EASTON, Pa. — It was a night for Nazareth at the 2025 Freddy Awards.
Nazareth Area High School's production of "Suessical" won five Freddys, including Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, at the ceremony, which honors Lehigh Valley high school theater students.
The musical celebration was held Thursday night at the State Theatre in Easton.
Nearly 30 schools from Lehigh and Northampton counties and Warren County, New Jersey, participated in this year's program, now in its 23rd year.
The live ceremony, filled with cheers, applause, and student-led camaraderie, was broadcast on WFMZ-TV.
Among Nazareth's accolades: Outstanding Use of Costumes, Outstanding Technical Contribution by a Student and Outstanding Stage Crew.
Costume designer and Nazareth student Lauren Summers collected the Outstanding Use of Costumes and Outstanding Technical Contribution by a Student awards.
Summers thanked the cast and crew, with a special shout-out to the Starbucks baristas, for supplying her with the caffeine needed to design the elaborate outfits worn by the 60-plus ensemble (with a special mention to the red and white stovepipe hat worn by the Cat and the Hat).
"Suessical" debuted on Broadway in 2000 and is based on books by Dr. Seuss.
Nazareth Area's rendition led the Freddy nominations with 18.
Tears of joy
Audrey Wood, from Northampton Area High School, won the Freddy for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for playing Matilda in “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical."
Wood joked onstage that she left her speech on her theater seat and got an endearing response from the audience as she choked on her tears during her acceptance speech.
" I'm so incredibly proud of every one of you," she said. "I share this with you, and of course, to my biggest supporters, my mom and dad, who always encourage me to do my best, and anything is possible when I set my mind to it."
Castmate Hailey Laury, who won the Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer award (as Mrs. Wormwood), also thanked those closest to her, with particularly sweet words aimed toward a certain cast member.
" To Crosby, Bradley and Paxton, whom I promised in eighth grade I would mention if I ever got the honor to stand on the stage, thank you for never missing a show.
"And last, but certainly not least, to my fellow castmates and crew, you are all amazing at what you do. I would like to especially thank my Rodolfo Aiden....you inspire me."
An 'unforgettable role'
In second place, Freedom, Northampton Area and Warren Hills Regional high schools tied with three Freddy wins each.
Freedom High School's Cole Faccinetto took home the Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Cookie McGee in "Nice Work If You Can Get It."
Facccinetto said it was his middle school chums who encouraged his acting chops.
" Thank you everyone who pushed me [during] my eighth grade year to audition the night before auditions," he said. "I would not be here without you guys."
Keirsten Rubery, also from Freedom, won for the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal as the cantankerous and comedic Duchess Estontia Dulworth.
In her acceptance speech, she touched on Dulworth’s complexity.
"This is such an honor," she said. "Playing Duchess Dystonia has been an unforgettable role, and it has challenged me so much to grow as a person, and through her dramatic shifts.
"To an uptight, fierce prohibitionist to a carefree, I don't even know what to say, over-the-top person who swayed from a chandelier."
List of 2025 Freddy Award winners
Outstanding Technical Design By A Smaller School, Moravian Academy, “The Drowsy Chaperone."
Outstanding Technical Design, Freedom High School, "Nice Work If You Can Get It."
Outstanding Use of Costumes, Nazareth Area, "Suessical."
Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member, Dominic Oviedo, as Rueben, Bethlehem Catholic, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Outstanding Performance by a Female Ensemble Member, Tailisha Montanez Vargas as Lucy, Allen High, “Avenue Q: School Edition."
Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance, Milo Dominguez, Echo Picone in “Something To Believe In,” Warren Hills Regional, “Newsies.
Outstanding Use of Choreography and Musical Staging, Warren Hills Regional, “Newsies."
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Kiersten Rubery as Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Freedom, “Nice Work If You Can Get It."
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Cole Faccinetto as Cookie McGee, Freedom, “Nice Work If You Can Get It."
Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance, Emerson Tyrell in “Ireland,” Southern Lehigh, “Legally Blonde The Musical."
Outstanding Production Number, Bangor Area, “Topsy Turvy (Parts 1 and 2)” — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Outstanding Technical Contribution By A Student, Lauren Summers, for Costume Design, Nazareth Area, “Seussical."
Outstanding Performance By An Orchestra, Nazareth Area, "Seussical."
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor, Nick Janneck as Dom Claude Frollo, Bangor Area, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress, Hailey Achey as Miss Trunchbull, Northampton Area, “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical."
Outstanding Stage Crew, Nazareth Area, "Suessical."
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer, Hailey Laury as Mrs. Wormwood, Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical."
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Audrey Wood as Matilda, Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical."
Outstanding Ensemble, Warren High Regional, "Newsies."
Lehighvalleylive.com Student Achievement Award, Cecilia Ruyak, Stage Manager, Emmaus "Mamma Mia!"
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Dylan Penyak as Quasimodo, Wilson Area, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School, Moravian Academy, "The Drowsy Chaperone."
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Nazareth Area, “Seussical."
