EASTON, Pa. — Six area high schools whose student musical productions ranged from the serious “Les Misérables” to the whimsical “Seussical” are top nominees for the State Theatre's Freddy Awards, it was announced Thursday.
Bangor Area, Easton Area, Emmaus, Nazareth Area, Parkland and Warren Hills Regional in New Jersey all got nominations for Outstanding Overall Production on a Musical.
The Freddy Awards ceremony will be at 7 p.m. May 22 in State Theater.Easton's State Theatre
Seven smaller schools got similar nominations for Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School.
They are Allentown Central Catholic, Bethlehem Catholic, Hackettstown, Moravian Academy, Northern Lehigh, Notre Dame and Wilson Area.
With high school music's biggest night less than two weeks away, the State Theatre announced its nominations Thursday.
The ceremony will be at 7 p.m. May 22 in State Theater.
The Freddys program was created by the theatre in 2003 to recognize excellence in high school musical theater.
Hundreds of talented high school students from Lehigh Valley and Warren County, New Jersey, will compete in the ceremony, which recognizes excellence in high school musical theater.
Top student nominations
Students in five of the six schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Production also were nominated for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
They are Jaleil Ward of Bangor Area, David Simon Fortsch of Easton Area, Evan Stitt of Nazareth Area, Samuel Lundberg of Parkland and Milo Dominguez of Warren Hills.
But students from two smaller schools also were nominated: Dylan Penyak of Wilson Area and Charlie Strzelecki of Allentown Central Catholic.
For the Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress award, just three nominees came from the larger schools productions.
They are Ariday Aviles of Easton Area, Hannah Kern of Emmaus, Ava Semos of Nazareth Area and Maansi Birru of Parkland.
They were joined by Grace Bielski of Hackettstown (New Jersey), Hana Mohamed of Liberty, Hailey Achey of Northampton Area and Kalla Barrett of Wilson Area.
Leading up to the big announcement, here's a roundup of the upcoming 2025 high school musicals by 2024's Freddy Awards winners and nominees.
2025 Freddy Awards nominations
Here's the full list of 2025 Freddy Award nominations:
Outstanding Technical Design By A Smaller School
Allentown Central Catholic — “Shrek The Musical”
Bethlehem Catholic — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Hackettstown — “Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Version”
Moravian Academy — “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Northern Lehigh — “Big Fish: School Edition”
Northwestern Lehigh — “Pippin”
Notre Dame — “Anything Goes (2022 Revised Version)”
Warren County Technical — “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Outstanding Technical Design
Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Easton Area — “Curtains”
Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Freedom — “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical”
Phillipsburg — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Wilson Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Outstanding Use of Costumes
Allentown Central Catholic — “Shrek the Musical”
Dieruff — “Hello, Dolly!”
Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Phillipsburg — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Salisbury — “The Hello Girls”
Whitehall — “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
William Allen — “Avenue Q: School Edition”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member
Arden Henley as Judah, Belvidere — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Dominic Oviedo as Reuben, Bethlehem Catholic — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Porter Severino as Bobby Pepper, Easton Area — “Curtains”
Matthew McCambridge as Pepper, Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Nick Hidalgo-Schnaars as George, Moravian Academy — “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Quincy Johnson as General Schmitz, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Noah Shafer as Grandmaster Chad & Others, Southern Lehigh — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Ensemble Member
Fiona Flatt as Madame, Bangor Area — "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
Kamryn Rex as Bambi Bernet, Easton Area — “Curtains”
Melanie-Rose Wentum as Trix, Moravian Academy — “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Christina Carlin as Mrs. Mayor, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Lila McConnell as Gavroche, Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Alyse Collier as Scuttle, Whitehall — “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Tailisha Montanez Vargas as Lucy, William Allen — “Avenue Q: School Edition”
Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance
Rosalynda Garcia, Ayden Gonzalez, Zoey Lambert, Gustavo Pegan Maldonado, Mayrali Melendez in “Motherhood March,” Dieruff — “Hello, Dolly!”
Anna Chavolla-Ramirez, Kyra Kelly, Lila Schneider in “Dancing Queen,” Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Cole Faccinetto, Kiersten Rubery in “Looking For A Boy,” Freedom — “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Andrew Bays, Ben Graybeal, Declan Messics, Hana Mohamed in “Thank You For The Music,” Liberty — “Mamma Mia!”
Cameron Laskosky, Vasilis Motsenigos, Lilianna Schantz in “A Heart Full of Love,” Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Milo Dominguez, Echo Picone in “Something To Believe In,” Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Jaelynn Caraballo, Emily Wilson in “Sweet Child,” Whitehall — “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Outstanding Use of Choreography and Musical Staging
Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Dieruff — “Hello, Dolly!”
Easton Area — “Curtains”
Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Freedom — “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Notre Dame — “Anything Goes (2022 Revision)”
Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Celia Moutselou as Niki Harris, Easton Area — “Curtains”
Lila Schneider as Tanya, Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Kiersten Rubery as Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Freedom — “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Isabella Scheirer as Vi Moore, Lehigh Valley Academy RCS — “Footloose”
Ava Noll as Gertrude McFuzz, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Lilianna Schantz as Eponine, Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Emerson Tyrell as Paulette Bonafonté, Southern Lehigh — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Ayden Gonzalez as Cornelius Hackl, Dieruff — “Hello, Dolly!”
Cole Faccinetto as Cookie McGee, Freedom — “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Declan Messics as Bill Austin, Liberty — “Mamma Mia!”
Colin Moore as Robert Martin, Moravian Academy — “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Danny Carroll as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, Notre Dame — “Anything Goes (2022 Revision)”
Vasilis Motsenigos as Marius, Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Agidio Poloni as Thenardier, Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Paul luvone as Davey, Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance
Jaleil Ward in “Heaven’s Light,” Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Anessa Rodriguez in “The Winner Takes It All,” Catasauqua — “Mamma Mia!”
Anna Chavolla-Ramirez in “Slipping Through My Fingers,” Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Tori Prostko in “But Not For Me,” Freedom — “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Adriana Danyluk in “I Don’t Need A Roof,” Northern Lehigh — “Big Fish: School Edition”
Maansi Birru in “I Dreamed A Dream,” Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Emerson Tyrell in “Ireland,” Southern Lehigh — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Dylan Penyak in “Out There,” Wilson Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Outstanding Production Number
Bangor Area, “Topsy Turvy (Parts 1 and 2)” — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Easton Area, “In The Same Boat (Complete)” — “Curtains”
Emmaus, “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” — “Mamma Mia!”
Hackettstown, “Feed Me (Git It!)” — “Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Version”
Nazareth Area, “Oh, The Thinks You Can Think” — “Seussical”
Notre Dame, “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” — “Anything Goes (2022 Revision)”
Parkland, “Master Of The House” — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Warren Hills Regional, “The World Will Know” — “Newsies”
Outstanding Technical Contribution By A Student
Sarah Jarrett for Scenic Design, Allentown Central Catholic — “Shrek the Musical”
Alexa Ebeling for Lighting Design, Emmaus — “Mamma Mia”
Lauren Summers for Costume Design, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Vlada Grudinin for Lighting Design, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
CC Williamson-Schneider for Lighting Design, Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”
Quinten Berryman and Madeline Ligas for Lighting Design, Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Braedyn Zappe for Scenic Design, Whitehall — “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Outstanding Performance By An Orchestra
Easton Area — “Curtains”
Hackettstown — “Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Version”
Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical”
Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Phillipsburg — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor
Nick Janneck as Dom Claude Frollo, Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Charles Kenney as Sam Carmichael, Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Percy Fowler Perlaza as Man In Chair, Moravian Academy — “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Damon Dellanno as Horton the Elephant, Nazareth Area — -“Seussical”
CJ Hittinger as Moonface Martin, Notre Dame — “Anything Goes (2022 Revision)”
Ryan Pakzad as Uncle Fester, Saucon Valley - “The Addams Family: School Edition”
Patrick D’Amico as Emmett Forrest, Southern Lehigh — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress
Ariday Aviles as Georgia Hendricks, Easton Area — “Curtains”
Hannah Kern as Sophie Sheridan, Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Grace Bielski as Audrey II, Hackettstown — “Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Version”
Hana Mohamed as Sophie Sheridan, Liberty — “Mamma Mia!”
Ava Semos as Jojo, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Hailey Achey as Miss Trunchbull, Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”
Maansi Birru as Fantine, Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Kalla Barrett as Clopin, Wilson Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Outstanding Stage Crew
In memory of Capt. Christopher Seifert
Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Easton Area — “Curtains”
Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Liberty — “Mamma Mia!”
Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical”
Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Southern Lehigh — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer
Julianne Gallagher as Featured Dancer, Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Kyleigh Whitmire as Vlad Vladikoff, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Hailey Laury as Mrs. Wormwood, Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”
Ella St. Pierre as Reno Sweeney, Notre Dame — “Anything Goes (2022 Revision)”
Kristen Lussier as Ballerina Ancestor, Saucon Valley — “The Addams Family: School Edition”
Abigail Cagnassola as Albert, Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Liam Coyle as Featured Dancer, Wilson Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Rachel Finkbeiner as Esmeralda, Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Cassie Schleich as Carmen Bernstein, Easton Area — “Curtains”
Anna Chavolla-Ramirez as Donna Sheridan, Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Audrey Wood as Matilda, Northampton Area — “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”
Sophia Merker as Elle Woods, Phillipsburg — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Jenna Seasholtz as Elle Woods, Southern Lehigh — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Echo Picone as Katherine Plumber, Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Outstanding Ensemble
Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Easton Area — “Curtains”
Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Moravian Academy — “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Notre Dame — “Anything Goes (2022 Revision)”
Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Student Achievement Award
Alexander VandeVeegaete — Vocal Director/Theatre President, Bethlehem Catholic — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Cecilia Ruyak — Stage Manager, Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Lydia Hornbaker — Student Director/Choreographer, Freedom — “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Mackenzie Pratt — Stage Manager, Lehigh Valley Academy RCS — “Footloose”
Ava Trifiletti —Troupe President/Stage Manager/Stage Crew Leader, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Katelyn McElroy — Choreographer, North Warren Regional — “Shrek the Musical”
Angelena DeMarco - Theatre President, Phillipsburg — “Legally Blonde The Musical”
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Charlie Strzelecki as Shrek, Allentown Central Catholic — “Shrek the Musical”
Jaleil Ward as Quasimodo, Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
David Simon Fortsch as Lt. Frank Cioffi, Easton Area — “Curtains”
Evan Stitt as The Cat In The Hat, Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Samuel Lundberg as Jean Valjean, Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Milo Dominguez as Jack Kelly, Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Dylan Penyak as Quasimodo, Wilson Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School
Allentown Central Catholic — “Shrek the Musical”
Bethlehem Catholic — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Hackettstown — “Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Version”
Moravian Academy — “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Northern Lehigh — “Big Fish: School Edition”
Notre Dame — “Anything Goes (2022 Revision)”
Wilson Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Bangor Area — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Easton Area — “Curtains”
Emmaus — “Mamma Mia!”
Nazareth Area — “Seussical”
Parkland — “Les Misérables: School Edition”
Warren Hills Regional — “Newsies”
Additionally, since its inception in 2003, the FREDDY Awards Program has awarded over $2 million in scholarships, internships, and community awards to FREDDY Awards students. The FREDDY Awards would like to congratulate the following individuals on receiving scholarships from the organizations listed below. All other 2025 scholarship recipients will be announced soon.
Muhlenberg College: Jenna Seasholtz, Southern Lehigh
Civic Theatre Outstanding Director/Choreographer: Katelyn McElroy, North Warren Regional
Northampton Community College: Kayla Gambale, Bangor Area
Full list of participating schools
Northwestern Lehigh High School, "Pippin."
Wilson Area High School, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Moravian Academy "The Drowsy Chaperone."
Easton Area High School, "Curtains."
Belevidere High School, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Southern Lehigh High School, "Legally Blonde the Musical."
Northern Lehigh High School, "Big Fish: School Edition.
Salisbury High School, "The Hello Girls."
Catasauqua High School,' Mamma Mia!"
Warren County Technical School, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling."
Warren Hills Regional High School, "Newsies."
Whitehall High School, "Disney's The Little Mermaid."
Northampton Area High School, "Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical."
Notre Dame High School, "Anything Goes (2022 Revision).
Lehigh Valley Academy RCS, "Footloose."
North Warren Regional High School, "Shrek The Musical."
Emmaus High School, "Mamma Mia!"
Parkland High School, "Les Misérables: School Edition."
Nazareth Area High School, "Seussical."
Phillipsburg High School, "Legally Blonde The Musical."
Allentown Central Catholic High School, "Shrek The Musical."
Bangor Area High School, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Hackettstown High School, "Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Version."
William Allen High School, "Avenue Q: School Edition."
Freedom High School, "Nice Work If You Can Get It."
Saucon Valley High School, "The Addams Family: School Edition."
Liberty High School, "Mamma Mia!"
Dieruff High School, "Hello, Dolly!"
Bethlehem Catholic High School, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
