Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

An Award-Winning Year for RFH’s Tower Players

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players have been recognized as shining stars for the 2016-17 season.

The Bucks County Playhouse, the Papermill Playhouse and the Count Basie Theatre have bestowed 18 nominations and six wins on the troupe for the productions of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Tarzan.

The awards and nominations … 
 
Bucks County Playhouse
 
·       Winner, Best Feature Actress in a Comedy – Shannah Dolan
·       Winner, Best Actress in Musical – Rachel Makstein
·       Winner, Spotlight for Technical Theatre – Joe Esposito, Andrew Phelan, and the Tech Crew
·       Winner, Best Ensemble in a Musical – The Cast of Tarzan
 
Papermill Playhouse 
 
·       Nomination, Outstanding Achievement in Hair and Makeup
 
Count Basie Theatre’s Basie Awards for Tarzan 
 
·       Winner, Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical – Joe Esposito
·       Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical – Jake Rallo
·       Nomination, Outstanding Set Design in a Musical – Matt Leddin
·       Nomination, Outstanding Musical Direction – Amy Fredericks
·       Nomination, Outstanding Choreography – Jen Costa
·       Nomination, Outstanding Adult/Student Orchestra
·       Nomination, Outstanding Chorus
·       Nomination, Outstanding Featured Musical Group – The Gorillas
·       Nomination, Outstanding Featured Musical Group – Island Spirits
·       Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical – Rachel Makstein
·       Nomination, Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Suzanne Sweeney
·       Nomination, Outstanding Musical Production
 
Count Basie Theatre’s Basie Awards for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 
 
·       Nomination, Outstanding Set Design in a Drama – Matt Leddin
·       Nomination, Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama – Joe Esposito
·       Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama – Calvin Bruno
·       Nomination, Outstanding Direction in a Drama – Suzanne Sweeney
·       Nomination, Outstanding Drama Production
 
The RFH Tower Players present two productions each school year, and participate actively in competitions and awards programs. The fall 2017 production slated for Nov. 17, 18 and 19 is the comedy Sherlock Holmes. The spring 2018 musical will be The Secret Garden. 
— Edited press release from RFH