Denman takes home Cappie for Haverford Drama at annual Gala
May 18, 2015
Saturday night, Haverford’s Drama Club embarked on an hour long ride to Eastern Regional High in New Jersey to attend the illustrious and highly anticipated event of the Greater Philadelphia Cappies Gala.”Cappies” are high school drama awards that are given to chosen nominees in categories that range from “Best Song” to “Most Creative”. Student “Cappie” critics review various shows throughout the year and nominated parts and people for their outstanding work on and off stage.
Remarkably, accompanying the club were two undercover correspondents from The Fordian who took pictures and briefed the larger Fordian staff about infiltrating the ceremony that is perhaps the most inner realm and sanctum of all things High School Drama in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
The gala opened with a rather elaborate dancing and singing routine that was dedicated to “Cappies”, which then led into the first awards that were given. Resembling a high school Tony Awards show, the gala was complete with a really energetic announcer (think “Shamwow” guy), musical numbers, laughing, crying, and of course, the awards.
Teachers and school administrators announced different awards winners (one announcer even did an acrobatic routine to get up on stage…that’s Cappies folks) and in between the awards were live performances of the songs, plays, and musical numbers that were nominated for their respected categories.
Haverford’s production of “Footloose” was nominated for over 10 different Cappie Awards, and Sophomore Jack Denman won the “Most Creative” Cappie for his work as the student musical director. Also featured in the show were Junior Tess Mallon and Seniors Haley Amdur and Victoria Barbuto, who all performed “Learning to be Silent” from “Footloose” as part of their live performance for “Best Song”. The three did not win, but still gave a really stunning rendition of the number, to which the audience erupted in raucous applause.
A memorable experience for Haverford’s Drama club, and the two Fordian correspondents, the night was not only a great show that highlighted talent from around the Philadelphia Area, but one that left many high schoolers eager for drama productions and shows next year.