Published June 08. 2023 02:41PM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press
Student thespians from Lehigh Valley area high schools gathered under the State Theatre spotlights for the 2023 Freddy Awards May 25.
Musical productions from both Liberty and Freedom high schools celebrated wins.
The Freddy Award for Outstanding Production Number was presented to Liberty’s production of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” for their energetic “Brotherhood of Man” scene.
Freedom’s “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” garnered the Freddy for Outstanding Use of Scenery.
Freddy nominees Ja’nayia Campbell from Lehigh Valley Academy’s “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” and Kayla Luybli from Saucon Valley’s “Mary Poppins” were each awarded a three-week scholarship for the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet/Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley Summer Dance Intensive.
As a contender for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Freedom’s talented cast entertained the audience with a performance of “Be Our Guest.”
Liberty graduate Rebekah “Bex” Vermuelen attended as a presenter. Vermuelen had won her Freddy for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Maria Rainer in Liberty’s “The Sound of Music” last year.
Student actors from all 29 participating schools sang and danced across the stage for the opening and closing numbers. A Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School made its first Freddy appearance.
At center, Bethlehem Catholic senior Eoin Egbert in costume as King from his school's production of “Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella,” joins other selected student actors from 28 other participating school productions, in performing the 2023 Freddy Awards opening number May 25
From left, Leah Hann and Abby Shapiro are presented with the Freddy for Outstanding Use of Scenery for Freedom's production of “Disney's Beauty and the Beast.”
From center left, Jillian Potter (Chip), Tori Prostko (Mrs. Potts), Noah Zogheib (Lumiere) and Marion Keller (Belle) begin performing “Be Our Guest” from Freedom High School's “Disney's Beauty and the Beast.”
The entire Freedom HS Theatre Company turns out for a live performance of “Be Our Guest” from “Disney's Beauty and the Beast.”
Freedom's Marion Keller solos as Belle from “Disney's Beauty and the Beast” during a medley of songs by fellow nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role on Preview Night May 24.
Connor Dinwiddie, in character as J. Pierrepont Finch from Liberty's “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” takes his turn with a solo as a Freddy nominee for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
Freddy nominee Connor Dinwiddie (16) is flanked by his friend Star Stauffer (18) and his mom Shelly Hever at the end of the Freddy Awards Preview Night May 24. Stauffer had acted in Liberty's “Sound of Music” the previous year and is currently attending Moravian University as a music education major.
Press photos by Ed Courrier At left, Valeska Fichter from Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School celebrates with student actors from 28 other schools after the Freddy Awards closing number. She played Gaston in her school's production of “Disney's Beauty and the Beast.”
From left, Tommy Fortsch and Tahlia Colon accept the Freddy Award for Outstanding Production Number on behalf of Liberty's “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” for its energetic “Brotherhood of Man” scene. Fortsch played Bud Frump and Colon was Rosemary Pilkington in the school's spring musical. Contributed photo CREDIT: Courtesy of the State Theatre/&Copy; 2023 DABOUR Photography
