Harbor High scores with two shows

Tom Titus

Going out with a bang -- or at least out of the Robert Wentz

Auditorium, which will be torn down and rebuilt later this year --

Newport Harbor High School’s drama department picked up 27 awards at

this year’s Music and Art Commendation for Youth ceremonies.

“The Music Man” and “Into the Woods” reaped an impressive share of

the MACY hardware at the 33rd annual presentations, capturing the

Masterpiece and Spotlight trophies for exceptional achievement.

Zarah Mahler was voted best supporting actress for the entire MACY

program -- which encompassed 26 schools -- for her performance in

“Into the Woods,” and also won a “bright spot” award for “The Music

Man.” Kate Guesman picked up “highest achievement” honors for her

work in both productions.

Other “highest achievement” winners were Ryan Bean, Brighton

Ellithorpe, Phil Gerard and Sarah Lyons for “Into the Woods” and

Michael McLean for “Music Man.” The ensembles of both shows also

earned this recognition.

Honored for “outstanding achievement” were Jose Ceja, Sky Segal

and Hilary Vallejo for “Into the Woods” and James Barrett for “Music

Man.”

Achievement awards went to Lyons for “The Music Man” and Sharz

Aletaha for “Woods.” Completing the Harbor High clean up were special

recognition honors for Ellithorpe, Jeffery Fichtner, Phil Gerard,

Andrew Gruver, Robert Krattli, David McMahan and Jeremy McCarthy for

“Music Man” and Jennifer Sakioka for “Into the Woods.”

Estancia High School’s production of “Sugar” resulted in

“outstanding achievement” awards for Joseph Scott Rios, Aaron van

Geem and Kenny Wilson, along with the school’s orchestra. An

“achievement” trophy went to Lauren Mahan.

Also cited from Estancia were Tonya Narvaez and Timothy Zimmer for

“special recognition” and Andre Casey and Mike Salmans for “bright

spot” honors.

Corona del Mar High School earned the MACY Commedia Dell’Arte

trophy for its version of “The Pirates of Penzance,” while Marty

Glyer, Alessandra Hass, the ensemble and the orchestra all were

accorded “highest achievement” honors.

Awards for “outstanding achievement” went to “Pirates” cast

members Brian Engmann, Amanda Malou and Bryan White. Ben Halladay was

given an “achievement” trophy, while Maggie Donnelly, Rachel Malkin,

Evan Sonntag and Carole Ann Wright earned “special recognition”

mention and Tom Harper and David Jackson shared “bright spot” notice.

The MACYs were organized in 1971 by Lee and John Childress, who

were accorded a standing ovation at this year’s event.

The MACY awards show is “a celebration of the talent, hard work,

dedication, energy and boundless enthusiasm of everyone who has

participated in the wonderful musical theater productions of our

schools,” the Childresses stated.

In a rare occurrence, the ceremony’s top award, the MACY, was

captured in a tie by two schools producing the same musical, “Les

Miserables.”

Dana Hills High School and Aliso Niguel High School hit the

jackpot with their productions in the first year in which “Les Miz”

was available to amateur groups.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Saturdays.