aida.”

Lexie Spelman and Felipe Gonzales, who played the roles of Jan and Roger from John H. Glenn’s production of “Grease” sang a powerful version of the comedic hit, “Mooning.”

The night concluded with a performance of “The Rain in Spain” from Commack’s “My Fair Lady,” which took home awards for “Best Ensemble in a Musical” and “Best Technical Production in a Musical.”

The award for “Best Musical” was won by Harborfields’ “Guys and Dolls.”

Editor's note: A caption in the print version of
this story mistakenly identified the cast of
Harborfields High School's “Guys and Dolls.” 
A corrected version of the caption appears in the gallery above.