Freeport Area drama students pull in 6 Mancini awards

The cast, crew and staff of Freeport Area Senior High School’s 2023 spring musical production of “No, No, Nanette” reached a milestone Sunday.

Freeport won six awards at the Henry Mancini Awards, an annual event honoring and celebrating excellence in high school musical theater in Butler, Lawrence, Beaver and Mercer counties.

Freeport, which competed in the Budget 1 Category, was nominated for 12 awards, the most of any participating school this year.

Schools are placed in one of three musical budget categories, with category 1 being the smallest amount.

“We’re thrilled and proud for the recognition. This is the most we’ve ever won as a school,” said producer/director Tom Koharchik. “I’m most proud of the group awards we won, particularly Best Ensemble and Best Choreography. Those are both not awards divided by budget category. They’re across the board — from all participating schools. It shows how important each and every student on the stage is, whether cast as a principal character or an ensemble member.”

The awards garnered by the March production include Best Musical, Best Execution of Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Ensemble, Best Choreography Execution and Best Scenic Design.

“No, No, Nanette” was choreographed by Elizabeth Surgil. Her helpers were assistant student choreographer Kaylee Pomfret and assistant choreographer Sara Sypulski.

Surgil said she’s “beyond proud” of the cast.

“I think we won this year because there were so many cast members performing intricate choreography, and they all executed it really well and in sync,” she said. “There were multiple numbers that not only my featured dancers but ensemble and leads were part of, and it really was amazing to see how the entire cast performed the steps flawlessly.”

The ceremony was held at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland.

Other participating 2023 high schools were Ambridge Area, Beaver County Christian School, Beaver Falls, Central Valley, Freedom Area, Hopewell, Knoch, Mars Area, New Brighton, New Castle, North Catholic, Riverside, Slippery Rock, South Side and Western Beaver.