Recently, performers from area high school theatre programs attended the 2009 Critics and Awards Program Gala to recognize this year’s best performers in high school theatre.
Affectionately called the “Cappies,” the program trains high school theatre and journalism students to be performance critics and attend productions at other schools, write reviews and publish those reviews in local newspapers. Throughout the year, each Cappie member reviews five shows and at the end of the year, the critics nominate the top five best performances in 35 different categories. The Cappies Gala honored the nominated performers, showcased various plays and musicals and recognized the winners in each award category.
This year, over sixty high school Cappie critics attended MND’s performance of Into the Woods, nominating the play six times. Following the ceremony, MND’s Theatre Program is proud to announce that Taylor Beckham, daughter of Jeffrey and Julie Beckham of West Chester, won the Cappie for Best Cameo Actress in a Musical. Beckham played the role of “Milky White” the cow, in this year’s production of Into the Woods.
Ms. Beckham tried very hard to make the role entertaining and fun for the audience. She took the opportunity and made the best of it, and it paid off. “I was completely shocked to have received a Cappie!” said Beckham, “I was sure that someone who had a larger role in a play would have won. I am so excited and grateful to be recognized for my work.”