Chantilly High's play, "Auntie Mame," received seven Cappie nominations, plus a Critics Choice nod, so the school will be well-represented at the 2006 Cappies Gala, June 11, at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
"AUNTIE MAME" was nominated for Best Play, as well as: Returning Critic, Leanne Williams; Sets, Kevin Jones and Marley Monk; Costumes, Kendra McCullough and Leanne Williams; Stage Crew; Featured Actress in a Play, Courtney Siegert; and Lead Actress in a Play, Abba Kiser.
Junior Siegert, 17, said her nomination came as a big surprise to her. "I knew 'Mame' was going to get something because everybody worked so hard and it all came together," she said. "But I didn't expect to be nominated. It's an amazing feeling and really awesome. I feel so privileged to be honored with this pool of talented actors."
She hasn't seen the other nominated shows, so she's not sure how they'll stack up against "Auntie Mame," but she believes she's one of the only comic actresses nominated in her category.
"But it's anybody's guess [who'll win]," said Siegert. "I'm really looking forward to being at the Cappies ceremony at The Kennedy Center. Last year, I watched it on TV and regretted not trying out for the Cappies show."
She's also one of five out of 32 students selected for a Critics Choice award. Student critics chose their favorite actors and actresses, and Siegert says she's also amazed and excited to be up for this honor, as well. "I didn't think in a million years I'd be chosen because there are so many talented people."
Regarding the Best Set nomination, senior Marley Monk, 18, said she was "really happy, because when I first designed sets, my sophomore year, I didn't know what I was doing. But then all the past four years of doing sets culminated in this show."
AND SINCE the set for "Auntie Mame" was so huge and everything in it moved, she said it was "really nice" to get nominated for it. But she has no idea which school will receive the actual award. "Different shows call for different styles [of sets], so it's hard to compare," she said. "Ours was nine different locations and a comedy, so it was very different from the other plays." However, she added, "Because it's senior year, it would be nice to go out with a bang."
As for the Stage Crew nomination honoring Chantilly's crew of about 30, Monk said, "For tech categories, it's a lot more difficult [to win] because you're going against both musicals and plays. We're competing against 55 schools, instead of about 25, like the actors do, since they only compete against either plays or musicals. So just getting a nomination for tech is already amazing."
She said the crew's goal was to get their scene and set transitions down "really quickly and smoothly," so the Cappie nod is an extra bonus. And, said Monk, "Kevin Jones and I are the only two techs who've been together all four years at Chantilly, so it was really nice to get these nominations. It's an excellent way to end our senior year."
Juniors Leanne Williams, 17, and Kendra McCullough, 16, are also delighted with their nomination for Best Costumes. "It's really cool because there are so many shows we're competing against, and it was definitely a surprise," said Williams.
"We worked hard and there were a lot of costumes," she continued. "There were almost 300 pieces that went into the 100 costumes for both casts. Mame had 15 costumes, and we were also backstage changing her — everything from shoes to jewelry."
The girls also made several of the outfits. "I made six, full-length dresses, and we also added to other outfits," said McCullough. "We added feathers to Mame's gloves," said Williams. "And Leanne and I made two boys' vests and a skirt," said McCullough.
THEY SPENT their spring break shopping for costumes, going to fabric stores, assembling all the outfits and starting to make the costumes they were sewing, themselves.
"We had two weeks to make it all and put it together," said McCullough. "So we were completely shocked to get a nomination. We didn't think we'd get it done in time to be eligible. I Know how hard we worked, and I'm proud of everything we made and of Chantilly's production."
Williams said they're both looking forward to being at The Kennedy Center. And, added McCullough: "We're both making our dresses to wear there."
<sh>School is up for seven awards for 'Mame."
<sh>Jump Head PAGE 41
<48hd>Chantilly Students Glad about Nominations
<cl>CV-133
<pc>Ed Monk/Centre View
<cl>Chantilly High's stage and tech crew for "Auntie Mame."
CV-134
<pc>Ed Monk/Centre View
<cl>Chantilly High's cast members of "Auntie Mame."
<1b>By Bonnie Hobbs
<2b>Centre View
<bt>
Chantilly High's play, "Auntie Mame," received seven Cappie nominations, plus a Critics Choice nod, so the school will be well-represented at the 2006 Cappies Gala, June 11, at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
"AUNTIE MAME" was nominated for Best Play, as well as: Returning Critic, Leanne Williams; Sets, Kevin Jones and Marley Monk; Costumes, Kendra McCullough and Leanne Williams; Stage Crew; Featured Actress in a Play, Courtney Siegert; and Lead Actress in a Play, Abba Kiser.
Junior Siegert, 17, said her nomination came as a big surprise to her. "I knew 'Mame' was going to get something because everybody worked so hard and it all came together," she said. "But I didn't expect to be nominated. It's an amazing feeling and really awesome. I feel so privileged to be honored with this pool of talented actors."
She hasn't seen the other nominated shows, so she's not sure how they'll stack up against "Auntie Mame," but she believes she's one of the only comic actresses nominated in her category.
"But it's anybody's guess [who'll win]," said Siegert. "I'm really looking forward to being at the Cappies ceremony at The Kennedy Center. Last year, I watched it on TV and regretted not trying out for the Cappies show."
She's also one of five out of 32 students selected for a Critics Choice award. Student critics chose their favorite actors and actresses, and Siegert says she's also amazed and excited to be up for this honor, as well. "I didn't think in a million years I'd be chosen because there are so many talented people."
Regarding the Best Set nomination, senior Marley Monk, 18, said she was "really happy, because when I first designed sets, my sophomore year, I didn't know what I was doing. But then all the past four years of doing sets culminated in this show."
AND SINCE the set for "Auntie Mame" was so huge and everything in it moved, she said it was "really nice" to get nominated for it. But she has no idea which school will receive the actual award. "Different shows call for different styles [of sets], so it's hard to compare," she said. "Ours was nine different locations and a comedy, so it was very different from the other plays." However, she added, "Because it's senior year, it would be nice to go out with a bang."
As for the Stage Crew nomination honoring Chantilly's crew of about 30, Monk said, "For tech categories, it's a lot more difficult [to win] because you're going against both musicals and plays. We're competing against 55 schools, instead of about 25, like the actors do, since they only compete against either plays or musicals. So just getting a nomination for tech is already amazing."
She said the crew's goal was to get their scene and set transitions down "really quickly and smoothly," so the Cappie nod is an extra bonus. And, said Monk, "Kevin Jones and I are the only two techs who've been together all four years at Chantilly, so it was really nice to get these nominations. It's an excellent way to end our senior year."
Juniors Leanne Williams, 17, and Kendra McCullough, 16, are also delighted with their nomination for Best Costumes. "It's really cool because there are so many shows we're competing against, and it was definitely a surprise," said Williams.
"We worked hard and there were a lot of costumes," she continued. "There were almost 300 pieces that went into the 100 costumes for both casts. Mame had 15 costumes, and we were also backstage changing her — everything from shoes to jewelry."
The girls also made several of the outfits. "I made six, full-length dresses, and we also added to other outfits," said McCullough. "We added feathers to Mame's gloves," said Williams. "And Leanne and I made two boys' vests and a skirt," said McCullough.
THEY SPENT their spring break shopping for costumes, going to fabric stores, assembling all the outfits and starting to make the costumes they were sewing, themselves.
"We had two weeks to make it all and put it together," said McCullough. "So we were completely shocked to get a nomination. We didn't think we'd get it done in time to be eligible. I Know how hard we worked, and I'm proud of everything we made and of Chantilly's production."
Williams said they're both looking forward to being at The Kennedy Center. And, added McCullough: "We're both making our dresses to wear there."