Musical Earns 8 Rising Star Nominations

The Academy of the Holy Angels’ celebrated theater program is currently being considered for eight Rising Star Awards from the Paper Mill Playhouse.

The Academy’s spring production of “Urinetown” garnered the following nominations: Outstanding Overall Production of Musical; Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role, James Coleman as Hot Blades Harry; Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role, Valentina Gonzalez as Becky Two Shoes; Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Group — The Rebel Poor; Outstanding Performance by a Chorus; Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director, Katie Collins; Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction, George Croom; and Outstanding Costume Achievement, Acxel Portillo.

AHA will also be performing at the Paper Mill on June 11.

“I am so over the moon!” said Katie Collins, AHA’s award-winning director, who announced the nominations. “Thank you for all of your help in making my final performance a great success!”

Collins previously shared her intention to step down as director at the end of the school year.

“I have told a few people, but I wanted to share that I have decided to step down as the director of the Fall Drama and Spring Musical following this production of ‘Urinetown.’ My after school and weekend hours will now be free to spend time with (daughter) Keira,” Collins wrote to the AHA community in a February 28 email. “I could not have done the past 15 years and 29 productions without the love and support of my friends — so thank you, all of you, for being part of this part of my life.”

“Urinetown” is a comedy/satire set during an extreme water crisis. Water becomes so scarce that the government enforces a ban on private toilets. Those who break the rules risk being taken to “Urinetown,” a place where many have been sent, but from which no one returns.