The Carteret PAC Central Jersey Marquee Awards took place on Wednesday, May 15 to celebrate the hard work of various theater departments across Middlesex County. At the ceremony, various high schools performed numbers from their respective plays. This year, the Edison High School theater department returned to the awards ceremony after being nominated for the second year in a row for Best Overall Production.
The theater department earned nominations for seventeen out of the twenty categories for this year’s Legally Blonde musical, encompassing various categories such as Best Lead Actor for Vincent Pecorella ‘24 as Emmett Forrest and Best Lead Actress for Amy Boslet ‘24 as Elle Woods.
At the ceremony, the theater ensemble performed a four-minute rendition of the song, “What You Want” with the full cast reenacting the costume changes and quick transitions akin to their original performance of Legally Blonde number. Behind the scenes, costume managers Aliya Lloyd ‘24 and Micca Solano ‘26 assisted the actors before their performance, while stage manager Leah Steinlauf ‘24 and assistant stage manager Jay Romero Gomez ‘26 controlled the wings and oversaw logistics during the production.
I think that as a whole, the Edison High School theater department is improving every year, and audiences are really enjoying the shows we are putting on—there’s big things coming next year!
— Ms. Jessica Eckhoff
Each category’s winners were announced by the judges during the awards ceremony. The Edison High theater department received awards for Best Music Direction, led by Mr. Remoh Mosley and Olivia Pelizzon ‘26 (Student Music Director), and Best Hair and Makeup, curated by Aliya Lloyd ‘24 and Alyssa Osiadacz ‘24.
“Receiving the reward was fulfilling because I felt like the reward was hard-earned due to my work and the help of others,” said Pellizon.
For seniors, the Marquee Awards were their last musical hurrah for the Edison High theater department.
“The whole experience was definitely one I’ll never forget,” said Osiadacz, Property Manager for Legally Blonde. “It was an honor to go up there and give a little speech for the department. The relentless costume quick changes we all had to go through, throughout Legally Blonde, were all clearly worth it!”
Recognition this year lends to a forward-looking approach for the program.
“I think that as a whole, the Edison High School theater department is improving every year, and audiences are really enjoying the shows we are putting on—there’s big things coming next year!” said Theater Director Ms. Jessica Eckhoff..
With each year, membership in the theater department continues to grow, and the program’s community expands its reach. Some members have grown to think of theater as a tight bond.
“I’ve never made so many friends so quickly,” said Sara Geraldes ‘27. “It feels like a family.”
The Edison High School theater department was nominated in the following categories:
- Best Overall Production
- Best Lead Actor – Vincent Pecorella as Emmett Forrest
- Best Lead Actress – Amy Boslet as Elle Woods
- Best Supporting Actress – Kara Labadessa ‘25 as Vivienne Kensignton
- Best Supporting Actress (Honorable Mention) – Suzette Stephen ’26 as Brooke Wyndham
- Best Ensemble Member – Sanjana Ramesh ‘24 as Pilar
- Best Production Number (Honorable Mention) – “What You Want”
- Best Direction
- Best Chorus
- Best Music Direction – Remoh Mosley and Olivia Pelizzon ‘26 (Student Music Director)
- Best Lighting – Ben Takach ‘24 (Tech Manager)
- Best Scenery – Leah Steinlauf ‘24 (Stage Manager) and Logan Schuetz ‘25 (Build Crew Lead)
- Best Costumes – Aliya Lloyd ‘24 (Head Costume Manager) and Gianmichael Solano ‘26 (Asst. Costume Manager)
- Best Hair & Makeup – Aliya Lloyd and Alyssa Osiadacz
- Best Student Led Category – Benjamin Takach (Student Lighting Designer and Sound Technician)
- Best Student Led Category- Divine Nene ‘24 (Student Choreographer)
- Best Choreography (Honorable Mention)
