Laguna Beach High Drama Stars Shine at the John Raitt Awards

 Submitted by Tad Heitmann:

-- Senior Karina Parker Wins "Best Supporting Actress" for Her Sparkling Portrayal of Irene Malloy in Hello, Dolly!

-- Dolly Herself, Senior Haley Castuera, Receives Performing Arts Scholarship

Laguna Beach High School's Park Avenue Players were among the 1,000 performers from 13 schools across Orange and Los Angeles counties competing in last weekend's "John Raitt Awards for Youth" (JRAY), an annual high school Tony Awards-style program sponsored by the Fullerton Civic Light Opera (FCLO). Our talented young thespians collected six nominations - for stand-out performances in this year's lavish musicals GREASE and HELLO, DOLLY! - with Seniors Karina Parker and Haley Castuera taking home coveted prizes.

After attending actual shows at participating schools, JRAY judges nominate performers in 11 categories. These nominees then participate in the competition, held in Fullerton's Plummer Auditorium, where they deliver highlight performances from the region's best high school musicals.  The Park Avenue Players who were nominated for 2012-2013 included:

• Clair Howell, "Minnie Fay," HELLO, DOLLY! – Featured Actress of the Year

• Karina Parker, "Irene Maloy,"  HELLO, DOLLY! – Supporting Actress of the Year

• Makenna Zur Schmiede, "Rizzo," GREASE – Supporting Actress of the Year

• Haley Castuera, "Dolly Levi," HELLO, DOLLY! – Soloist of the Year – Female

• Elias Cerdas, "Barnaby," HELLO, DOLLY! – Dancer of the Year - Male

• Natalee Palmer, "Cha-Cha," GREASE – Dancer of the Year – Female

All nominees are awarded a JRAY medal, with first place winners receiving a trophy.  When the envelopes were opened last Sunday, Karina Parker was named Best Supporting Actress of the Year.  In addition, Haley Castuera received one of three $1,000 scholarships funded by the organization.

Both young actresses are graduating from LBHS this year but will have one more turn on the Artists Theatre stage in the upcoming LBHS production of Arthur Miller's classic drama The Crucible (May 24, 25, 26, and 31 and June 1 and 2).  In the Fall, Parker will enter the performing arts program at Carnegie Mellon University and Castuera will be attending Boston University.

About the John Raitt Awards for Youth (JRAY)

The JRAY Program operates under the umbrella organization of Fullerton Civic Light Opera Music Theatre (FCLO), under the direction of General Manager, Griff Duncan. FCLO was established 40 years ago and is a nonprofit association.  Each year, JRAY sends the winning actor and actress to New York to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards.  Schools that participated in the JRAY program this year include APA Huntington Beach HS, Beverly Hills HS, La Habra HS, Laguna Beach HS, Los Angeles County HS of the Arts, Mira Costa HS Manhattan Beach, OCSA Santa Ana, Orange Lutheran HS, Palos Verdes HS, SOCSA Dana Hills HS, Temple City HS, Walnut HS, and Yorba Linda HS.