Triangle Rising Stars

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 7:30 PM

Thanks to our community partners

BROADWAY’S NEXT GENERATION! Two students from our program will join teens from across the U.S. to compete for top honors in a one-night-only showcase at

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Wednesday, May 11, 2022 DPAC in partnership with McGregor Hall Root Media Durham Arts Council WTVD ABC11 presents

Triangle Rising Stars Awards Megan Rindoks Triangle Rising Stars Executive Director & DPAC’s Community Engagement Manager Freddie-Lee Heath Director of Choreography

Christine Rapp Stage Manager

Thomas Mauney Lighting Design

David Henderson Acting Director

Mark Hopper Musical Director & Arranger

Emerson Welborn DPAC’s Community Engagement Intern

Triangle Rising Stars Band Mark Hopper Conductor & Piano

Matt Nowell Guitar

Saylor Gray Keyboards

Tyler Nowell Drums

Tommy Nowell Bass

Brian Westbrook Percussion

N a p f t N

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2022 Triangle Rising Stars Awards

An Authentic Theater Ensemble Experience

Scholarships still available

A Week-long Theater Intensive Taught by Broadway Professionals July 11-15, 2022 at DPAC

Next Stop Broadway ® is a week-long program consisting of classes, workshops, and rehearsals focused on classic Broadway shows. The staff of Broadway professionals teaches ensemble songs and choreography from two hit shows from the “Golden Age of Broadway” and participants work together throughout the week to create unique skits. The program culminates with an “Opening Night” performance for family and friends on DPAC’s stage.

Paid registrations are limited to 80 spots for those ages 10-17 and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Twenty additional scholarships will be awarded to applicants with financial need and interest in the performing arts.

No theater experience needed.

More information at

Participating Schools 2021 / 2022 Musicals Adjudicated Apex Friendship High School Durham School of the Arts Mary Poppins Urinetown:The Musical Athens Drive Magnet High School Beehive The 60’s Musical Broughton High School Chicago:Teen Edition

East Wake High School Fame Jr

Longleaf School of the Arts Little Shop of Horrors Northwood High School The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Heritage High School Tarzan

Penn-Griffin School for the Arts Legally Blonde

Heritage High School Frozen Jr CE Jordan High School Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Jordan-Matthews High School Cinderella Oklahoma!

CE Jordan High School Longleaf School of the Arts Bright Star Daddy Longlegs Clayton High School Chicago:Teen Edition

Wake Forest High School Legally Blonde Weaver Academy Anastasia West Johnston High School Matilda

Student Participants Representing The Following Schools Apex Friendship High School

Forbush High School

Northwest High School

Apex High School

Franklinton High School

Penn-Griffin School for the Arts

Athens Drive Magnet High School

Heritage High School

Raleigh Charter High School

Holly Springs High School

Sanderson High School

Leesville Road High School

Thales Academy Apex

Longleaf School of the Arts

University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School

C.E Jordan High School Callaghan Academy Cardinal Gibbons High School Millbrook High School Wake Forest High School

Cary Academy Clayton High School Durham Academy Durham School of the Arts Enloe Magnet High School 4

Needham B. Broughton High School

Wakefield High School

Wayne School of Engineering North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Weaver Academy Northwest Guilford High School Woods Charter School 2022 Triangle Rising Stars Awards

ADF 25+ companies performing both indoors and outdoors in 2022.

Arrsts featured: Aparna Ramaswamy of Ragamala Dance Company, Johnnie Cruise Mercer, and Luke Hickey.

Photos by Nadia Halim, Sarah Silver, and Deb Fong.

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Congratulations To the TRS Performers & Teachers!

— Freddie-Lee Heath, Choreographer

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at DPAC

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Performances Tonight Hosted by Clay Aiken

Special Appearance: 2021 Triangle Rising Stars Winners Elena Holder & Joshua Messmore

Awards Presented this Evening Include Best Student Orchestra Best Choreography Best Set Design Best Costume Design Best Lighting Design Best Dancer Triangle Shining Star Best Ensemble Best Musical Best Actor Best Actress

Proud to support Triangle Rising Stars

Mellow Out After The Show!

Located across the street from DPAC in the American Tobacco District

(919) 680-8500

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2022 Triangle Rising Stars Awards

Finalists Best Student Orchestra Apex Friendship High School Mary Poppins

Broughton High School Chicago Teen Edition

Wake Forest High School Legally Blonde:The Musical

Athens Drive Magnet High School Beehive the 60s Musical

CE Jordan High School Bright Star

West Johnston High School Matilda

Durham School of the Arts Urinetown:The Musical

Best Choreography Apex Friendship High School Mary Poppins

Heritage High School Tarzan

Penn-Griffin School for the Arts Legally Blonde:The Musical

Broughton High School Chicago Teen Edition

Heritage High School Frozen Jr.

Wake Forest High School Legally Blonde:The Musical

Best Set Design CE Jordan High School Bright Star

East Wake High School Fame Jr.

Heritage High School Frozen Jr.

Durham School of the Arts Urinetown:The Musical

Heritage High School Tarzan

Longleaf School of the Arts Daddy Longlegs

Best Costume Design Athens Drive Magnet High School Beehive the 60s Musical Broughton High School Chicago Teen Edition

CE Jordan High School Bright Star

Weaver Academy Anastasia

Longleaf School of the Arts Daddy Longlegs

West Johnston High School Matilda

Best Lighting Design Broughton High School Chicago Teen Edition

Durham School of the Arts Urinetown:The Musical

Longleaf School of the Arts Daddy Longlegs

CE Jordan High School Bright Star

East Wake High School Fame Jr.

West Johnston High School Matilda

Best Ensemble Apex Friendship High School Durham School of the Arts Jordan-Matthews High School Mary Poppins Urinetown:The Musical Oklahoma!

Clayton High School Chicago Teen Edition 8

Heritage High School Frozen Jr.

West Johnston High School Matilda 2022 Triangle Rising Stars Awards

Best Musical Apex Friendship High School Durham School of the Arts Mary Poppins Urinetown:The Musical CE Jordan High School Bright Star

Heritage High School Tarzan

Heritage High School Frozen Jr. West Johnston High School Matilda

Best Actor Noah Colvin Enloe High School Newsies Jack Kelly

Ryan Gregory Enloe High School Big Fish Edward Blook

Braden Shepstead Heritage High School Beauty and the Beast Beast

Avery Davidson Durham Academy Twelfth Night Orsino

Conor Kruger Enloe High School Pippin Pippin

Levi Stine C.E. Jordan High School Bright Star Billy Cane

Maximiliano Alex Lim Fernández Escalona Cary Academy Apex Friendship High School Thoroughly Modern Millie Mary Poppins Jimmy Smith Bert Clark Phoenix Longleaf School of the Arts Daddy Longlegs Jervis Pendleton

Joshua Thompson Weaver Academy Tuck Everlasting Miles Tuck

Best Actress Madeline Atwater Millbrook High School Something Rotten Bea

Hayes Hunter C.E. Jordan High School The Baker’s Wife Genevieve Castagnet

Hannah Szemereta Apex Friendship High School Mary Poppins Mary Poppins

Reaghan Given Heritage High School Little Shop of Horrors Audrey

Ellie O’Connell C.E. Jordan High School Bright Star Alice Murphy

Hannah Watters Heritage High School Godspell Sonia

Emily Hartsoe Longleaf School of the Arts Daddy Longlegs Jerusha Abbott

Hannah Richman UNCSA High School The Apple Tree Passionella

Brooke Willse Wake Forest High School Funny Girl Fanny Brice

Symoné Spencer Enloe High School Funny Girl Fanny Brice Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at DPAC

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Guest Judging Panel YOLANDA RABUN A proud graduate of the acclaimed Northside High School of the Performing Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, Yolanda Rabun is charttopping national recording artist and award-winning professional equity actor skilled with an exceptional natural talent for storytelling. Known for her endless energy, commanding vocal power and inventiveness on stage,Yolanda headlined and opened Koka Booth and RedHat Amphitheatres, Carolina Theatre and DPAC, among others.Yolanda is credited as a Renaissance Woman, given her accolades as a wife, mother, Corporate Executive, Senior In-House IBM lawyer, BMI and ASCAP singer-songwriter and publisher, keynote motivational speaker, active political scientist, community activist for youth, touring performance artist, and music entrepreneur.Yolanda lives at the speed of passion. @yolandarabun www.yolandarabun.com LISA JOLLEY Lisa Jolley is an actor, singer, improviser, director, voice teacher, and vocal coach. She has appeared on Broadway, television, and at regional theaters around the US and internationally. Lisa is thrilled to be back as a judge for Triangle Rising Stars — in person! www.lisajolley.com

TERRI DOLLAR With a career in the entertainment industry spanning over 40 years, Terri Dollar is a creative and passionate leader in the arts and enthusiastic champion in the development of the careers of hundreds of young performers. She spent over two decades as Program Director of the award-winning non-profit Artsplosure—The Raleigh Arts Festival. A former actor herself, Terri has been a talent agent with the agency she created, KUTALENT Agency, for over three decades. She is proud to have helped launch the careers of many current stars who began their careers in the Triangle area. Her current talent roster includes Broadway Actors as well as many successful Film, Television and Commercial Actors. She is thrilled to be asked to judge this year’s Triangle Rising Stars competition.

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2022 Triangle Rising Stars Awards

Year Round Adjudicators Special thanks and appreciation to Triangle Rising Stars’ year round judges, who this year went in-person to review school productions, and spent countless hours reviewing online student applications.Without this panel of qualified judges,Triangle Rising Stars Awards could not take place.

Ainsley Johnston

Mark Falgout

Barbette Hunter

MC Malone

Bryant Chappell

Megan Mabry

Chloe Anderson

Michaela Ashworth

Deb Royals

Noel James

Dylan Bailey

Patrick Falgout

Gayle D Hurd

Rod Carter

Hannah Miller

Samantha Yancey

Jacob Holland

Sandra Berman

Jeri Lynn Schulke

Sejal Mehta

Joni Falvey

Stephanie “Asabi” Howard

Lauren Tompkins

Thomas Porter

Liza Vest

Special thanks to Triangle Rising Stars photographer, Michael Gillman Looking to update your headshot?

DPAC recommends giving Michael a call.

MichaelGillman.photography

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at DPAC

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Top 20 Student Finalist Bios MADDIE ATWATER is honored to be selected for the Triangle Rising Stars! She loves musical theatre and has worked with Raleigh ACT, NC Theatre, NC Theatre Conservatory and Theatre Raleigh. Maddie is extremely grateful for the support of her family, teachers and friends.

NOAH COLVIN has been a part of various productions since the first grade.

Some of his roles include Varthur Mcarthur in A Killer Party, Rev. Chasuble in Importance of being Earnest and Daniel Beauxhomme in Once on this Island. Noah hopes you have an amazing night and enjoy the show!

AVERY DAVIDSON is a high school senior at Durham Academy that will pursue a bachelor’s degree in music at Boston University. He is a pianist, cellist, and a singer, and he will continue his musical career in conducting. He has performed in four theater productions before this and has always enjoyed being on stage.

MAXIMILIANO FERNÁNDEZ ESCALONA is a senior at Apex Friendship High School and is overjoyed to be a finalist! He thanks his family and teachers for all their love and support. Max will be attending Shenandoah Conservatory in the fall.

REAGHAN GIVEN is a senior at Heritage High School. She has performed in eight shows with Heritage Theatre, along with being lead dance captain and student choreographer. She is so excited to have this opportunity, and would like to thank Bryan Phoebus, Jose Rondon Jr., Carrie Banfi, and her mom, dad, and sisters for their constant support and encouragement.

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RYAN GREGORY is super excited to be back as a Triangle Rising Stars finalist for the second year in a row! Ryan is 15 years old, a sophomore at Enloe High School, and is playing Shrek in North Carolina Theatre Conservatory’s production of Shrek in July.

Ryan would like to thank Enloe, NCTC, and all of the wonderful family members and friends who support his dreams.

EMILY HARTSOE is a senior at Longleaf School of the Arts. She has huge passion for bringing joy through the art of music and theatre. She would like to send a heartfelt thank you to her parents for giving her the opportunity to do what she loves.

HAYES HUNTER is a junior at Jordan High School. She enjoys baking pies and listening to Taylor Swift. She is grateful to everyone in the JHS theater department for constantly supporting her!

CONOR KRUGER is a sophomore at Enloe High School. He enjoys playing guitar and piano and hanging out with his friends.

ALEX LIM is a senior at Cary Academy who enjoys speech and debating, swimming, making music, and bullying his three younger brothers. In college, he hopes to study government and theater, in hopes of figuring out a way to make a living out of performing.

ELLIE O’CONNELL is a junior at Jordan High School and has always dreamed about being in musical theatre. At the end of this magical first year, she can attest it is better than she could’ve ever imagined. She’s so grateful and excited for this opportunity and hopes you enjoy the show!!

2022 Triangle Rising Stars Awards

CLARK PHOENIX is a junior at Longleaf School of the Arts who enjoys singing, theatre, reading and gymnastics. He has been involved with theatre since middle school and most recently worked in the production, Daddy Long Legs with Longleaf Repertory Ensemble. He is grateful for this opportunity with Triangle Rising Stars and is excited to move forward.

HANNAH RICHMAN is ecstatic to be participating in Triangle Rising Stars for the second time! Hannah is a high school senior at UNCSA. She was most recently seen as “Little Girl” in Piedmont Opera’s production of Ragtime the musical.

BRADEN SHEPSTEAD is a junior at Heritage High School and has performed in two shows since joining the program. He is finishing his first year in musical theater and is incredibly excited for future shows.

SYMONÉ SPENCER is a senior at William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh and has been an active member of the Enloe Arts Department since her freshman year. From school plays to spring musicals and chorale performances, every year provides an opportunity to share her talents and passions with the world. A rising triple threat in the areas of acting, voice, and dance, Symoné plans to continue cultivating her skills in a collegiate musical theater program next fall.

LEVI STINE is a junior at Jordan High School in Durham. In addition to theatre, he’s extremely interested in film. He thanks God and his theatre director, Olivia Bellido, for this amazing opportunity.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at DPAC

HANNAH SZEMERETA, a senior at Apex Friendship High School, is overwhelmed with joy to be nominated as a Triangle Rising Stars finalist! In the Fall, Hannah will be pursuing a BFA in Acting at UNCSA. She is incredibly thankful for her family and her amazing teachers, Ms. Gustely and Mr. Gorski, for always supporting her dreams.

JOSHUA THOMPSON is a 17-year-old performer who loves to impact the lives of people by storytelling. He is incredibly passionate about all aspects of theatre and loves working in this wonderful community of artists. More than performing, he loves uplifting others to do their best work and puts his heart into every performance.

HANNAH WATTERS is so excited for this amazing opportunity perform in front of so many people. When she is not singing Hannah can be found painting or playing soccer. She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support.

BROOKE WILLSE, a senior at Wake Forest High School and rising University of North Carolina Chapel Hill freshman, is honored to be representing both schools!

Brooke has been involved in musical theatre since the fourth grade and also enjoys being a pianist and singer-songwriter. Brooke is ecstatic for this opportunity and would like to thank DPAC, her mom and dad, Mrs. Rendina, and her favorite animal, wombats, for encouraging her to follow her passions all throughout life.

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2021 TRS Best Actress and Actor Winners

Where Are They Now?

2021 TRS Best Actress winner

Elena Holder

After winning the 2021 Jimmy Awards, Elena Holder was given the opportunity to make her NYC debut in Times Square for the reopening of Broadway. She is currently enrolled full time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying vocal performance and psychology. Elena has thoroughly enjoyed her time in college so far, and recently played Hope in a UNC production of Urinetown. She is so glad to be performing again, and is looking forward to future productions at UNC Chapel Hill.

Joshua Messmore is thrilled to return for this year’s Triangle Rising Stars Awards! After an experience of a life time at DPAC, Joshua left for college at Northwestern University, where he studies Musical Theatre. In an attempt to get involved with as much as possible on campus, he joined Northwestern a capella group Purple Haze and NU’s premier tap group Tonik Tap, and has performed multiple times with both.This past quarter Joshua has been involved in three new works, one of which as the lead in Northwestern’s famed Waa-Mu show, an annual student written musical produced on a mainstage budget. This summer, he will be working with Music Theatre Wichita, before returning to Northwestern for another year of creativity and performance. Joshua is so grateful for his Triangle Rising Stars and Jimmy Award experiences, and is excited to see this year’s nominees in action!

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2021 TRS Best Actor winner

Joshua Messmore

2022 Triangle Rising Stars Awards

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Each year DPAC selects 20-30 high school students to serve as Performing Arts Ambassadors. These students get to shadow DPAC staff members and see a wide variety of events throughout the season.

DPAC will begin accepting applications for the 2022 / 2023 season in early fall.

Apply at DPACnc.com

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