Buffalo Grove Students receive ‘Oscars’ and Theater Arts Leadership awards

Posted July 16, 2012 3:01 pm

Submitted by District 214

Buffalo Grove High Schools Oscar winners, from left, are: Erin Logan, Best Supporting Actress; Dan Esquivel, Best Actor; Paige Larkowski, Best Actress; Chris Cooper, Best Supporting Actor; and Kymeisha Perot, Best Female Newcomer. Not pictured is Alex Masciopinto, Best Male Newcomer. Courtesy of District 214

Drama and technical theater students from Buffalo Grove High School received recognition for outstanding performance, participation and achievement in the production of this year’s plays, “The Crucible” and “Rumors,” and the musical, “The Wizard of Oz.” On stage or behind the scenes, Buffalo Grove’s dedicated performing arts students work together to deliver the best performances possible to their appreciative audiences.

Fine and Performing Arts coordinator Kate Hutchinson and student emcees presented “Oscars” to the following students, based on the votes of the school’s drama jury, comprised of faculty and staff: Best Actress: Junior Paige Larkowski of Arlington Heights, for the role of Chris Gorman in “Rumors;” Best Actor: Junior Dan Esquivel of Arlington Heights, Lenny Ganz in “Rumors;” Best Supporting Actor: Sophomore Chris Cooper of Buffalo Grove, Ken Gorman in “Rumors;” Best Supporting Actress: Junior Erin Logan of Buffalo Grove, Mary Warren in “The Crucible;” Best Female Newcomer: Junior Kymeisha Perot of Arlington Heights, Tituba in “The Crucible;” and Best Male Newcomer: Senior Alex Masciopinto of Arlington Heights, Glenn Cooper in “Rumors.”

Awards were also presented to onstage and backstage theater students for Leadership in the Theater Arts: Senior Sarah Martinez of Buffalo Grove and juniors, Esquivel, Mandy Thoenen and Sarah Wenzel, all of Arlington Heights.

A special Renaissance Award for overall dedication in theater arts was presented to senior Natalie Kozelka, also of Arlington Heights.

Several other students were recognized as Hardest Workers: Freshmen Lia Rose Frykman and Keli Vitiaoli; sophomores Cooper and Isabella Raymundo; juniors Larkowski, Tom Kirsch, and Ana Leon Morales; and seniors Christina Melgar and Ellyn Kirsch.

Spirit Awards were presented to Wenzel “The Crucible,” Stefani Lah, “Rumors,” and Ellyn Kirsch, “The Wizard of Oz.”

Students who directed their peers in one-act plays last fall were acknowledged for their outstanding efforts: Larkowski, Melgar, Kozelka, Thoenen, Esquivel, Brandon Sokol, Jillian Lynch, Sophia Kravets and Kayla DeFrenza.

Sokol was also recognized as Buffalo Grove’s nominee for the 2012 Richard Calisch Arts Unlimited Award, for outstanding contributions to the arts.

Directors for the three 2011-2012 main stage productions were Beth Wells, Lauren Stenzel and Brian Denesha. Ed Moon served as technical director and Debbie Andres, costumer.

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Pictured, from left, Sarah Martinez, Mandy Thoenen and Dan Esquivel, Theater Leadership Award winners. Courtesy of District 214

Pictured from left, are: Director Brian Denesha; Renaissance Award winner Natalie Kozelka, and directors Beth Wells and Lauren Stenzel. Courtesy of District 214

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