New Jersey’s Governor’s Awards in Arts Education

Hoboken Public School District Wins Big at the Speech & Theatre Association of New Jersey’s Governor’s Awards in Arts Education Theatre Competition at MSU
Posted on 01/07/2024

STANDARD PRESS RELEASE


Contact Information:

Hoboken Public School District

Christopher Munoz

201-356-3738/201-978-2164

[email protected]


RELEASE DATE: Saturday, January 6, 2024


Hoboken Public School District Wins Big at the Speech & Theatre Association of New Jersey’s Governor’s Awards in Arts Education Theatre Competition at MSU


Hoboken, NJ, - Saturday, January 6th, the Hoboken Middle and High School Thespian Competition Teams attended the Speech & Theatre Association of New Jersey's Governor's Awards in Arts Education Theatre Competition held at Montclair State University. 34 schools with over 750 students participated in the competition. 


At the Speech & Theatre Association of New Jersey’s Governor’s Award in Arts Education Theatre Competition, Hoboken students also participated in workshops to hone their craft in the following areas: stage combat; college BFA program audition techniques; Shakespearean acting; musical theatre; jazz dance; musical theatre tap dance; and, improvisation and technical theatre techniques. These workshops were taught by Montclair State University’s college professors and a team of professional actors.  


The 46 Hoboken High School and Middle School thespians who competed have been working diligently and dedicated the past two months to perfecting their pieces which included comedic monologues, dramatic monologues, comedic pair, dramatic pair, scenes, improvisation, solo musical theatre, duet musical theatre, ensemble musical theatre, character analysis, and pantomime. Placing in the Top 10 out of the 200 entries is a distinct honor at this statewide competition. 


Hoboken students won a district record of ten awards. Supervisor of Fine & Performing Arts, Danielle Miller said, “I would like to thank the entire Theatre Department for their time and dedication to our students. Mr. Derek Kinnear (High School Theatre Director), Mr. Patrick Benson (Middle School Theatre Director), and Ms. Gina Rotondi (Elementary School Theatre Director) inspire our students to express themselves in the most creative ways. Theatre is part of our core curricula in the Hoboken Public School District and it shows in the performances of our students.”


The following awards were won by Hoboken High School students:


  • unchecked

    First Place Comedic Pair and The Governor's Award in Arts Education:  Kendall McDonough & Mable Blischke-Villavicencio

  • unchecked

    First Place Character Analysis Monologue:  Naomi Cooke

  • unchecked

    First Place Musical Theatre Ensemble:  Kendall McDonough, Naomi Cooke, Daniel Weintraub, Arcadio Torres, Lucas Daly, Gabriel Rivas, Miguel Cabelin, Mable Blischke-Villavicencio, Alana Rivas, Riddhi Damani, Halie Benway

  • unchecked

    Hannah Morley, Tyler Mara, Kevin Melendez, Fern Rosario, Mara Reba

  • unchecked

    2nd Place Dramatic Pairs:  Halie Benway & Lucas Daly

  • unchecked

    3rd Place Dramatic Pairs:  Miguel Cabelin & Naomi Cooke

  • unchecked

    5th Place Musical Theatre Pairs:  Daniel Weintraub & Mable Blischke-Villavicencio

  • unchecked

    Finalist Musical Theatre Pairs:  Kendall McDonough & Kevin Melendez

  • unchecked

    Finalist Musical Theatre Pairs:  Arcadio Torres & Lucas Daly

  • unchecked

    Finalist Musical Theatre Solo:  Halie Benway 

  • unchecked

    Finalist Comedic Monologue:  Riddhi Damani

Congratulations to the following students for their participation in the Speech & Theatre Association of New Jersey's Governor's Awards in Arts Education Theatre Competition held at Montclair State University:


Hoboken High School Thespians

Kendall McDonough

Naomi Cooke

Daniel Weintraub

Arcadio Torres

Anthony Barahona

Lucas Daly

Gabriel Rivas

Miguel Cabelin

Mable Blischke-Villavicencio

Alana Rivas

Riddhi Damani

Halie Benway

Shai Warsharshy

Sihana Alaj

Hannah Morley

Tyler Mara

Kevin Melendez

Emerson Blishke-Villavicencio

Fern Rosario

Isabel Holmberg

Mara Reba

Sophia Castiglione

Michelle Puharre

Gabriel Colon


Hoboken Middle School Junior Thespians

Stefan Jovanovski

Snow Cercone

Seneca Perry 

Sam Leong

Saira Bindra

Molly Lamb

Mayla Gregory

Magnus Peterka

Jackson Kirsch

Elliot Cazadelez

Chris Melli

Annie Mahat

Krishay Chugh

Charlie Stropp

Bria Wong

Connor Marshall

Rebecca Wu

Ezra Horn

Pria Wolsky

Violetta Martin

Mallory  Whitmore

Sihanna Garcia


Background: 


About The Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey (STANJ):  The Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey (STANJ) has been the voice of advocacy for the inclusion of speech and theatre arts in educational curricula since 1960. STANJ has implemented state and national advocacy strategies and helped to recognize, develop, and promote the importance of teacher certification in speech and theatre. The purpose of STANJ is to promote excellence in the study and teaching of communication and theatre arts, encouraging innovative methods of teaching speech and theatre.  As an NJEA affiliate, the association includes volunteer members from K-12, college, and professional theatre who are passionate about theatre education. STANJ welcomes input from members to help foster growth and change. Professional members attend monthly PD workshops and presentations at the NJEA Convention. Student members may participate in the Governor’s Awards Theatre competition in the areas of Monologues(*), Scenes(*), Improvisation(*), Musical Theatre, Stage Management, VPA(*), Character Analysis, Pantomime, Shakespeare, Communication Media Arts, Best Play & Musical. First-place winners in (*) categories are honored with a Governor’s award at a ceremony held in Trenton. Two college theater scholarships are also offered.