By OLIVIA IANNONE
Opinion Editor
CHS Drama Club sent two nominees to the eighth annual Basie Awards at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on March 22, 2013.
The Basie Awards, distributed by the theater, serve to “honor excellence in Monmouth County High School Dramatic and Musical Theatre,” according to the Count Basie website.
Senior Kevin Erskine of Eatontown and junior Sean Cavanagh of Middletown were nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama and Best Lead Actor in a drama, respectively.
Both students performed in CHS’ production of “You Can’t Take it With You,” which was staged on March 15 and 16: Erskine was Boris Kolekhov, a vibrant and sharply political Russian ballet instructor, and Cavanagh was Martin Vanderhoof or “Grandpa,” the easygoing family patriarch who never paid an income tax.
According to Drama Club adviser Erin Wheeler, each worked very hard to get into character and accurately portray his role.
During his time in the club, Erskine has played “everything from a woman to an elf to a police officer,” Wheeler said. However, she believes he was better suited for the role of Kolekhov that any of his previous characters.
According to Wheeler, Cavanagh, originally cast as a small part, took over the role of Grandpa a month into production when the original actor had to drop out of the production. However, he managed to learn his lines before the other cast members and “really got into the character of Grandpa.”
Cavanagh said that, prior to the CHS play, he had not acted since the age of ten.
Erskine and Cavanagh were selected by a group of professional actors, directors and other industry professionals who attend and judge high school performances throughout Monmouth County. This Evaluation Committee is responsible for nominating individuals and performances for awards.
This year’s nominees hailed from 19 different high schools and include choreographers, orchestras and set designers in addition to individual actors and actresses.
Attendees said that large schools with well established drama programs such as Howell and Red Bank Regional High Schools dominated the awards.
Junior Gia DeWitt of Atlantic Highlands believes that such schools had a leg up on CHS going into the awards.
“The bigger schools have better funding and resources for really good shows,” she said. “We are at a disadvantage because our district doesn’t give us any money.”
Though neither CHS actor won in his category, Cavanagh appreciated the experience of being included in an awards show he said reminded him of a scaled-down version of the Oscars or Tonys.
“It was amazing. It felt surreal to be part of an awards show that big…It was just an honor to be nominated along with such big schools and big productions,” he said.
Erskine also described the awards as an unforgettable experience.
“There was a great energy in the room. It was an honor to be included along with people who are recognized as legitimate actors.”
Like prominent awards shows, the Basies featured performances by nominees and are attended by young theater enthusiasts from across the county.
“It’s great because it celebrates high school theater and supports the arts.” DeWitt said.
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