Queensbury High School’s production of “Shrek the Musical” won three awards — including Best Musical — at the Proctors High School Musical Theatre Awards Saturday, May 13. 
The QHS Drama Club took top honors in Best Musical for Tier A, Best Choreography and Best Set Construction. This was the first time Queensbury has ever won awards in these three categories.
The production received six nominations last month, including Best Actor for Carter Sano, who played Shrek, Best Supporting Actress for Delaney Sano, who played Gingy, and Best Ensemble.
The cast performed “Freak Flag” during the ceremony Saturday night on the MainStage at Proctors, and Carter Sano performed in the Best Actors Medley. The show closed with “Brand New Day” from “The Wiz,” featuring students from all participating high schools.
“I am extremely proud of the cast and crew of ‘Shrek’ on their three Proctors High School Musical Theatre Awards,” said Director Andy Terry. “All their hard work and dedication certainly paid off.”
Maddie Gaiser, who played Fiona, accepted the Best Musical award. Student choreographer Kendra Jones accepted the award for Best Choreography. And Avery Magee accepted the Best Set Construction award.
“We didn’t have anyone to build our set this year, so I begged my parents to build it, and I’m so very glad that they did,” Magee said on stage. “It was their first year building our set, and they exceeded expectations.”
The ceremony was presented by the Collaborative School of the Arts at Proctors Collaborative in partnership with The Broadway League and presented by the title sponsor Guilderland Music Academy with media sponsor Times Union.
HSMTA celebrates the achievements of the Capital Region’s high school theater students, highlighting the importance of musical theater and arts education.
2023 HSMTA Award winners:
Best Technical Execution
- Glens Falls High School – “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Best Set Construction
- Queensbury High School – “Shrek the Musical”
Best Choreography Execution
- Queensbury High School – “Shrek the Musical”
Best Student Orchestra
- Niskayuna High School – “A Chorus Line: Teen Edition”
Best Ensemble
- Glens Falls High School – “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Best Supporting Actor
- Roman Mangino – Ballston Spa High School, Kevin G in “Mean Girls”
Best Supporting Actress
- Yael Woods – Schenectady High School, Voice of Audrey II in “Little Shop of Horrors”
Best Actor
- Logan Esposito – Voorheesville High School, Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Best Actress
- Ashley Manocchi – Scotia-Glenville High School, Marian Paroo in “The Music Man”
Best Musical (Tier A)
- Queensbury High School – “Shrek the Musical”
Best Musical (Tier B)
- Glens Falls High School – “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Best Musical (Tier C)
- Ballston Spa High School – “Mean Girls”