It is that time of year again when the curtains have closed on school performances, and students who live to sing, dance, act, or work behind the scenes are in a state of withdrawal from the excitement of entertaining audiences. It is also the time of year when those students anxiously anticipate the culmination of their efforts: the Hershey Apollo Awards.

The Hershey Theatre has a community outreach program that celebrates the arts in local high schools. Public and private schools have the opportunity to participate and have their productions evaluated. Not only can schools earn awards, but the feedback directors and performers receive helps them grow as artists.

Last week, the final list of nominations for musical performances was released. The list of fall play nominations was previously announced in December. Schools receiving nominations include Donegal, Elizabethtown Area, Ephrata, J.P. McCaskey, Lampeter-Strasburg, and Penn Manor high schools in Lancaster County. Mount Calvary Christian School in Elizabethtown and Encore! Home School Productions also received nominations.

This year, McCaskey is proud to have received three award nominations and five honorable mentions for its spring musical, Something Rotten!, and fall play, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.

Award Nominations

• Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical — Joseph Miller as Brother Jeremiah in Something Rotten!
• Outstanding Dance Number in a Musical — McCaskey High School, “It’s a Musical” from Something Rotten!
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical — Greg Medina as Nick Bottom in Something Rotten!

Honorable Mentions

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play — Kathryn Smith as Lucy Westfeldt in Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play — Van Reiner as Jonathan Harker in Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical — Van Reiner as Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten!
• Outstanding Musical — McCaskey High School, Something Rotten!

Last year marked McCaskey’s first year in the awards competition and generated tremendous excitement, with the school winning in every category for which it was nominated.

Congratulations to Greg, Joseph, and the entire cast of Something Rotten! on your nominations. Shoutout to the cast of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors for earning honorable mentions. Your directors and the entire McCaskey family are proud of your performances.