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Local high schools in Warren County nominated for 2026 Freddy Awards

WARREN COUNTY, N.J. — High schools across Warren County earned nominations for the 2026 Freddy Awards, which recognize excellence in high school musical theater productions and performances throughout the region.

The annual FREDDY Awards program honors achievements in acting, music, choreography, technical production and stage performance at local high schools in eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. Winners will be announced during a live broadcast at 7 p.m. May 21 on WFMZ-TV Channel 69 and streaming on WFMZ.com.

Local Warren County nominations include:

Hackettstown High School — “Lionel Bart’s Oliver!”

  • Outstanding Technical Design by a Smaller School
  • Outstanding Use of Costumes
  • Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
  • Outstanding Stage Crew
  • Outstanding Use of Choreography and Musical Staging
  • Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School
  • Abby Jamer — Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role as The Artful Dodger
  • Naomi Schicker — Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress as Nancy
  • Eli DiPaolo — Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role as Fagin

Phillipsburg High School — “Disney’s Frozen”

  • Outstanding Technical Design
  • Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
  • Outstanding Use of Choreography and Musical Staging
  • Riley Merker and Quinn Fucci — Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance for “I Can’t Lose You”
  • Riley Merker — Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress as Elsa
  • Riley Merker — Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance for “Let It Go”
  • Daniel Thompson — Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role as Olaf
  • Sophia Merker — Outstanding Featured Dancer as Oaken

Warren Hills Regional High School — “Big Fish: School Edition”

  • Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
  • Zander Kirkwood — Outstanding Technical Contribution by a Student for lighting design
  • Olivia Betancourt, Julia Cagnassola and Natalie Trawin — Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance for “Little Lamb From Alabama”
  • Julia Cagnassola — lehighvalleylive.com Student Achievement Award
  • Milo Dominguez — Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role as Edward Bloom

Belvidere High School — “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”

  • Outstanding Technical Design by a Smaller School
  • Arden Henley — lehighvalleylive.com Student Achievement Award

Warren County Technical School — “Working (Localized Version)”

  • Outstanding Technical Design by a Smaller School

North Warren Regional High School — “Sleeping Beauty The Musical”

  • Michael Naomi — lehighvalleylive.com Student Achievement Award for stage management

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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