On May 19, Ephrata High School (EHS) students who had taken part in the EHS Theatre program journeyed to Hershey to learn whether the productions they had participated in would win awards in one of four categories.

EHS Theatre director Reji Woods chose to enter both the fall 2023 play - "Radium Girls" - and the spring musical - "Mamma Mia!" - in the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards (HTAA). The awards have been presented annually since 2008, with the goal of recognizing outstanding high school performances by individual students and entire casts.

EHS students were nominated in several categories including Outstanding Musical for "Mamma Mia!" School representatives took home three awards. Madalyn Sandell won in the Best Feature Performance category for her dual role as Irene and Harriet in "Radium Girls," and Carlos Kohls won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Harry in "Mamma Mia!" The entire cast of "Mamma Mia!" won Best Dance Number in a Musical for their performance of "Voulez-Vous." In addition, two students - Darian Rodriguez and Susannah Schelling - were selected to take part in the opening number of the HTAA awards show.

"It was an exciting night," said Woods, who noted that this is EHS Theatre's second year to participate in HTAA. In 2023, Kohls was nominated in the same category for his role as Lord Pinkleton in "Cinderella." The EHS accompanying musicians were nominated for Best Student Orchestra in 2023, and the cast of "Cinderella" received an honorable mention for their dance efforts in "The Prince Is Giving a Ball." Woods explained that HTAA sends five adjudicators to productions at participating high schools to judge presentations in the selected categories.

Rising EHS junior Ali Heisey played Sophie in "Mamma Mia!" She said that when the school's name was called for best musical number, members of the cast jumped up with joy. "It was a dream that we set (for ourselves) and accomplished all together," she said. "I'm so proud of the cast. The show truly made this feel like it was one big family."

Woods said the cast of "Mamma Mia" began practicing in December of 2023. "For me, (the best part about winning) was seeing the culmination of all the work the kids put into it come together in an amazing way," said Woods. "It was incredible being there after all those stressful (rehearsal) days when they thought they wouldn't be able to do it. Not only did they do it and do it awesomely, but they were honored."

Heisey agreed, noting, "It wouldn't have been possible (to win) without the energy and love that was put into that show."

Woods concluded with the words, "I am just super proud of the kids and how hard they worked and how well they presented themselves on stage."