Paper Mill Playhouse In Millburn Announces Teen 'Rising Stars'

MILLBURN, NJ — Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn announced on Monday its list of Rising Star Award winners, the top high school plays and participating students in the state.

As it required extra creativity to produce shows amid COVID restrictions, Paper Mill organizers praised the entrants for their resilience in being able to teach and participate in theater this year.

Approximately 100 schools entered this year, according to New Jersey Stage.

Summit High School's theater program was among a select few in the state to receive multiple honors. Other winning high schools included Westfield, Union, and Ridge High School.

Early nominees in the program have included Anne Hathaway, Laura Benanti, Nikki M. James, Rob McClure, Shanice Williams, and Jared Gertner.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater have been given each year starting in 1996.

Clips of the impressive performances that were entered in the competition, as well as the winners, can be viewed in a YouTube video here.

Among the honors were:

• Outstanding Performance by a Large Ensemble: Summit High School “Seize The Day” from "Newsies"
• Inaugural Rising Star Outstanding Educator Awards of $1,000 for their school’s theater programs: Anne Poyner of Summit High School (other winners: John Giresi of Fair Lawn High School and Cindy Dwyer of Mater Dei High School)

• Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship: Khadija Sankoh, Union High School

See the full list of winners and nominees on this list.

Paper Mill noted, "Students receiving final nominations and honorable mentions in the solo performance categories receive a scholarship to Paper Mill Playhouse's competitive Summer Musical Theater Conservatory, a professional training program, which, along with advanced classes in singing, acting and dance, offers the nominees an opportunity to perform in the season finale presentation, 'New Voices of 2021: Stand By Me' which will be filmed this summer and premiere on Paper Mill social media outlets in September."

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