Cary-Grove actress nominated for BroadwayWorld Chicago award

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that Rob Boncosky is Cary-Grove High School's music teacher and theater director.

At 18, Haley Gustafson is "a force to be reckoned with" in musical theater.

The Cary-Grove High School senior was nominated for best actress in the 2016 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards for her role as Veronica Sawyer in "Heathers: The Musical."

Though she didn't win Monday, Haley said just being nominated was an honor. The musical garnered several awards for best director, lighting and choreography.

"I'm happy to have been nominated and that the talents of others in the cast, on the crew, are being recognized, as well," she said.

Haley, of Cary, began performing musical theater as a high school freshman. Playing Veronica Sawyer was her "dream role," Haley said.

"There are not as many characters in theater that are as interesting, complex and challenging as Veronica Sawyer. Most of the roles are ingénues and kind of one-dimensional. To be able to sink my teeth into this character actually was a lot of fun. To know that it was a performance that reached other people ... being so young and to be recognized for the work is really cool."

The 2016 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards nominees, which are submitted by readers of broadwayworld.com, included the musical "War Paint," which received eight nominations, including best actress nominations for Tony Award winners Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone.

Being nominated for the award by audience members who had seen the show took Haley by surprise.

"I had no idea I was a finalist until one of my friends texted me the news," Haley said. "I was completely caught off-guard, so I checked my phone, and lo and behold, there was my name, right under Patti LuPone's - probably the only time I'll be able to say that."

Haley performed six shows as Veronica Sawyer last summer at Forest View Educational Center Theater in Arlington Heights with the Up and Coming Theatre Company.

Several Cary-Grove students and alumni who were part of ensembles also were nominated for awards, including Justin O'Brien, Urvaksh Avanthsa and Carly Vadnais for "42nd Street," and Ryan Kelleher, Kelsey Krigas, Mitch Kedzior, Sarah Kedzior, and Katie Kelleher for "A Chorus Line." For a complete list of nominees, visit broadwayworld.com/chicago.

Haley has been a rising star on the high school theater ensemble. She played the fairy godmother in last school year's "Cinderella," which was named best production in the state last June at the Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards.

Rob Boncosky, Cary-Grove High School music teacher and theater director, said he hasn't come across a student of Haley's caliber in 24 years of teaching theater.

"She is a dancer, actress and singer and she has great strengths in all of those skill sets," he said. "She's got the whole package."

In March, Haley will play Eva Peron in the school's musical production of "Evita."

Though different from the role of Veronica Sawyer, "There is something about a complexity of character and the vocal demands for both," Boncosky said.

"Haley is a force to be reckoned with," he said. "She has got a voice that is extraordinary. ... She has a real mature sense of character and character development, and she brings a maturity and thoughtfulness to her acting that is way beyond her years."

"Evita" runs March 10-18.

"I cannot think of a better way to end my high school theater career," Haley said. "I have so much to thank Cary-Grove for, I don't even know where to begin. If I'd been at any other high school, I don't think I'd be pursuing a career in theater."

Haley will be auditioning for several powerhouse theater colleges, including Carnegie Mellon, New York University, Roosevelt, Marymount Manhattan, Juilliard, and the University of Cincinnati.