Drama students from Mater Dei Prep received 16 nominations for the Basie Awards.
Students from the school that is located in Middletown who are involved in the theater productions are known as Seraph Players.
The actors and actresses will attend the 13th Annual Basie Awards at Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on May 23.
“Les Miserables,” one of the school’s productions, received the most nominations out of the qualifying musicals this year. The show was said to have an unforgettable run that included three sell out performances and the largest number of tickets sold in Mater Dei Prep history, according to a press release.
Among the awards nominations were – the Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Drama, Outstanding Direction in a Drama, Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical, Carole Malik Award for Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra, Outstanding Chorus, Outstanding Featured Male Performer, Outstanding Featured Female Performer, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Outstanding Direction in a Musical, and Outstanding Production of a Musical.
“We’ve always had students at Mater Dei with great musical and artistic talent,” said Cindy J. Dwyer, Director of Mater Dei Prep’s performances.
The Basie Awards began in 2005. The annual ceremony aims to honor and recognize high school-level actors in Monmouth County.
In total, 22 dramas and 29 musical performances were evaluated by the Basie Awards nomination committee, according to the press release.
The Basie Awards is the biggest night for high school theater in Monmouth County.
For more information, visit materdeiprep.org.