Winners of the 2024 Henry Mancini Awards, which recognize excellence in high school musical theater in Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties, were announced May 19 at a gala ceremony and showcase at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center.
(Image: Courtesy of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center)
A program of the Midland, PA, hub of performance and arts education since 2014, the Mancini Awards are named for the legendary composer Henry Mancini, a native of West Aliquippa in Beaver County.
Under the sponsorship of Pittsburgh CLO, the best actress and actor – Bella McKivigan of Freeport Area High School (Velma Kelly in Chicago: Teen Edition) and Anderson Franco of Slippery Rock High School (Jack Kelly in Disney’s Newsies) – have the opportunity to represent the Mancin’s at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmys), held at Broadway’s Minskoff Theater, home of Disney’s The Lion King.
Participating schools in 2024 were: Ambridge Area High School, Beaver Area High School, Beaver Falls High School, Central Valley High School, Freedom Area High School, Freeport High School, Hopewell Area High School, Knoch High School, Mars Area High School, Mohawk High School, New Castle High School, North Catholic High School, Riverside High School, Slippery Rock High School, South Side High School, and Western Beaver Jr./Sr. High School.
2024 HENRY MANCINI AWARD WINNERS
BEST MUSICAL
Budget 1: Riverside, The Addams Family
Budget 2: Slippery Rock, Disney’s Newsies
Budget 3: Mars Area, Mary Poppins
BEST ACTOR
Anderson Franco, Slippery Rock (Disney’s Newsies, Jack Kelly)
BEST ACTRESS
Bella McKivigan, Freeport Area (Chicago: Teen Edition, Velma Kelly)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Pietro Pucci, Ambridge Area (The Drowsy Chaperone, Aldopho)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lauren Howard, Knoch (Hello, Dolly!, Irene Malloy)
CHOREOGRAPHY EXECUTION
Budget 1: Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High, Disney’s Newsies
Budget 2: Slippery Rock, Disney’s Newsies
Budget 3: Mars Area, Mary Poppins
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Budget 1: Riverside, The Addams Family
Budget 2: Ambridge Area, The Drowsy Chaperone
Budget 3: Mohawk, Shrek the Musical
BEST STUDENT ORCHESTRA
Budget 3: Mars Area, Mary Poppins
BEST CREW / TECHNICAL EXECUTION
Budget 1: Riverside, The Addams Family
Budget 2: Slippery Rock, Disney’s Newsies
Budget 3: Mars Area, Mary Poppins
BEST ENSEMBLE
Budget 1: Beaver Falls, Elf the Musical
Budget 2: Slippery Rock, Disney’s Newsies
Budget 3: Mars Area, Mary Poppins
BEST EXECUTION OF DIRECTION
Budget 1: Riverside, The Addams Family
Budget 2: Slippery Rock, Disney’s Newsies
Budget 3: Mars Area, Mary Poppins
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Budget 1: Western Beaver Jr./ Sr. High, Disney’s Newsies
Budget 2: Ambridge Area, The Drowsy Chaperone
Budget 3: Mohawk, Shrek the Musical
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
Budget 1: Riverside, The Addams Family
Budget 2: Ambridge Area, The Drowsy Chaperone
Budget 3: New Castle, Anything Goes
Special Judge Award: Mars Area High School
CLO Academy Scholarship Winners: Mars Area High School’s Dominic Speranza and Slippery Rock High School’s John Barkley.
Robert Morris Scholarship Winner: Luke Trimble
Categories: Arts Education, National and Local Awards, Our Posts, Venue
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