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In Tony’s-style ceremony at the Aronoff Center, students will recognize achievements in performance, technical theatre, and review writing

MAY 1, 2023, Cincinnati, OH – The ballots have been cast and the votes are in! On May 7 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, local high school students will be recognized in a Tony’s-style awards ceremony for their accomplishments in theatrical performance, technical theatre, and writing.

The annual Cappies Gala, organized by the Cappies of Greater Cincinnati, celebrates the hard work of high school theatre departments across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. This year, more than 100 student critics from 15 local high schools were involved in the local chapter of the international Critics and Awards Program.

To complete the program, students must attend at least five theatrical performances at other high schools and write constructive reviews. At the performance, the students participate in a teacher-led workshop where they learn the history and background of the show, participate in structured discussion about their observations, and determine which students should be considered for nomination for various awards categories.

Tickets for the gala are on sale at the Cincinnati Arts Association box office. For more information, call the Cincinnati Arts Association ticket office at 513-621-2787 [ARTS] or visit them on the web at CincinnatiArts.org. More information, as well as sponsorship and program advertising details, can be found at cincicap.com/gala.

And the nominees are:

Marketing & Publicity:

Isaiah Goebel, Makenna Halm, Christian Romero, Kimora Tolbert
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Paige Barber, Georgia Horton, Mollie Spears, Shreya Vaghela
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Emma Chapman, Catherine Foster, Katie Frazee, Ali Lewis
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Cecilia Rice, Agatha Horstman, Kameron Kerl
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Abby Brettschneider, Niki Lippert
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Andrew Canter, Adelaide Linser, Caroline Lovelace
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth 

Special Effects/Technology:

Jack Geers, Caden Broenner, Jacob Burdett
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Maceo Moll Hooper, Finley Manktelow
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Andrew Rhoades
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth 

Hair & Make-up

Rachel Fessler, Peyton Pope, James Wilson, crew
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Ella Clemons, Grace Hepburn, Hailey Mollman
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Abby Campbell, Rachel Heinz, Elaina Ward, Crew
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Tobie Brooks, Angelica Needham-Castano
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Lizzy Rebber, Sci Redding, Crew
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Sarah Boeh, Leah Marx
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family

​Sound:

Naila Browder, Grace Field, Alora Wethington
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Karli Smith, Shelby Farler, Jaelin Parker, Dana Rullmann
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Andrew Brokesh, Roscoe Putnam
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Miles DiMeo, Gyasi Henderson, Shania Brewer, Iris Combs
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Katie Berich, Maya Busche, Abi Lonergan, Heather Strom
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Samuel Aronoff, Ellis Clay, Gabby Soto
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition 

Props:

Emily Bunch, Ellie Flinchum, Taylor Gillespie, Payton Potts
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Gracin Conly, Cadence Lynn, Arach McNamara, Lillian Smith,
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Rowan Cavanaugh, Addie Littner, Hannah Nieporte, Crew
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Claire Erion, Kallie Toon
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

AJ Frecker, Oran Wilkins, Crew
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Abbie Dreyer, Elizabeth Stitak, Kavya Chintakayala, Crew
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition

Lighting:

Catherine Deaton, Balma Yarza Ferrer
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Lily Farmer, Raegan Popp, Nicolas Smith, and crew
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Robert Chalk, Penelope Kolb, Gabe McDermott, and crew
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Nicholas Peebles, Eleanor Klein, Izzy Bisogni
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Anthony Mechley, Anna Kenny, Jack Hudgens, Mina Mader
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Jake Elsen, Alex Feltner, Dakota Gibbs, Clayton Picchioni
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia 

Costumes:

Gracie Bridewell, Kaitlyn Bunch, Makayla Bush, Crew
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Linnell Anderson, Sydney Beach, Megan Reichert, Crew
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Isabella Cassaro, Adelaide Lindner, Sabrina Warren, Crew
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Raelynn Chesher, crew
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Elise Cochrane
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Ashley Reckelhoff
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family 

Sets:

Jami Hiller, Adelaide Sheets, Caitlynn Smith, Crew
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Catherine Coleman, Samantha Cooper, Olivia Sunderman, Crew
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

EJ Burke, Niki Essen, Grace Schreyer, Crew
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Kiyanna Beamon, Lotte Holland, Eaen Gongora, McGregor Philps
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Mariah Clark, Angel Hockemeyer, Callum Metz, Crew
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Sarah Bartlett, Crew
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition 

Orchestra:

The Little Women Orchestra
Randall K. Cooper High School, Little Women The Musical

RB3
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

SCPA Orchestra
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Choreography:

Lilliana Adams, Elayna Bender, Logan Duerk, Delana Hinman
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Anna Grace Hull, Caroline McKernan, Josie Lickliter, Grace Rudie
Ursuline Academy, Seussical: The Musical

Lael Ingram
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Maddie Hall
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family

Creativity:

Arabella Bertucci, Olivia Huff, Bailey Klei
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Chloe Caudill, Cooper Gamble, Logan Holbrook, Caleb Lindsey
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Charleigh Cox
Larry A Ryle High School, Eurydice

Ryan Peerless
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth 

Stage Management & Stage Crew

Karly Fleckenstein, Tylar Frankowski, Karis Pugh, Crew
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Adriana Mayfield, Adrianna Spaulding
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Bradley Groneck, Stella Halbauer, Jack Langlinais, crew
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Jessica Berwanger, Sydney Neyer, Ava Sand, Crew
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Trinity Gibson
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Abbie Kershner, Nyla Shahanavaz, Crew
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Ensemble in a Play:

Victorian Townspeople/Newgate Patients
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

The Six Suspects
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

The Rocks
Larry A Ryle High School, Eurydice

The Witches
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

The Six Suspects
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition 

Ensemble in a Musical:

The Lunatics
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

The Bird Girls
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

The Bohemians
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Tornado, Monkey, Poppy Dancers
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Summer Night Singers
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Wickershams
Ursuline Academy, Seussical

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Play:

Brooklynn Overgaard-McCool
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Kailie Gould
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Sophie Christian
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Molly Cronin
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Play:

Natalie Hicks
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Joey Smith
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Zach Petrie
Larry A Ryle High School, Eurydice

Hadrian Dwyer
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Miguel Castro
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition

Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical:

Phia Veshapidze
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Grace Koenig
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Rachael Baute
Randall K. Cooper High School, Little Women The Musical

Grace Hoffmann
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Abigail Rauen
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Maggie Farwig
Ursuline Academy, Seussical: The Musical 

Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical:

Noah Varland
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Paul Laufersweiler
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Daevon March
Randall K. Cooper High School, Little Women The Musical

Trevor Hatfield
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Deaundre Dunham
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Ethan Roush
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family

Dancer in a Female Role:

Arabella Bertucci
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Tricia Halili-Felse
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Olivia Radecki
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Trista Mullenix
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Maya Max
Ursuline Academy, Seussical

Maddie Hall
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family 

Dancer in a Male Role:

Elaina Ward
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Tristen Ingram
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Logan Duerk
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Jane Asche
Ursuline Academy, Seussical

Vocalist in a Female Role:

Ella Mueller
Randall K. Cooper High School, Little Women The Musical

Nia Buchannon
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Maya Chavez
Saint Ursula Academy, Little Women the Musical

Addy Probasco
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Elizabeth Benton
Ursuline Academy, Seussical

Chloe Schwettman
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family

Vocalist in a Male Role:

Jameson Zoller
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Moose Hendricks
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz 

Ray Huffman
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Preston Marx
Saint Ursula Academy, Little Women the Musical

Stephen Lambert
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Blake Wanek
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia 

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play:

Chanel Sanchez
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Maria Zacher
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Play:

Jonas Aboagye
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Michael Kongos
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Bradley McAlister
Larry A Ryle High School, Eurydice

Clark Sayre
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Connor Lape
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition 

Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical:

Grace Shuley
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Abby Sewell
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Colleen Woeste
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Mia Richardson
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Anna Bucher
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Josie Lickliter
Ursuline Academy, Seussical

Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical

George Jewell
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Olivia Duker
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Conner Beierle
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Gemariah Washington
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Noah Tisevich
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Gino Fiorino
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family 

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Play:

Aubrie Klei
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Janet Kelly
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Avery Frank
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Syeirra Todaro
William Mason High School, Clue High School Edition 

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Play:

Mack Hodge
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Ethan Stoelt
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Joseph Eversole
Larry A Ryle High School, Eurydice

Nate Caudill
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Webb Beatty
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition 

Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical

Jonah Listerman
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Sophia Herbon
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Lydia Wright
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Zoe Nienaber
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Anna Grace Hull
Ursuline Academy, Seussical: The Musical

Alexi Moore
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family 

Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical

Ethan Shepherd
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Madalyn Emery
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Casey Lanser
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

Demarco Reed
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Aric Schauer
Ursuline Academy, Seussical

Matthew Rudolph
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Play:

Sarai Aboagye
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

Charlotte McVay
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Keyana Payne
Larry A Ryle High School, Eurydice

Emma Dalton
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Abby Burns
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play:

Chas Harmon
Campbell County High School, Sweeney Todd, The Play

James Covarrubias
Colerain High School, Clue, High School Edition

Andrew Pugh
Larry A Ryle High School, Eurydice

Wolf Singer
Walnut Hills High School, Macbeth

Gretchen Knuth
William Mason High School, Clue, High School Edition 

Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical:

Sophie Eilert
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Ali Lewis
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Ellie Oakes
Randall K. Cooper High School, Little Women The Musical

Momo Greenwell
Saint Ursula Academy, Little Women the Musical

Chloe Hall
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Elayna Bender
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia 

Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical

Evan Stuart
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

Sam Broelmann
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

Dora Gehrum
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

Colton Henderson
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

Henry Aug
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia

Christian Mauldin
William Henry Harrison High School, The Addams Family 

Song:

“The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (opening)”
Highlands High School, Sweeney Todd, The Musical

“Jitterbug”
Loveland High School, The Wizard of Oz

“Finale Act 2: Oh The Thinks You Can Think!”
Mercy McAuley High School, Seussical

“We Will Rock You”
Roger Bacon High School, We Will Rock You, School Edition

“A Brand New Day”
School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Wiz

“Money Money Money”
Taylor High School, Mamma Mia 

Play:

Sweeney Todd
Campbell County High School

Clue, High School Edition
Colerain High School

Eurydice
Larry A Ryle High School

Macbeth
Walnut Hills High School

Clue, High School Edition
William Mason High School

Musical

Sweeney Todd
Highlands High School

Seussical
Mercy McAuley High School

We Will Rock You (School Edition)
Roger Bacon High School

The Wiz
School for Creative and Performing Arts

Mamma Mia
Taylor High School

The Addams Family
William Henry Harrison High School

Top Critique:

Charlotte Weghorst, Review of Little Women
Highlands High School

Grace Hoffmann, Review of Macbeth
Roger Bacon High School

Emily Merica, Review of Clue
Ursuline Academy

Katie Berich, Review of Eurydice
Walnut Hills High School

Lizzy Rebber, Review of We Will Rock You
Walnut Hills High School

Ashlyn Fuhrmann, Review of Sweeney Todd
William Henry Harrison High School

Up and Coming Critic

Alexandra Hess
Campbell County High School

Norah Shadwell
Highlands High School

Charlotte Weghorst
Highlands High School

Catherine Foster
Mercy McAuley High School

Kendall Davis
William Mason High School

Ashlyn Fuhrmann
William Henry Harrison High School

Returning Critic:

Gabby Fronk
Loveland High School

Helena Hennessy
Mercy McAuley High School

Emily Merica
Ursuline Academy

Katie Berich
Walnut Hills High School

Lizzy Rebber
Walnut Hills High School

Wolf Singer
Walnut Hills High School

Graduating Critic:

Katie Buschle
Highlands High School

Jessica Roell
Mercy McAuley High School

Grace Hoffmann
Roger Bacon High School

Ella Jones
Ursuline Academy

Grace Rudie
Ursuline Academy

Loretta Rubin
Walnut Hills High School

Critic Team:

Highlands High School Critic Team

Loveland High School Critic Team

Mercy McAuley High School Critic Team

Roger Bacon High School Critic Team

Ursuline Academy Critic Team

Walnut Hills High School Critic Team

About The Cappies of Greater Cincinnati
The Critics and Awards Program strives to recognize Greater Cincinnati’s talented community of young writers, performers, and technical crews. High school theatre and journalism students who participate in the Cappies program are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, and write and publish reviews. At the end of the school year, the student critics vote to give awards to their fellow students for outstanding productions, group and individual performances, and achievements in technical categories. Awards are presented at the annual Cappies Gala. Learn more at cincicap.com.