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ISAACS honor excellence in musical theater

The cast and crew of Hollidaysburg Area High School’s production of “Les Miserables” pose on the Mishler Theatre stage after their win for best production on Saturday at Altoona Community Theatre’s ISAACS. Mirror photo by Cynthia Wise

Altoona Community Theatre’s 2025 ISAACS were presented Saturday and Sunday at the Mishler Theatre.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ISAACS, ACT honors excellence in all aspects of local high school musical theater. The event’s popularity has grown so large that ACT expanded the event to two nights to accommodate the number of schools wishing to participate. Each night had winners announced in individual categories, meaning there were two equal winners announced for each category over the weekend.

Each year, the ISAACS distributes more than $60,000 in college scholarships to students participating in their high school musicals, underwritten by title sponsor Reliance Bank and others, including Penn State Altoona, Mount Aloysius College, Juniata College and Saint Francis University. The Steven C. Helsel Legacy Scholarship was awarded to a graduating senior each night who has been actively involved in some capacity with ACT. In addition, Bill and Ann Benzel presented each of the 18 schools in the ISAACS with $500 for their upcoming production budgets,with two schools each night receiving an additional $500 in “Benzel Bucks.”

The 2025 ISAACS featured 18 schools from a six-county area — Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield and Huntingdon.

During the year, panels of judges from ACT view the schools’ musicals and determine the nominations in a variety of production and individual categories, the winners of which were announced on stage at the Mishler between musical numbers from each school’s entry.

ISAACS individual winners from Hollidaysburg Area School District’s production of “Les Miserables” included Jack Peterson for best lead actor in a male role and Alice Haslam for best supporting actor in a female role. Runner-up winners included Nora Stanek, best lead actor in a female role, and Benjamin Gervinski as best supporting actor in a male role. Courtesy photo

More information about the ISAACS can be found at altoonacommunitytheatre.com/isaac-awards

Saturday, May 24, ISAACS

The schools participating on Saturday’s ISAACS nominations were:

Altoona Area High School, Altoona

Bellwood-Antis High School, Bellwood

The cast and crew of Altoona Area High School’s production of “The Little Mermaid” pose for a photo after being awarded runner-up for best production on Saturday at the Mishler Theatre. Mirror photo by Cynthia Wise

Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Ebensburg

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, Altoona

Cambria Heights High School, Patton

Forest Hills High School, Sidman

Hollidaysburg Area High School, Hollidaysburg

Courtesy photo Altoona Area High School’s production of “The Little Mermaid” took top ISAACS honors for best ensemble for The Mersisters ensemble, seen with Camille Krug as Flounder, Jillian Pierannunzio as Ariel and Trevor Wilson as Sebastian. Mersisters ensemble members were (front left) Ava Conrad, Laura Reed and Madison Aboud and (second row from left) Gabrielle Beldin and Olivia Behe. Not pictured is Karinna Wolfe. Courtesy photo

Huntingdon Area High School, Huntingdon

West Branch Area High School, Morrisdale

Performance Nominees

Best lead actor in a male role:

Winner: Jack Peterson — Jean Valjean — “Les Miserables” — Hollidaysburg Area High School

Glendale Junior/Senior High School won best production for “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” at Altoona Community Theatre’s ISAACS awards on Sunday at the Mishler Theatre. Glendale was also honored with the top award for student design by Kara Smith for set design and construction. Brenden Luongo was the winner for best lead actor in a male role and Sarabeth Lloyd was named runner-up for best lead actor in a female role. Courtesy photo

Runner-up: Owen Carmel — Prince Eric — “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Nominees:

Jacob Caracciolo — Shrek — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

Andrew Ostinowsky — Joseph — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” — Bishop Carroll

Brogan Little — The Cat in the Hat — “Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Central High School’s Marah Goff won the ISAACS award for student choreography for its production of “Grease.” The production also was honored as runner-up for best dance for “Born to Hand Jive.” Courtesy photo

Best lead actor in a female role

Winner: Kendra Karabinos — Morticia Addams — “The Addams Family” — Cambria Heights High School

Runner-up: Nora Stanek — Cosette (grown-up) — “Les Miserables” — Hollidaysburg Area High School

Nominees:

Jillian Pierannunzio — Ariel — “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Gianna “Gigi” Juart — Fiona — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

Ashleigha Grossi — Katherine Blake — “Freaky Friday” — West Branch Area High School

Best supporting actor in a male role

Winner: Derek Stivers — Lord Farquaad — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

Runner-up: Benjamin Gervinski — Inspector Javert — “Les Miserables” — Hollidaysburg Area High School

Nominees:

Trevor Wilson — Sebastian — “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Christian “Chug” Jennings — Donkey — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

Brady Young — Horton — “Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Best supporting actor in a female role

Winner: Alice Haslam — Fantine — “Les Miserables” — Hollidaysburg Area High School

Runner-up: Skylar Rutherford — Ursula — “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Nominees:

Kaitlyn Link — Veruca Salt — “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” — Bishop Guilfoyle Academy

Solana Nastase — Alice Beineke — “The Addams Family” — Cambria Heights High School

Vivian Sieber — Gertrude McFuzz — “Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Best featured actor

Winner: Arwen Hartman — Eponine — “Les Miserables” — Hollidaysburg Area High School

Runner-up: Layla Smith — Mayzie La Bird — “Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Nominees:

Halee Young — Dragon — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

Bianca Melger — Violet

Beauregarde — “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” — Bishop Guilfoyle Academy

Aubrey Smaich — Erma —

“Anything Goes” — Forest Hills High School

Best ensemble

Winner: The Mersisters — “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Runner-up: Bird Girls — “Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Nominees:

Flotsam & Jetsam — “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Fairy Tale Characters — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

The Ancestors — “The Addams Family” — Cambria Heights High School

Best dance or dancer(s)

Winner: “Anything Goes” — “Anything Goes” — Forest Hills High School

Runner-up: “Morning Person” — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

Nominees:

“Veruca’s Nutcracker: Sweet!” — “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” — Bishop Guilfoyle

“Secrets” — “The Addams

Family” — Cambria Heights High School

“Solla Sollew” — “Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Achievement in Design Nominees

Student choreography:

Winner: Huntingdon Area High School — “Seussical,” Jillian Tanner, Sara Simone and Liliana Scott

Runner-up: Bishop Guilfoyle Academy — “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Kaitlyn Link and Nina Gingrich

Nominees:

Altoona Area High School — “The Little Mermaid,” Emily Pentland and Olivia Behe

Bishop Carroll High School — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Mackenzie Rezk

Cambria Heights High School — “The Addams Family,” Brianna Bailey and Solana Nastase

Forest Hills High School — “Anything Goes,” Julia Stombaugh

Hollidaysburg Area High School — “Les Miserables,” Alaina Stump

West Branch High School — “Freaky Friday,” Emily Shingledecker, Keagan Dobo and Samantha Stencil

Student design:

Winner: Altoona Area High School — “The Little Mermaid,” Owen Carmel for costume design for entire show

Runner-up: Huntingdon Area High School — “Seussical,” Hope Stubbs for proscenium and Cloverfield backdrop design

Nominees:

Bishop Carroll High School — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Andrew Ostinowsky, Mackenzie Rezk and Ella Beiswenger for set painting & design

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy — “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Julia Wesner for Mrs. Gloop costume design

Forest Hills High School — “Anything Goes,” Sarah Bodenschatz for lighting design and light board operation

Hollidaysburg Area High School — “Les Miserables,” Rachel Daras for graphic design of posters & programs

West Branch High School — “Freaky Friday,” Ella Slabon, Hilde Lautier, Juliette Hall and Codee Foster for set design & construction

Student crew:

Winner: Forest Hills High School — “Anything Goes,” Stage Crew

Runner-up: Altoona Area High School — “The Little Mermaid,” Stage Crew and Fly Crew

Nominees:

Bishop Carroll High School — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,”Stage Crew (Elaina Smith — Stage Manager)

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy — “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Corinne Wesner (SM), Julia Wesner (ASM), Rylee Swander (ASM) and Leo Dangler (Student Tech Director)

Cambria Heights High School — “The Addams Family,” Riley Hall and Ace Johnston — Stage Managers

Hollidaysburg Area High School — “Les Miserables,” Stage Crew

Huntingdon Area High School — “Seussical,” Stage Crew

West Branch High School — “Freaky Friday,” Stage Crew

Best production/musical number

Winner: “Under the Sea” — “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Runner-up: “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!” — “Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Nominees:

“What’s Up, Duloc?” — “Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

“When You’re an Addams” — “The Addams Family” —

Cambria Heights High School

“One Day More” — “Les Miserables” — Hollidaysburg Area High School

Best production

Winner: “Les Miserables” — Hollidaysburg Area High School

Runner-up: “The Little Mermaid” — Altoona Area High School

Nominees:

“Shrek” — Bellwood-Antis High School

“The Addams Family” — Cambria Heights High School

“Seussical” — Huntingdon Area High School

Saturday MVP Awards

Each participating school selects a cast or crew member to be recognized as their production’s ISAACS MVP. MVP recipients announced Saturday were:

Altoona Area High School — Laila Wilkinson

Bellwood-Antis High School — Tanner Swogger

Bishop Carroll Catholic High School — Mackenzie Rezk

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy — Corinne Wesner

Cambria Heights High School — Lucas Demi

Forest Hills High School — Noah Corbett

Hollidaysburg Area High School — Gideon Karn

Huntingdon Area High School — Jaz Taylor

West Branch Area High School — Xavier Coudriet

SUNDAY, MAY 28, ISAACS

The schools participating on Sunday’s ISAACS nominations were:

Bellefonte Area High School, Bellefonte

Central High School, Martinsburg

Glendale Jr/Sr High School, Flinton

Great Commission School, Altoona

Moshannon Valley High School, Houtzdale

Philipsburg-Osceola High School, Philipsburg

Tussey Mountain High School, Saxton

Tyrone Area High School, Tyrone

State College Area High School, State College.

Performance Nominees

Best lead actor in a male role

Winner: Brenden Luongo — Orpheus — “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Runner-up: Austin Garcia — Trunchbull — “Matilda the Musical” — Philipsburg-Osceola High School

Nominees:

Daniel Kurty — Tevye — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Great Commission School

Evan Shondeck — Caldwell B. Cladwell — “Urinetown” — State College Area High School

Noah Peck — Abner Yokum — “Li’l Abner” — Tussey Mountain High School

Best lead actor in a female role

Winner: Erin Ashe — Golde — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Bellefonte Area High School

Runner-up: Sarabeth Lloyd — Eurydice — “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Nominees:

Addison Kelly — Hermes — “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Finn Parish — Matilda Wormwood — “Matilda the Musical” — Philipsburg-Osceola High School

Tessa Morningstar — Daisy Mae — “Li’l Abner” — Tussey Mountain High School

Best supporting actor in a male role:

Winner: Luca Snyder — Officer Lockstock — “Urinetown” — State College Area High School

Runner-up: Trip Worthington — Hades — “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Nominees:

Grant Michael — Motel — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Great Commission School

Eli Hoy — Mr. Wormwood — “Matilda the Musical” — Philipsburg-Osceola High School

Reilly Rawlings — Uncle Fester — “The Addams Family” — Tyrone Area High School

Best supporting actor in a female role

Winner: Emily Schreffler — Hodel — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Bellefonte Area High School

Runner-up: Olivia Frank — Persephone — “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Nominees:

Callie Smith — Jan — “Grease” — Central High School

Maddie Powell — Pennywise — “Urinetown” — State College Area High School

Ruthie Fields — Mammy Yokum — “Li’l Abner” — Tussey Mountain High School

Best featured actor

Winner: Jane Burgess — Yente — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Bellefonte Area High School

Runner-up: Joe Angelovic — Michael Wormwood — “Matilda the Musical” — Philipsburg-Osceola High School

Nominees:

Jalyn Meckley — Fruma-Sarah — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Bellefonte Area High School

Micah Simpson — Teen Angel/Johnny Casino — “Grease” — Central High School

Emma Webb — Clarisse — “The Lightning Thief” — Moshannon Valley High School

Best ensemble

Winner: The Fates — “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Runner-up: The Law — “Urinetown” — State College Area High School

Nominees:

Pink Ladies — “Grease” — Central High School

Little Kids Ensemble — “Matilda the Musical” — Philipsburg-Osceola High School

The Ancestors — “The Addams Family” — Tyrone Area High School

Best dance or dancer(s)

Winner: “To Life” — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Bellefonte Area High School

Runner-up: “Born to Hand Jive” — “Grease” — Central High School

Nominees:

“Wedding Dance” — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Great Commission School

“Sadie Hawkins Day Ballet” — “Li’l Abner” — Tussey Mountain High School

“When You’re an Addams” — “The Addams Family” — Tyrone Area High School

Achievement in Design nominees

Student choreography:

Winner: Central High School — “Grease,” Marah Goff

Runner-up: Philipsburg-Osceola High School — “Matilda the Musical,” Ellie Slogosky and Evey Raker

Nominees:

Bellefonte Area High School — “Fiddler on the Roof,” Samantha Nedrow and Allayna Whitehill

Great Commission School — “Fiddler on the Roof,” Elijah Michael, Grant Michael and Daniel Kurty

Moshannon Valley High School — “The Lightning Thief,” Mady Kay, Reagan Wharton, Emma Webb, Abigail Caldwell

State College Area High School — “Urinetown,” Audrey Shaner and Bri Dzyak

Tussey Mountain High School — “Li’l Abner,” Barrett Brode

Tyrone Area High School — “The Addams Family,” Rose McKernan

Student design:

Winner: Glendale Jr/Sr High School — “Hadestown (Teen Edition),” Kara Smith for set design and construction

Runner-up: Great Commission School — “Fiddler on the Roof,” Madeline Buck, Aly Miller, Solamae Eilenberger for set design

Nominees:

Bellefonte Area High School — “Fiddler on the Roof,” Kay Miller for lighting design

State College Area High School — “Urinetown,” Jenny Heim for hair & makeup design

Tussey Mountain High School — “Li’l Abner,” Noah Peck for set design

Tyrone Area High School — “The Addams Family,” Hailey Wood for Morticia’s boudoir design.

Student crew:

Winner: Great Commission School — “Fiddler on the Roof,” Stage crew

Runner-up: State College Area High School — “Urinetown,” Ivan Atwood, Jessie Cozine, Eros Hernandez and Alex Seisler for set construction

Nominees:

Bellefonte Area High School — “Fiddler on the Roof,” Props Crew

Central High School — “Grease,” Stage Crew

Moshannon Valley High School — “The Lightning Thief,” Abigail Caldwell, Abbie Twoey, Nayah Grogan for set painting and columns

Philipsburg-Osceola High School — “Matilda the Musical,” Stage Crew led by Stage Managers Belle “E” Paul, Layla Westwood and Mya Hartman

Tussey Mountain High School — “Li’l Abner,” Barrett Brode and Tucker Morningstar, student direction & set construction

Best production/musical number

Winner: “Sabbath Prayer” — “Fiddler on the Roof” — Bellefonte Area High School

Runner-up: “Nothing Changes” — “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Nominees:

“Summer Nights” — “Grease” — Central High School

“The Hammer” — “Matilda the Musical” — Philipsburg-Osceola High School

“Run, Freedom, Run” — “Urinetown” — State College Area High School

Best production

Winner: “Hadestown (Teen Edition)” — Glendale Jr/Sr High School

Runner-up: “Fiddler on the Roof” — Bellefonte Area High School

Nominees:

“Grease” — Central High School

“Matilda the Musical” — Philipsburg-Osceola High School

“Urinetown” — State College Area High School

Sunday MVP Awards

Each participating school selects a cast or crew member to be recognized as their production’s ISAACs MVP. MVP recipients announced Sunday were:

Bellefonte Area High School — Cassidy Beauton

Central High School — Marah Goff

Glendale Jr/Sr High School — Gabriel Rhoades

Great Commission School — Lily Hildebrand

Moshannon Valley High School — Abigale Twoey

Philipsburg-Osceola High School — Ellie Slogosky

Tussey Mountain High School — Tucker Morningstar

Tyrone Area High School — Ethan Cooley

State College Area High School — Addie Marshall

Great Commission School’s stage crew for its production of “Fiddler on the Roof” won the ISAACS award for best student crew on Sunday at the Mishler Theatre. Great Commission was honored as runner-up for student design for set design by Madeline Buck, Aly Miller and Solamae Eilenberger. Courtesy photo

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