Riverhead Blue Masques Receive Teeny Awards Judge’s Choice and 24 Nominations

High School’s Sweeney Todd and Something Rotten Earn Acclaim

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK (MAY 2025)—The Riverhead High School Blue Masques program has received 24 nominations in this year’s Teeny Awards for its productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Something Rotten! In addition, Something Rotten! has already received the coveted Judges’ Choice Award for the best high school production in the east end of Long Island, won in a tie with Westhampton Beach High School’s rendition of Les Misérables.

“We enjoy performing unique shows with complex facets like complicated costuming, tremendous dance numbers, and witty humor,” said Laura Nitti, director and musical director of the productions, who runs the high school Blue Masques program and the Riverhead Middle School Middle Masques program. “Directors sometimes do not want to try these productions with students because it can be a challenge to deliver them well. You need the right actors to pull them off well, and we have a truly special group with numerous theater credits under their belt, remarkable talent, and technical interests, including choreography, lighting design, sound, set development, poster design, and merchandise organization. Many of our students are also planning to pursue theater, dance, and production following graduation.”

The annual Teeny Awards recognize the best high school theater productions in the East End. Cast and crew members are recognized across a diverse array of categories, ranging from acting performances to choreography to poster design. This year’s ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. on June 8th at Greenport High School and hosted by award-winning writer, photographer, and radio journalist Gianna Volpe, who serves as the voice of Heart of the East End on WLIW-FM, Long Island’s only local NPR radio station.

“Blue Masques was such a wonderful atmosphere to come to after school, where everyone was excited for what lay ahead,” said Riverhead High School senior Cheyanne Metzger. Cheyanne is a co-president of the club and served as associate director. She is nominated for lead role in a drama musical for her portrayal of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and for her supporting role in a comedy musical in the role of Portia in Something Rotten!. “My favorite part of Something Rotten! was the scene work and its comedy. Our songs and dances would be set, but we would need to incorporate the funny expressions for deliveries that make the audience laugh.”

The Blue Masques’ fall show, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, was a production of the Tony-winning, classic musical by Stephen Sondheim. It tells the tale of murderous barber Sweeney Todd, his accomplice Mrs. Lovett, and the events that unravel in his quest for vengeance. The Blue Masques’ spring production, Something Rotten!, takes place in 1590s England as the Bottom brothers try to find theatrical success as they compete with their contemporary William Shakespeare.

“Everyone involved in the shows is so hardworking,” said Riverhead High School senior John Ellis. John is nominated for lead role in a comedy musical for his role as Nick Bottom in Something Bottom! and for supporting role in a drama musical for his portrayal of Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd. “From our pit instrumentalists to our stage crew and lighting team to our cast, we all collaborated to put together amazing final products.”

The Riverhead High School Blue Masques Teeny Awards nominations are below.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

• Lead Role in a Musical, Drama – Anthony Catarelli as Anthony Hope
• Lead Role in a Musical, Drama – Noah Lake as Sweeney Todd
• Lead Role in a Musical, Drama – Cheyanne Metzger as Mrs. Lovett
• Lead Role in a Musical, Drama – Olivia Sulzer as Johanna
• Supporting Role in a Musical, Drama – John Ellis as Tobias Ragg
• Supporting Role in a Musical, Drama – Hannah Schmidt as Beggar Woman
• Supporting Role in a Musical, Drama – Diego Puluc as Adolfo Pirelli
• Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Damon Lecann as Jonas Fogg/Bird Seller
• Outstanding Choreography – Erin Hubbard for Entire Show Choreography
• Outstanding Poster Design – John Ellis

Something Rotten!

• Lead Role in a Musical, Comedy – John Ellis as Nick Bottom
• Lead Role in a Musical, Comedy – Noah Lake as William Shakespeare
• Supporting Role in a Musical, Comedy – Anthony Catarelli as Nigel Bottom
• Supporting Role in a Musical, Comedy – Owen Karlson as Thomas Nostradamus
• Supporting Role in a Musical, Comedy – Cheyanne Metzger as Portia
• Supporting Role in a Musical, Comedy – Olivia Sulzer as Beatrice “Bea” Bottom
• Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Dulce Contreras Casia as Shylock
• Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Erin Hubbard as Nick’s Troupe “Horatio”/Featured Dancer
• Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Molly Parsons as Nick’s Troupe “Horatio”/Featured Dancer
• Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Sondriel Williams as Minstrel
• Outstanding Choreography – Erin Hubbard for Entire Show Choreography (Except for “It’s Eggs” and “Will Power”)
• Outstanding Choreography – Molly Parsons for “It’s Eggs”
• Outstanding Choreography – Molly Parsons for “Will Power”
• Outstanding Poster Design – John Ellis

For more information about the Riverhead Central School District, please visit the district’s website at www.riverhead.net. Happenings in the district can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/riverheadCSD. #BlueWavesPride.

The Riverhead High School Blue Masques introduce audiences to the Renaissance in Something Rotten!, the Teeny Award Judge’s Choice winner

From left, John Ellis as Nick Bottom and Owen Karlson as Thomas Nostradamus in their Teeny Award-nominated performances in Something Rotten!

Riverhead High School Blue Masques perform “A Musical” in Something Rotten!

From left, Cheyanne Metzger as Portia and Anthony Catarelli as Nigel Bottom in their Teeny Award-nominated performances in Something Rotten!

Riverhead High School Blue Masques perform Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Noah Lake delivers a Teeny Award-nominated performance as Sweeney Todd

Riverhead High School Blue Masques delivers a chilling and lauded production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street