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Lee High Schools won two Cappies Sunday night, at The Kennedy Center, at the 2004 Cappies Gala honoring the best in high-school theater. In addition, two students from Edison High brought home a trio of awards for their choreography and dancing.
Alex Valentin, a 16-year-old junior at Lee was recognized as best Comic Actress in a Play for her performance in "The Rivals."
"I can't even talk — it's amazing," Alex said. "I was nervous, wondering if I'd get it. But, at the same time, I knew I'd done all I could, so whatever happened, happened."
Fellow Lee student Liz Hebert snared a Cappie in the Costumes category for her work in "The Rivals."
"It's amazing," said Liz. "When I started out in theater, I never dreamed I'd make it this far. There were a lot of other really talented people nominated, and I'm really proud to have been nominated with them and to have won."
For the third year in a row, Edison senior Zachary Heller, 19, won the Male Dancer Cappie. He also took home the Choreography award for his work in Edison's production of "The Boyfriend."
"You never know," said Heller, who plans to study dance and cellular biology at the University of Arizona. "I saw a lot of shows with a lot of good choreography, this year. I'm just very happy they liked what I did. I feel great." He hopes to continue dancing and, possibly, later, do something in the field of science.
Edison junior Colette Yori, 17, also picked up the Female Dancer Cappie for "The Boyfriend."
"I'm speechless," Colette said. "I was hoping I'd win, and I'm really happy because my whole family was able to be here — including my grandparents, Dan and Judy Shade of Pennsylvania."