Westfield Receives Honors From Paper Mill Playhouse

WESTFIELD, NJ — Students in Westfield High School's theater program were among only a few to receive honors in a prestigious program for New Jersey's most theatrically talented thespians.

Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn announced on Monday its list of Rising Star Award winners, the top student productions and participating students in the state.

Among those honored:

• Ben Zakharenko, Sound Designer at Westfield High School, who won a Student Achievement Award.
• Josh Saxon, Scenic Designer and Asstistant Technical Director, was nominated for the award.

Clips of the impressive performances that were entered in the competition, as well as the winners, can be viewed in a YouTube video here. Watch for Westfield High School's performance of "Godspell" at 18:40.

Paper Mill organizers praised the participants for their creativity and resilience in being able to teach and participate in theater amid COVID restrictions.

Approximately 100 schools entered this year, noted New Jersey Stage.

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.

Other honors went to:

• 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 here.

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."

Don't miss breaking news alerts in Westfield when they are announced, or get a free daily newsletter each morning with local news. Sign up with your preferences here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.