Legally Blonde Wins Rising Star Nod for Actress, Production, Chorus, Direction

 

The entire cast of this year's Columbia High School musical has garnered a Paper Mill nomination for Honorable Mention as "Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical." In addition, Austin Bommer as “Elle Woods” was nominated for Honorable Mention as "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role." The Greek Chorus was nominated for "Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Group." Likewise, the entire chorus took the nomination for "Outstanding Performance by a Chorus."  "Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra" was another Honorable Mention nod for CHS.

Director Rob Cohen took an Honorable Mention nomination as "Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director," while "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction," Honorable Mention, saw Jamie Bunce and Peter Bauer nominated.

The awards, modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards, serve the entire state of New Jersey with nearly 100 entered productions from public, private and parochial high schools.

Some of Broadway’s biggest stars began as Rising Stars, including 2011 Tony Award winner, Nikki M. James who grew up in Livingston and won for Book of Mormon.

Presented by the Investors Foundation, the 2013 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards ceremony is set for June 5 at the Millburn theater. Schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Musical and Leading Actor/Actress nominees perform at the event and award recipients are presented with an engraved crystal award from Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards partner, Tiffany & Co.