Published June 07. 2022 12:01PM
After a two-year hiatus from an in-person event due to COVID, thespians from area high schools got a chance to shine in the spotlights of the State Theatre at the 2022 Freddy Awards.
Several high school musical productions from the Bethlehem area celebrated wins at the event May 26. These include Liberty HS with four, Freedom High School and Nazareth Area HS with one each.
Scholarship and community awards went to a cast member from Liberty and one from Nazareth Area HS.
Rebekah “Bex” Vermuelen was awarded the Freddy for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role as Maria Rainer in Liberty’s “The Sound of Music.” She also was one of two recipients of the Mowad Turf Specialists Cash Award of $500.
Liberty also garnered the Freddy Awards for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Use of Scenery, and Outstanding Stage Crew (In honor of Capt. Christopher Seifert).
Freedom High’s production of “Curtains” shined with the Freddy for Outstanding Use of Lighting.
Julia Ruhf from the Freedom production was one of eight recipients to receive a 3-week scholarship for the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet/Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley Summer Dance Intensive. Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer Westgate portrayed Bambi Bernet in “Curtains.”
Jacob Kremer received the Freddy Award for Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor for his role as Audrey II’s Voice in Nazareth Area High School’s “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Serving as “Little Shop of Horrors” student director, Emma Higton from Nazareth Area High was bestowed with the Civic Theatre Outstanding Student Director Award and Internship. This includes a cash award of $500.
Press photos by Ed Courrier Overcome with emotion, Rebekah “Bex” Vermuelen embraces her Freddy for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. She portrayed Maria Rainer in Liberty's “The Sound of Music.”
Liberty receives the Freddy Award for Outstanding Choreography for “The Sound of Music.” Accepting the honor are Jelissa Diaz and Matthew Byrnes.
The Freddy for Outstanding Use of Scenery for “The Sound of Music” is presented to Jaden Rivera and Cameron Preisler on behalf of the Liberty Theatre Company.
Accepting the Freddy for Outstanding Stage Crew (In honor of Capt. Christopher Seifert) are Cameron Preisler and Harley Cooper.
Above: As Maria, Rebekah “Bex” Vermuelen, at right, leads the von Trapp children in “Do-Re-Mi” from “The Sound of Music” in a performance at the 2022 Freddy Awards.
Representing the Freedom HS Theatre Company, Isabelle Burnett and Sean Roberts gratefully accept the Freddy for Outstanding Use of Lighting for “Curtains.”
Jacob Kremer receives the Freddy Award for Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor for his role as Audrey II's voice in Nazareth Area High School's “Little Shop of Horrors” The ‘blood-thirsty' plant prop ‘lurks' at his feet. Behind him are presenters Easton Mayor Sal Panto and State Theatre Board Chair Graham Simmons.
PRESS PHOTOS BY ED COURRIER Moravian Academy's “HMS Pinafore” cast and crew wait to enter the State Theatre on awards night. In front is Joey Oltman, Freddy nominee for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. He played Sir Joseph Porter. Behind him, from left, are Ryan Baki, Sam Carter, Owen DePillo, Sebastian Holbrook, Charles Bingham, and Jackson Oltman.
Freddy Award contender Alicia Gordon performs her solo as Josephine from Moravian Academy's “HMS Pinafore.” Gordon was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.
Freddy nominee Paige Horvath performs her solo as Audrey from Nazareth Area HS's “Little Shop of Horrors” as a contender for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.
Rebekah “Bex” Vermuelen solos as Maria from Liberty's “The Sound of Music” prior to her scoring a Freddy for her role.
