On May 2 at Riverside High School, the Mentor and Painesville Rotary Clubs held their 48th annual Rotary Drama Awards program.

According to their program, “This annual event was the brainchild of Painesville Rotarian Robert Tischer, who believed that students who participate in school theater productions should receive recognition similar to that bestowed upon students who participated in athletics.

“Students of drama are no less talented, and give much of themselves and their time. The dedication and effort of these students are worthy of a night of recognition. Lake County is truly fortunate to have such talented and creative students and directors, complimented by parents, teachers, administrators and others who support Drama Programs in our schools.”

Amen to that!

Congratulations to all of our area young thespians for their efforts this past remarkable year, wherever they may be. And a special congratulations to the nominees and winners of this year’s Rotary Drama Awards (an asterisk by the winners), in addition to the scholarship winners generously supported in Mr. Tischer’s name.

Robert E. Tischer Scholarship winners

Cordelia Klammer — Mentor High School

Leah Hodkey — Mentor High School

Samantha Lagania — Perry High School

Brianne Martin — Lake Catholic High School

Best Musical

Fairport Harding High School’s “Shrek The Musical,” directed by Caitlyn Thompson

Harvey High School’s “Once on This Island,” directed by Kimberly Hildack

Lake Catholic High School’s “Grease,” directed by R. Scott Posey

*Mentor High School’s “Mamma Mia!,” directed by John Greene

Perry High School’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” directed by Jennifer Hunter

Riverside High School’s “The Addams Family,” directed by Laura Poje

Best Comedy/Drama

Fairport Harding High School’s “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors,” directed by Caitlyn Thompson & Katie Johnston

Harvey High School’s “John Lennon and Me,” directed by Kimberly Hildack

Lake Catholic High School’s “A Christmas Carol,” directed by R. Scott Posey

*Mentor High School’s “Leading Ladies,” directed by John Greene

Perry High School’s “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” directed by Jennifer Hunter

Riverside High School’s “A Fox on the Fairway,” directed by Brad Allen

Male Sub/Support in a Comedy/Drama

Fairport: Hunter Wilson as Josh

Harvey: Eryck McClain as Tom Lowell

*Lake Catholic: Isaiah Tyree as Spirit of Christmas Present

Mentor: Samuel Cantu as Duncan

Perry: Spencer Kilpatrick as John Openshaw

Riverside: Jackson Vargo as Dickie

Female Sub/Support in a Comedy/Drama

Fairport: Juliana Murphy as Maria McConville

*Harvey: Melissa Davis as Sally Kasem

Lake Catholic: Chloe Stossel as Mrs. Dilber

Mentor: Reagan Simon as Florence

Perry: Lily Hamilton as Violet Hunter

Riverside: Chloe Tomaszewski as Muriel

Male Support in a Drama/Comedy

Fairport: Charlie Beardslee as Avery Stern

Harvey: Jacob Boehm as Dr. Scott Rhodes

Lake Catholic: Stephen Parrish as Bob Cratchit

*Mentor: Joshua Schmitt as Jack

Perry: Angelo Zagrocki as James Ryder

Riverside: Colin Haas as Justin

Female Support in a Drama/Comedy

Fairport: Bailey Davis as Amy

Harvey: Lourdes Gonzalez as Courtney Cambridge

Lake Catholic: Kathryn Ridler as Spirit of Christmas Past

Mentor: Emily Burns as Audrey

Perry: Angel Nagy Act 1 as Ms. Watson

Perry: Shaylee Frazier Act 2 as Ms. Watson

*Riverside: Meridan Vosicky as Louise

Male Lead in a Drama/Comedy

Fairport: Maverrick Piotrowski as Roger

Harvey: Ishmael Rodgriquez as Jeff Levine

Lake Catholic: Dominic Orlando as Ebenezer Scrooge

*Mentor: James Goodman as Leo

Perry: Lukas Rosipko as Mr. Sherlock Holmes

Riverside: Kyan Vano as Bingham

Female Lead in a Drama/Comedy

Fairport: Hannah McCauley as Carol Danes

*Harvey: Joy Bohanon as Star

Lake Catholic: Anna Sanford as Mrs. Cratchit

Mentor: Sidney Kramer as Meg

Perry: Ruby Tozzi as Ms. Sherlock Holmes

Riverside: Chloe Banno as Pamela

Scenery/Props/Costumes in a Drama Comedy/Drama

Fairport: “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors”

Harvey: “John Lennon and Me”

Lake Catholic: “A Christmas Carol”

*Mentor: “Leading Ladies”

Perry: “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”

Riverside: “A Fox on the Fairway”

Scenery/Props/Costumes in a Musical

Fairport: “Shrek The Musical”

Harvey: “Once On This Island”

Lake Catholic: “Grease”

Mentor: “Mamma Mia”

*Perry: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”

Riverside: “The Addams Family”

Male Sub Support in a Musical

Fairport: Fiona Johnston as Farquaad

Harvey: Jacob Boehm as Tonton Julian

Lake Catholic: Peter Skalicki as Sonny

*Mentor: Payson Chapman as Harry Bright

Mentor: Khoury Ward as Bill Austin

Perry: Madi Perry as Grandpa George

Riverside: Jenna Skok as Pugsley

Female Sub Support in a Musical

Fairport: Aurora Johnston as the Witch

Harvey: Symone Bibb as Mama Euralie

*Lake Catholic: Brianne Martin as Jan

*Mentor: Leah Hodkey as Tanya

Mentor: Ava Zilke as Rosie

Perry: Angel Nagy as Phineous Trout

Riverside: Hannah Bauer as Alice Beinekes

Male Support in a Musical

*Fairport: James Thellman as Donkey

Harvey: Cavon Wise as Papa Ge

Harvey: Zhavier Nurse as Agwe

Lake Catholic: Michael Skalicki as Kenickie

Mentor: Jackson Hodkey as Sky

Perry: AJ Kifus as Grandpa Joe

Riverside: Colin Haas as Uncle Fester

Female Support in a Musical

Fairport: Hannah McCauley as Mad Hatter

Harvey: Lourdes Gonzalez as Erzulie

Harvey: Morgan Coffee as Asaka

Lake Catholic: Annie Biats as Rizzo

*Mentor: Nicolette Harvey as Sophie Sheridan

Perry: Sophie Bystrom as Grandma Georgina

Riverside: Chloe Tomaszewski as Wednesday

Male Lead in a Musical

Fairport: Savannah Kugler as Shrek

Harvey: Levi Mullen Zurbrugg as Daniel

Lake Catholic: Dominic Orlando as Danny

Mentor: Owen Greene as Sam Carmichael

*Perry: Lukas Rosipko as Willy Wonka

*Riverside: Kyan Vano as Gomez

Female Lead in a Musical

*Fairport: Charlie Holbrooks as Fiona

Harvey: Dez’Marie Germany as TiMoune

Lake Catholic: Makenna Bretz as Sandy

Mentor: Cordelia Klammer as Donna Sheridan

Perry: Emily Ferrara as Charlie Bucket

Riverside: Meridan Vosicky as Morticia

Coming Up

Here are some additional productions you can expect to hear about in coming weeks:

Dazzle Awards recap

“The Who’s Tommy” at Fine Arts Association (June 9-25)

“Anything Goes” at Rabbit Run Theatre (June 16- July 9)

Wildwood Theatre Camp (June 22)

Young Thespians is a column that focuses on youth theater. If you have a story idea or a comment, message stevecouch@windstream.net  or follow and/or post in the “Young Thespians” Facebook group.