Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

RFH Wins Big with Basie Award Nominations

They got the callback!

The 2024 Basie Award nominations have been announced; and, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) performers, directors and crew got thunderous audition applause with 17 chances at award wins for on-stage and behind-the-scenes work in two shows.

“This year, the Basie Awards shines a light on all that make a production happen both on and off the stage,” said Samantha Giustiniani, vice president of Education and Outreach for Count Basie Center for the Arts. “We are excited to celebrate and uplift our participating schools at this year’s ceremony and once again look forward to one of the biggest nights of the year at the Basie Center.”

The stage is set for the annual celebration of Monmouth County high school theater with a showcasing and award winners announced on Wednesday, May 22, at the historic Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

Now in its 19th year, the Basie Awards program is modeled after the TONY™ Awards and evaluates musical and drama productions in high schools throughout Monmouth County. A rubric is used to assess performance in 25+ categories, recognizing excellence in everything from acting and directing to set and costume design, choreography, lighting, and orchestra.

This year, 22 in the comedy/drama category and 26 in the musical category were evaluated by the Basie Awards nomination committee.

Here’s the list of RFH nominees, by category and show name …

Comedy/Drama — The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood

CAROLE MALIK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

  • Catherine Cleary

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MALE IDENTIFIED ROLE — COMEDY  

  • Ava Bruno
  • Allison Dassler

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE IDENTIFIED ROLE — COMEDY 

  • Gemma Formisano

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE IDENTIFIED ROLE — COMEDY

  • Christian Stone

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE IDENTIFIED ROLE — COMEDY  

  • Hailey Blum
  • Lainie Lombardo

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE IDENTIFIED ROLE — COMEDY 

  • Connor Colson

OUTSTANDING COMPANY IN A COMEDY

  • RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY

  • KASIANN SWEENEY

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

  • RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Musical — Anything Goes

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ENSEMBLE GROUP

  • RENO’S ANGELS

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

  • Donna Battaglia

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE IDENTIFIED ROLE

  • Hailey Blum

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE IDENTIFIED ROLE

  • Christian Stone

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

  • KASIANN SWEENEY

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

  • RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

For the complete list of nominees from all high schools throughout Monmouth County, click here.

Tickets for this year’s Basie Awards presentation are on sale now through theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office or via phone at 732-842-9000.