The 18th annual Geneva College Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards were held on the evening of May 16, 2012. This year marks the second time that the competition selected a male and female winner to represent the region at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City. Auditions were open for all students nominated in the categories of Outstanding Male in a Leading Role and Outstanding Female in a Leading Role. The two high school students who earned the trip to the national competition are Ryan Vander Wagen of Hopewell High School and Erica Durham from Central Valley High School.

The winners of the coveted “Henries” were announced at the Geneva College Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards in front of a packed audience of student performers along with their friends and family. Geneva College presents the awards to honor excellence in high school musical theater in Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties. The event is also supported by the McCarl Family Foundation.

The winners, in random order as announced, are:

Outstanding Male in a Leading Role

Ryan Vander Wagen, as Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain, Hopewell High School

Kevin Lukes, as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Riverside High School

Zach Malinak, as Harold Hill in The Music Man, Freedom Area High School

Outstanding Female in a Leading Role

McKenna Pontoli, as Cat in the Hat in Seussical, Beaver County Christian School

Erica Durham, as Aïda in Aïda, Central Valley High School

Olivia Baker, as the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Beaver Area High School

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role

Andy Ludwig, as Rooster in Annie, New Brighton Area High School

Adam Depew, as Horton in Seussical, Western Beaver High School

Justin Jackovic, as Cosmo Brown in Singin’ in the Rain, Hopewell High School

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role

Keyonia McClendon, as Fairy Godmother in Cinderella Aliquippa High School

Jenna Jurich, as Miss Hannigan in Annie, New Brighton Area High School

Bronté Nichole Lucci, as Amneris in Aïda, Central Valley High School

Noteworthy Performance by an Individual

Amanda Tyson, as Mayzie LaBird in Seussical, Beaver County Christian School

Brian Kane, as Mereb in Aïda, Central Valley High School

Kaye Burnet, as Asaka in Once on this Island, Quigley Catholic High School           

Jordan Mastrangelo, as Nehebka in Aïda, Central Valley High School       

Louis Becze, as King Septimus in Once Upon a Mattress, Big Beaver Falls Area School District

Tassy Fils-Aime, as Papa Ge in Once on this Island, Quigley Catholic High School

Patrick Tyson, as JoJo in Seussical, Beaver County Christian School

Noteworthy Performance by a Group

Kaye Burnet, Marissa Peltz, Ben Allman, and Tassy Fils-Aime, as Storyteller Gods in Once on this Island, Quigley Catholic High School

Terrell Smith and Jaclyn Watkins, as the Royal Family in Cinderella, Aliquippa High School

Jordan Kester, Nathan Fleming, Nathan James, and Joey Brunner, as the Barbershop Quartet in The Music Man Freedom Area High School

Scott Layton and Katie Heidengren as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor in Seussical, Beaver County Christian School

Outstanding Dance Performance

Hopewell High School, for Singin’ in the Rain

Central Valley High School, for Aïda

Freedom Area High School, for The Music Man

Outstanding Costumes

Western Beaver High School, for Seussical

Beaver County Christian School, for Seussical

Freedom Area High School, for The Music Man

Outstanding Technical Achievement

Western Beaver High School, for Seussical

Freedom Area High School, for The Music Man

Beaver County Christian School, for Seussical

Outstanding Sets & Scenery

Freedom Area High School, for The Music Man

Beaver County Christian School, for Seussical

Western Beaver High School, for Seussical

Outstanding Student Orchestra

Beaver Area High School, for Into the Woods

Big Beaver Falls Area School District, for Once Upon a Mattress

Freedom Area High School, for The Music Man

Outstanding Vocal Ensemble

Freedom Area High School, for The Music Man

Beaver County Christian School, for Seussical

Central Valley High School, for Aïda

Outstanding Over-all Production

Beaver County Christian School, for Seussical

Central Valley High School, for Aida

Freedom Area High School, for The Music Man

Western Beaver High School, for Seussical

Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College’s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).