Beauty and the Beast dress rehearsal

The Columbia Players received three nominations for the 2024 High School Musical Theatre Awards for its performance of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

Columbia High School received three nominations for the 2024 High School Musical Theatre Awards, which was announced by the Collaborative School of the Arts at Proctors. Emma O’Kane ’24 (Best Actress), Allison Hedgepeth ’24 (Best Supporting Actress) and the Columbia Players Pit Orchestra (Best Student Orchestra) were nominated for the Columbia Players’ production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

Winners will be announced at a ceremony modeled after the Tony Awards, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Proctors in Schenectady.

“We are ecstatic to be nominated for two electric performances from Emma O’Kane and her touching portrayal of Belle, and Allison Hedgepeth’s hysterical and perfect Babette,” said Columbia Players Stage Director T.J. Collins-Gutierrez. “Not to mention the foundational orchestra that supported the whole musical conducted by Mr. Halliday! We, The Columbia Players are looking forward to showing our school pride at the HSMTA Ceremony at Proctors and we hope you join us!”

The winner of Best Actor and Best Actress will be invited to New York City to perform in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmys) and participate in Broadway-style workshops.

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

Best Student Orchestra

  • Albany High School – “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
  • Ballston Spa High School – Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”
  • Columbia High School – Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”
  • Shenendehowa High School – “Anything Goes” 

Best Supporting Actress

  • Allison Hedgepeth as Babette in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Columbia High School
  • Claire Fisher as Beth March in “Little Women,” Glens Falls High School
  • Alyssa Hilicoss as Liz in “Chicago: Teen Edition,” Voorheesville High School
  • Sofia Rice as Amy March in “Little Women,” Glen Falls High School
  • Sonia Snyder as Michael Banks in “Mary Poppins,” Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School

Best Actress

  • Abby DeGregory as Pamela in “Head Over Heels: School Version,” Saratoga Springs High School
  • Emma O’Kane as Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Columbia High School
  • Sophia Plante as Jo March in “Little Women,” Glens Falls High School
  • Julia Varga as Anastasia in “Anastasia: The Musical,” Mohonasen High School
  • Eva Reece as Nostradamus “Something Rotten!,” South Glens Falls High School