The accomplishments of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s Theatre Arts program were recognized by the famed Paper Mill Playhouse.
The highly popular production of Little Shop of Horrors that was performed by the Theatre Arts program from April 16-18 at Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s auditorium earned a nomination for Best Scenic Design, as well as an Honorable Mention for high school senior Evan Andrews, who portrayed Seymour Krelborn from the prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards.
Heather Diaforli-Day, the Director of the Theater Arts program, and two valuable crew members of the musical, Art Teacher Sarah Nasson, who served as the Set Designer, and Dan Schulze, who worked as the Technical Director, attended the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, June 9, at the Paper Mill Playhouse, which is located in Millburn.
According to the Paper Mill Playhouse website, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards recognize the artistry, dedication, and collaboration that bring New Jersey’s high school musical productions to life.
This year, Paper Mill Playhouse reported that 114 New Jersey high schools across 19 counties, and more than 100 performances, participated in the full adjudication of their productions from February to April, 2026.
These performances, according to the Paper Mill Playhouse, were attended by a team of 55 passionate and skilled adjudicators specializing in music, design, education, and more. Each production receives in-depth feedback and insights to support the continued development of all theatrical disciplines within the school’s community. Participating educators across the state can use this feedback to continue developing professional skills and pedagogical techniques from year to year.
Also, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts production of The Outsiders this past December received five nominations from the Montclair State University Foxy Awards.