Video: Trailer for ‘A Christmas Carol’ produced by Matt Prusso and the MHS Broadcast Department
By Kirsten Traudt
Morristown High School Theatre has won All-State honors for its December 2015 production of A Christmas Carol, edging out 10 other schools for Best Ensemble Cast in a Dramatic Production at this week’s Montclair State Theatre Night Awards.
In all, MHS was nominated for five “Foxys,” as the awards are popularly known, in competition with 57 high schools from across New Jersey.
The nominations included best Costume Design, Props, New Media/Special Effects, and Educational Impact and Community Outreach.
Reprentatives from the theater department accepted the Foxy on behalf of the cast at Montclair State’s awards banquet on May 16, 2016. It was Morristown’s first trip to the Foxys–but surely won’t be the last.
The award comes after a year filled with incredible talent both onstage and off. Senior Emily McLaughlin and sophomore Sage Levy, the head costumers of A Christmas Carol, drew on both period research and imaginative interpretation to bring the play’s vibrant and supernatural characters to life.
Stage Managers Sydney Scheer and Maham Aslam, as well as Props Master Emily Connell, were likewise excited that their plot, which included tricky mirrors, a full Victorian dinner, and an oversized Christmas turkey, was recognized.
And while the special effects, which brought the story into the 21st century, were a collaborative effort between the student crew and the directing team, Assistant Stage Manager Jayson Butts can take special pride in this nomination thanks to his extensive work with the production’s nine fog machines.
The ensemble Foxy recognized the achievements of the show’s 35 cast members, from the carolers who dotted the stage to Ebeneezer Scrooge himself (ably played by senior Nikolas Slackman).
More than any of Morristown’s past productions, A Christmas Carol was a true ensemble show; each individual shone in their moments onstage and the presence of every cast member made the show stronger as a whole.
This may be attributed to not just the strength of the cast, but also that of the directing team, headed by Creative Director Michael Maguire, Stage Director Katie Adams, Production Manager Ralph Losanno, and Backstage Manager Scott Hansen.
A Christmas Carol held its own against schools with larger programs and prior Foxys, which have been honoring outstanding high school productions in New Jersey since 2009.
The department was honored to be nominated in such company, and was extremely excited to win this prestigious award.
MHS Theatre is preparing to announce its 2016-17 season, which it hopes, through hard work and good fortune, will bring more accolades.
Morristown High School Senior Kirsten Traudt is president of the MHS Thespian Board and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The Broadcaster. She also was a prize-winner at the 2013 MorristownGreen.com Film Festival. She will attend Princeton University in the fall.
MORE ABOUT ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’
Congratulations to you and the drama department, Michael. Looking forward to seeing you try to top this year’s fine productions!
Thanks for the wonderful article, Morristown Green!! MHS Theatre is so proud of all of it’s wonderful, dedicated, and hard-working students!!! We are so proud of our accomplishments this year in our growing program and are so looking forward to next year’s season!