By: Jenny Ward

Last March, McCaskey students performed for friends and family the highly anticipated “The Wedding Singer.” The musical, based on the 1998 film, tells the story of Robbie Hart– a wedding singer whose own wedding fails– and how he falls in love with waitress Julia Sullivan

The 2025 musical was no different from past years when it comes to the amount of time and effort these students dedicated to creating the very best show possible, but unlike prior years, their accomplishments were celebrated in a completely new way for McCaskey: The Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards. The Apollo Awards were created in 2008, and have served as a way to celebrate excellence in Central PA schools’ theatre departments. Schools submit their performances in September for Fall plays, January for Spring musicals, and between September and December for student playwrights. 

Last year, McCaskey’s theatre department submitted “The Wedding Singer,” marking their very first submission to the Apollo Awards. Going into the awards in late May, students had high hopes. And for good reason, too; the cast received a total of six out of seven possible nominations: 

• Outstanding dance number in a musical
• Dio Caraballo-Cruz and Lydia Corvino for outstanding featured performer in a musical
• Celia Keener for outstanding supporting actress in a musical
• Callaghan Petrsoky for outstanding lead actor in a musical
• Annika Locke for outstanding lead actress in a musical
• Outstanding musical 

The awards ceremony was held at 7:00 P.M. on May 18, and from the moment McCaskey students stepped into the Giant Center, they were brimming with excitement, pride, and enthusiasm. McCaskey’s cheers and applause filled the room as they represented not only our school, but Lancaster County as a whole. 

But the excitement didn’t stop there. As the ceremony progressed, McCaskey’s musical cast, production team, directors, and supporters were a mixture of amazed, shocked, and proud as they learned that McCaskey scored the win in every single award they had been nominated for. The word “swept” became one of the theatre department’s favorite words following the ceremony, and the bus ride back to school was one of pure celebration. 

“I was definitely very flustered and was NOT expecting it, but hearing everyone’s reactions and support made me feel so grateful and loved. I love this cast forever,” said senior Lydia Corvino, recipient of the 2025 outstanding featured performer in a musical award. 

Other theatre department students echoed Lydia’s shock and amazement. Ensemble member junior Mia Gonzalez stated “[It was] genuinely such a surprise when we won all of our nominations; I think we as McCaskey students underestimate our abilities,” and junior Yarelis Perez (ensemble) felt “it goes to show how amazing the music department at McCaskey really is.” 

Like these students expressed, McCaskey’s achievements at the Apollo Awards weren’t just a win for the individual nominated cast members. Every single person who was involved, whether part of the main cast, the ensemble, backstage and production crew, or directors, contributed to the musical and made it a show worthy of six Apollo Awards! Beyond that, it’s a win for the entire McCaskey music department, and something for all students, parents, alumni, and supporters to be #McCaskeyProud about!

“Not too shabby for our first year…” the official McCaskey Instagram account posted following the news, and now that the cast and crew have proven that they’re ready to take on any challenge– from showing up for every rehearsal to winning six awards on their very first year– there’s nothing they can’t do if they set their minds to it. 

Learn more about the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards here, or celebrate McCaskey’s win on their official Instagram account @hershey_theatre_apollo_awards