Phoenixville Students Up for Theater Awards

Phoenixville Area High School students will be walking the red carpet and keeping their fingers crossed Sunday night at the eighth annual Philadelphia Region Cappies.

The Cappies are like the Tony Awards for high school theater and high school theater critics.  Students from 37 public and private high schools are participating in this year's awards show which will be presented at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center at Upper Darby High School.

Not only are actors, musicians, set, sound and costume designers honored the Cappies honor student theater critics. Since October 236 critics have written 1,240 reviews that have been evaluated by teachers. The best reviews have been published in more than a dozen local newspapers and online.

And the nominees from Phoenixville are:

Underclass Female Critic Nominees

• Amber Mangabat   Phoenixville Area High School

Featured Actor in a Play

• Dante Collazo, Phoenixville Area High School, Romeo and Juliet

Comic Actress in a Play

• Ashley Spina, Phoenixville Area High School, Romeo and Juliet

Supporting Actor in a Play

• Joseph Casiano, Phoenixville Area High School, Romeo and Juliet

The Cappies started in Washington, D.C. 14 years ago and is now active in 18 cities across the U.S. and Canada. The Greater Philadelphia region is the second largest, with 37 participating schools this year.

According to a press release from the Cappies organization

The Greater Philadelphia Cappies Gala will begin with a musical number performed by representatives from each of the schools in the program. Throughout the evening, 15 schools nominated for Song, Play, and Musical will perform selections from their shows.

More than 250 nominated students will receive medallions, and 42 trophies will be presented to the Cappie winners. Superintendents, principals and board members from participating schools, as well as theater professionals and members of the press, will serve as special guest presenters.