Congratulations to the PHS Drama Club for collecting two dozen nominations for their spring musical “Urinetown” and fall play “She Kills Monsters.”

Paper Mill Rising Star Awards

“Urinetown” has been nominated for 5 Paper Mill Rising Star Awards and received two Honorable Mentions.

The 2026 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star award process involved adjudications of 114 musicals around the state over the musical season. This is essentially the Tony Awards of NJ high school theatre and the highest theatre honor in the state.

The awards will take place on June 9 at Paper Mill Playhouse and will be live-streamed.

Nominations

• Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design: Janet Van Allen and Christie Hall
• Outstanding Achievement in Hair and Makeup Design: Julianna Caputo
• Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design: Matt Nickles
• Outstanding Achievement by a Chorus
• Outstanding Educator Award: Michael Yoson

Honorable Mentions

• Outstanding Performance in a Female-Identified Supporting Role: Lilliana Fay as “Penelope Pennywise”
• Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical

The Honorable Mention for Overall Production places PHS as the 7th or 8th best musical in New Jersey.

Central Jersey Marquee Awards

“Urinetown” has been nominated for 11 Central Jersey Marquee Awards and 3 Honorable Mentions. The Marquee Awards celebrate excellence in high school musical theater across Middlesex, Somerset, and Mercer counties – and PHS received the most nominations of any school this year. The awards will take place at the Carteret Performing Arts Center on May 18. The full cast will perform, and sophomore Jarius Gillespie will perform as part of the lead actor medley.

Nominations

• Best Overall Production
• Best Lead Actor - Jarius Gillespie Jr. as Bobby Strong
• Best Supporting Actress - Liliana Fay as Penelope Pennywise
• Best Production Number - Run, Freedom, Run
• Best Chorus
• Best Student Orchestra - Haley Schilla
• Best Lighting - Ankreesha Bajpayi & Angelica Fernandez
• Best Costumes - Janet Van Allen & Christie Hall
• Student Dedication & Excellence Award - Phoebe Hall, Choreographer
• Student Dedication & Excellence Award - Scenic Artist Crew
• Best Direction - Mike Yoson

Honorable Mentions

• Best Music Direction - Jessica Peirce
• Best Scenery - Matt Nickles
• Best Choreography - Angela Ricci

Foxy Awards

“She Kills Monster” earned 8 Foxy Award nominations, which are sponsored by Montclair State University and celebrate the best in high school theatre from around New Jersey.

• Outstanding Achievement in Stage Combat – Erik Hall and Cast
• The Jo Anne Fox Award for High School Theatre Educators – Erik Hall
• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Costume Technician – Yara Salgado-Cowan
• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Makeup Designer – Julianna Caputo
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design – Erik Hall
• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Lighting Technician – Ankreesha Bajpayi
• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Hair & Wig Designer – Julianna Caputo
• Outstanding Achievement in Property Design – Erik Hall