High School Talent Shines Bright at 22nd Annual Cappies Awards

MSD’s Sydney Lotz and Myla Shapiro, Coral Springs High School’s Sean Jenkins, and J.P. Taravella’s Yasmeen Smith. {South Florida Cappies}

High school theater students from Coral Springs and Parkland recently celebrated a night of achievements at the 22nd Annual Cappies Awards, presented by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and South Florida Cappies.

The event, held on May 21, honors outstanding achievements in high school theater and recognized students from 29 local schools with awards and commendations.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Drama won two: Sydney Lotz for Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical and Myla Shapiro for Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical in Mean Girls.

Coral Springs High School’s Sean Jenkins won Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical for Shrek The Musical.

J.P. Taravella won for Vocalist in a Female Role: Yasmeen Smith for Babes in Arms.

NSU University School emerged as the biggest winner, securing eight awards, including those for criticism.

The school tied with American Heritage in Broward for the most honored musicals, with NSU University School’s production of Amélie Teen Edition and American Heritage’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, each winning six awards.

West Boca Raton High School’s production of Mamma Mia won the award for Best Musical, while Archbishop McCarthy High School’s production of The Curious Savage was the most honored play, earning six awards, including Best Play.

“It is so rewarding to see the depth and breadth of theater education opportunities in high schools across South Florida and the outstanding array of talent both on the stage and behind the scenes,” said Broward Center President and CEO Ty Sutton.

The Cappies celebrates achievements in 48 categories, recognizing performers, orchestras, designers, technicians, publicists, and critics.

Student critics from participating schools attended rival schools’ productions, wrote reviews, and nominated candidates. The students determined the winners through a weighted peer-review voting process.

South Florida Cappies Founder and Chair Lori Sessions was thrilled that its 22nd year saw an increase of eight schools and over 300 reviews submitted, making this the largest season in the Cappies’ history.

“South Florida Cappies fosters respect between schools, encourages careful analysis of productions while continuing to celebrate and improve the quality of high school theatre,” said Sessions. “I’m so thankful as we celebrate high school theatre in South Florida that Cappies is still thriving and contributing to the education of our students.”

2023-2024 CAPPIES WINNERS BY SCHOOL

American Heritage Broward

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Jack Ryan

Dancer in a Male Role: Gabriel Salazar Pacheco

Ensemble in a Musical: Brothers

Lighting in a Musical: Hayley Schachter

Hair and Make-up in a Musical: Damien Ellowitz, Emma Kolb

Props in a Musical: Tara Peart, Daniella Bieber

American Heritage Palm Beach Campus

The Fantasticks

Vocalist in a Male Role: Jack Pawlowski

Creativity: Samuel Artel, Musicianship

Archbishop McCarthy High School

The Curious Savage

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Bella Nanavichit

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Isabella Ruiz

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Caroline Greco

Ensemble in a Play: The Guests

Sound in a Play: Erin Whitaker

AW Dreyfoos School of the Arts

Twelfth Night

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Shaine Rainsburg

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Connor Hullender

Costumes in a Play: Kaitlyn Bradwell, Sarah Owosina, Elizabeth Kronhaus

Lighting in a Play: Ryan Brown and Co.

Stage Management and Crew in a Play: Aniston Jennings, Nikolai Gerrard and Co.

Calvary Christian Academy

Pygmalion

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Emma Bruce

Hair and Make-up in a Play: Alexandra Denison, Avery Rivas & Co.

Cardinal Gibbons High School

Little Shop of Horrors

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sophia Hazleton

Special Effects and or Technology: Micah Boyce, Dalton Riley

Cooper City High School

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Payton Varga

Critic Teams: Giovanna Dellaria, Lead Critic

Sophomore Critic: Kenny Gervais

Freshman Critic: Gavin MacArthur

Coral Springs High School

Shrek The Musical

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Sean Jenkins

Cypress Bay High School

Chicago

Dancer in a Female Role: Julia Poms

Choreography: Gabbi Bongiovi, Miguel Cabrera

Sets in a Musical: Julia Amigorena, Samantha Garcia, Alex Gomez

Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School

Puffs

Props in a Play: Evan Paggi, Juliet Cintro

J.P. Taravella High School

Babes in Arms

Vocalist in a Female Role: Yasmeen Smith

Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS

Mean Girls, HS Edition

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Sydney Lotz

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Myla Shapiro

North Broward Preparatory School

Mean Girls: High School Version

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Olivia Espinoza

NSU University School

Amélie Teen Edition

Orchestra: Two Windmills Band

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Sam Dyer

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Zachary Kopelman

Sound in a Musical: Cora Rodriguez

Stage Management and Crew in a Musical: David Taylor and Crew

Marketing and Publicity: Zachary Kopelman, Emma Rodriguez, Jack Steinman

Senior Critic: Avery Redlich

Junior Critic: Sam Dyer

Piper High School

Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass

Sets in a Play: Angelie Gomez and Co.

South Plantation High School

A Night Under the Stars

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Jaxon Reid

West Boca Raton High School

Mamma Mia

Song: “Voulez-Vous”

Costumes in a Musical: Kelsey Bonner, Maia Stein

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