Three Columbia Students Nominated for High School Musical Theatre Awards

The Columbia Players performing at a dress rehearsal of “Freaky Friday” the musical in the school auditorium in March. Three students in that performance – Aidan Halsey, Emma O’Kane and Kaden Witte – received nominations in the 7th annual High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Three Columbia High School students received nominations for the 7th annual High School Musical Theatre Awards on Friday, which was announced by the Collaborative School of the Arts at Proctors. Aidan Halsey ’23 (Best Actor), Emma O’Kane ’24 (Best Actress) and Kaden Witte ’26 (Best Supporting Actor) were nominated for their roles in “Freaky Friday,” which Columbia High School’s theatre company the Columbia Players performed in March.

The High School Musical Theatre Award program included 22 high schools this year, with 17 of them receiving nominations.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony modeled after the Tony Awards, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at Proctors in Schenectady.

The winner of Best Actor and Best Actress will represent Proctors and Upstate New York at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards – also known as The Jimmy Awards – in June 2023. The winners will participate with students from across the country for the title of Best National High School Actor and Best National High School Actress.

“Julie Ploss (music director) and I are so thrilled about Aidan’s, Emma’s, and Kaden’s nominations,” said Kara Macpherson, stage director of the Columbia Players. “The honor is well deserved by all three and we appreciate that their talents are being publicly recognized on the Proctors stage.”

Columbia won Best Musical at the High School Musical Theatre Awards in 2018 for “Cinderella” and 2019 for “Big Fish.”

This marks Mr. Halsey’s second consecutive nomination for Best Actor. He was also nominated in the 2022 High School Musical Theatre Awards for his performance of Laurie Laurence in “Little Women.”

Best Actor

Chris Buettner as Jester in “Once Upon a Mattress,” Schuylerville High School
Logan Esposito as Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Voorheesville High School
Aidan Halsey as Adam in “Freaky Friday,” Columbia High School
John Malagrida as Gomez Addams in “The Addams Family,” Colonie High School
Carter Sano as Shrek in “Shrek the Musical,” Queensbury High School

Best Actress

Meeghan Darling as Doloris Van Cartier in “Sister Act,” Catskill High School
Ashley Manocchi as Marian Paroo in “The Music Man,” Scotia-Glenville High School
Emma O’Kane as Ellie Blake in “Freaky Friday,” Columbia High School
Eva Reece as Winnie Foster in “Tuck Everlasting,” South Glens Falls High School
Julia Varga as Rose Alvarez in “Bye Bye Birdie,” Mohonasen High School

Best Supporting Actor

Roman Mangino as Kevin G in “Mean Girls,” Ballston Spa High School
Peter Hinckley as Aaron Samuels in “Mean Girls,” Ballston Spa High School
Cian Connolly as Reuben in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Voorheesville High School
Kaden Witte as Fletcher Blake in “Freaky Friday,” Columbia High School
Frederick Durocher as Orin in “Little Shop of Horrors,” Schenectady High School