New Jersey has long been recognized as one of America’s great incubators of artistic talent. From Broadway performers and film stars to musicians, directors, playwrights, and creative innovators, the Garden State has consistently produced artists whose influence extends far beyond state borders. Every year, one event serves as the clearest reminder that the next generation of those artists is already hard at work in classrooms, rehearsal halls, auditoriums, and performing arts centers throughout New Jersey.
The 31st Annual Rising Star Awards, presented by Paper Mill Playhouse, once again transformed the spotlight toward the future of theater, honoring the extraordinary achievements of high school students, educators, directors, musicians, designers, choreographers, and production teams from across the state. Held on the historic stage of Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, the annual ceremony has become one of New Jersey’s most prestigious arts events, celebrating not only exceptional performances but also the collaborative spirit that makes musical theater one of the most demanding and rewarding artistic disciplines in education.
Often described as New Jersey’s equivalent of the Tony Awards, the Rising Star Awards have evolved into far more than a competition. They have become a statewide showcase of creativity, dedication, and educational excellence that reflects the strength of arts programs throughout the Garden State.
This year’s ceremony brought together representatives from 114 high schools across 19 counties, demonstrating the remarkable reach of theater education throughout New Jersey. Students, teachers, families, administrators, and arts supporters gathered to celebrate a season that featured thousands of hours of rehearsals, countless volunteer efforts, and an extraordinary level of artistic achievement from communities large and small.
Performance Winners
- Overall Production: Madison High School (Alice by Heart)
- Lead Actress: Chloe Geuther (Wallkill Valley Regional)
- Lead Actor: Luciano Guidetti (Paramus High School)
- Supporting Actress: Mya Glasofer (Eastern Regional)
- Supporting Actor: Shaine Wilson-Gibson (Ewing High School)
- Featured Performer: Melina Gonzalez (Jose Marti STEM)
- Ensemble Group: “The Orphans” (Ridgewood High School)
- Chorus: Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School [1]
Creative & Design Winners
- Direction: Blake Spence (Madison High School)
- Choreography: Heather Fleischman (Delaware Valley Regional)
- Music Direction: Brent Geyer & Trey Shore (Scotch Plains-Fanwood)
- Scenic Design: Madison High School
- Lighting Design: Madison High School
- Costume Design: Paul Canada (Gill St. Bernard’s)
- Hair & Makeup: Gill St. Bernard’s
- Student Orchestra: Summit High School
Special Awards & Scholarships
- Inclusion Award: Moorestown High School
- Educational Impact: NJ United Christian Academy
- Outstanding Educator: Annie Raczko (Spotswood High)
- Burgio Scholarship: Sydney Hain (Piscataway High)
- Sovey Scholarship: Abigail Drake (Delaware Valley)
At the center of the evening was a powerful reminder that high school theater continues to thrive despite the challenges facing arts education programs nationwide.
The evening’s highest honor, Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, was awarded to Madison High School for its ambitious production of Alice by Heart. The recognition capped a remarkable night for the school and its creative team, whose interpretation of the contemporary musical captivated adjudicators throughout the season.
The production’s success reflected one of the recurring themes of this year’s awards: bold artistic choices, innovative storytelling, and a willingness among New Jersey schools to challenge students with increasingly sophisticated theatrical material.
Madison High School’s achievements extended beyond the top production award. Director Blake Spence earned Outstanding Achievement in Direction, further cementing the production’s place among the most celebrated high school musicals of the year. The recognition highlighted the importance of visionary leadership in student theater, where directors are tasked not only with creating compelling productions but also with serving as educators, mentors, and advocates for young performers.
The acting categories showcased an equally impressive level of talent.
Chloe Geuther of Wallkill Valley Regional High School earned Outstanding Performance in a Female-Identified Leading Role for her portrayal of Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical. Her performance demonstrated the technical skill, emotional depth, and stage presence increasingly associated with New Jersey’s top student performers.
In the male lead category, Luciano Guidetti of Paramus High School captured top honors for his performance as Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. Taking on one of musical theater’s most complex leading roles requires a level of maturity rarely expected from high school performers, making the recognition especially significant.
Supporting performance categories reflected the remarkable depth of talent emerging throughout the state.
Mya Glasofer of Eastern Regional High School received recognition for her portrayal of Vi Moore in Footloose, while Shaine Wilson-Gibson of Ewing High School was honored for his performance as Benny in In the Heights. Both performances showcased the power of supporting characters to shape a production’s emotional impact and narrative strength.
Featured performer honors went to Melina Gonzalez of Jose Marti STEM Academy for her work in Side Show, further demonstrating the breadth of theatrical excellence represented throughout New Jersey schools.
Yet the Rising Star Awards have always been about more than individual performers.
Musical theater remains one of the most collaborative art forms in existence, requiring contributions from directors, choreographers, musicians, designers, technicians, stage managers, educators, and countless volunteers working behind the scenes.
That collaborative spirit was evident throughout the ceremony.
Heather Fleischman of Delaware Valley Regional High School earned Outstanding Achievement in Choreography for her work on The SpongeBob Musical, recognizing the creativity and precision required to bring movement and storytelling together on stage.
The music direction category highlighted another often-overlooked component of theatrical success. Brent Geyer and Trey Shore of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School were recognized for their exceptional work guiding student musicians and vocalists, demonstrating how musical leadership serves as the foundation for every successful musical production.
Meanwhile, Summit High School’s student orchestra earned recognition for its performance in Big Fish, celebrating the young musicians whose contributions often unfold beyond the audience’s immediate focus but remain essential to a production’s success.
Technical and design achievements also received significant attention during the evening.
From costume creation and scenic construction to lighting design and sound engineering, modern high school productions increasingly mirror professional standards. The awards acknowledged students and educators who continue raising the bar in technical theater, proving that artistic excellence extends far beyond the performers visible on stage.
One of the evening’s most meaningful moments came through the presentation of special recognition awards that highlighted inclusion, educational impact, and community engagement.
Moorestown High School received the Theater for Everyone Inclusion and Access Award, reflecting a growing commitment throughout New Jersey’s arts community to ensure theater remains accessible and welcoming to all participants and audiences.
The Educational Impact Award recognized New Jersey United Christian Academy’s production of Little Women, honoring programs that demonstrate how theater can inspire personal growth, confidence, empathy, and academic development.
The Outstanding Educator Award presented to Annie Raczko of Spotswood High School underscored the critical role teachers play in shaping artistic experiences that often become life-changing moments for students.
For many participants, however, the ceremony represents more than recognition. It serves as a launching pad for future opportunities.
Scholarships remain a cornerstone of the Rising Star Awards program, helping students pursue advanced education and professional development in the performing arts. This year’s scholarship recipients included talented students from across the state who will continue building upon the foundations established through their high school theater experiences.
The impact of these awards often extends far beyond graduation.
Over the years, Rising Star alumni have gone on to perform on Broadway, work in film and television, pursue careers in arts administration, and become educators who inspire future generations of performers. The program has become an important component of New Jersey’s artistic pipeline, helping connect young talent with opportunities that shape lifelong careers.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Rising Star Awards is what they reveal about the current state of arts education in New Jersey.
At a time when creative programs often face funding pressures and competing priorities, the scale and quality of productions showcased throughout the competition demonstrate that theater remains a vital educational experience for thousands of students.
Participation in musical theater develops communication skills, collaboration, discipline, creativity, confidence, leadership, and emotional intelligence. These are skills that extend far beyond the stage and influence future success in virtually every profession.
The annual celebration also reinforces Paper Mill Playhouse’s ongoing role as one of the state’s most important cultural institutions.
As a Tony Award-winning theater with a longstanding commitment to arts education, Paper Mill continues to provide opportunities that bridge the gap between student performance and professional theater. The Rising Star Awards represent one of the clearest examples of that mission in action.
For one evening, students from every corner of New Jersey gathered under the lights of one of the state’s most respected stages to celebrate achievement, creativity, and possibility.
The awards themselves were significant. The trophies, scholarships, and accolades will undoubtedly be cherished by recipients for years to come.
But the greater story lies in what the evening represents.
Across 114 schools and 19 counties, thousands of students devoted themselves to storytelling, music, collaboration, and artistic expression. They built sets, learned choreography, rehearsed harmonies, designed costumes, operated lighting systems, mastered challenging scores, and discovered the transformative power of live performance.
The 31st Annual Rising Star Awards did more than celebrate a successful theater season. It offered a glimpse into the future of New Jersey’s creative community and demonstrated that the next generation of artists is already taking center stage.
If this year’s performances are any indication, the future of theater in New Jersey remains exceptionally bright.
