Theatre Program Takes Home Three Halo Awards

The Halo Awards celebrate the best in high school theatre in Connecticut. This year’s nominees were selected from productions by high schools across the state. The awards were presented at a red carpet event at the historic Palace Theatre in Waterbury.

“It was a great night overall, and I am proud of all involved,” said Kent Burnham P’29, Director of Theatre Arts.

Cast members from Gunn’s production of Matilda the Musical reprised their roles to perform “Revolting Children” — an anthem celebrating the children’s triumph over Miss Trunchbull and their freedom — in front of an audience of more than 500 of their peers. “They crushed it,” Burnham said of the cast. “The choreography and their commitment to the piece were a highlight of the night. The audience responded with huge applause.”

Together, the cast and designers of Peter and the Starcatcher and Matilda the Musical were nominated for 13 Halo Awards, including Best Contemporary Play. The nominations included:

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED MALE ROLE IN A MUSICAL:
Amelia Reighard ’29 as Bruce in Matilda

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED FEMALE ROLE IN A MUSICAL:
Portia Ntem-Mensah ’28 as Mrs. Phelps in Matilda

BEST HAIR AND/OR MAKEUP DESIGN AND/OR EXECUTION:
SeBella DuBach-Corrigan ’27 for Matilda

BEST SOUND DESIGN AND/OR EXECUTION:
Katherine Aguirre-Felipe ’26 for Peter and the Starcatcher

BEST SCENIC DESIGN AND/OR EXECUTION:
Katherine Aguirre-Felipe ’26, Sara Wang ’26, Daisy Zhang ’27, Snow Zhang ’27, Dora Ai ’27 Melissa Kang, and Kevin Kang for Matilda

BEST PROPS DESIGN:
Katherine Aguirre-Felipe ’26, SeBella DuBach-Corrigan ’27, Evie Sun ’29, Melissa Kang ’27, and Jenny Wang ’27 for Matilda

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS:
Katherine Aguirre-Felipe ’26 and Mike Li ’29 for Matilda

BEST INCIDENTAL OR ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY: 
Katherine Aguirre-Felipe ’26 for Peter and the Starcatcher

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN AN ENSEMBLE PRODUCTION:
Peter and the Starcatcher

BEST STANDOUT PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE ROLE IN AN ENSEMBLE PRODUCTION:
Michal Schroeder ’26 as Molly Aster in Peter and the Starcatcher

BEST CONTEMPORARY PLAY:
Peter and the Starcatcher

Photos by Kent Burnham (top) and Rebecca Tocci