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Performers & Directors Nominated for 2016 Basies - Brand Takes Leading Role Award

Congratulations to senior Karl Brand, who earned the Basie Award for Leading Man in a Drama for his role as "Fluthur Good" in Ranney's fall 2015 production of "The Plough and the Stars." Karl has been a regular on the Ranney stage, participating in dramatic and musical productions in all three divisions (Lower, Middle and Upper School). Karl has been attending Ranney since Kindergarten and plans to attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts after graduation! 

In addition, senior Jacob Wahba earned the Basie Arts Impact Scholarship, which celebrates and recognizes excellence and achievement in high school theater. Also a lifer student, Jacob plans to attend Muhlenberg College in the fall.
 
The following individuals were also nominated for a 2016 Basie Award based on their incredible performances and stage direction. The awards were presented at the Count Basie Theatre on May 18:
 
In a drama
  • Lead Actor “The Plough and the Stars” - Karl Brand (Class of 2016) as Fluther Good WON
  • Costumes, “The Plough and the Stars” - Performing Arts Director John Doyle
In a musical
  • Featured Ensemble Player, “Carousel” -  Taylor Zenner (Class of 2016) as Mr. Bascome
  • Supporting Actor, “Carousel” - Carmine Mastrokostas (Class of 2018) as Jigger
  • Lead Actress, “Carousel” - Tessa Payer (Class of 2016) as Carrie Pipperidge
  • Lead Actress, “Carousel” - Evan Schultz (Class of 2018) as Julie Jordon
  • Mixed student/adult orchestra, “Carousel” – All-Division Orchestra Director Dr. Dorothy Sobieski & All-Division Band Director John Propper

After his Basie win on May 18, Karl Brand said, “Having been nominated for a Basie Award during my freshman year and performing in the annual Red Bank awards show for the last four years, a win in my senior year for Outstanding Lead Role in a Drama couldn’t feel better. Roles like Fluther Good are interesting in all the best ways for an actor: he is simultaneously the funny guy and the eye of despair who propels the production, and through his Irish brogue, leaves everyone laughing as well as thinking.


“The Plough and the Stars was a brilliant choice by Ranney School Director John Doyle for many reasons; Mr. Doyle’s eclectic taste in productions offers his students not only diverse résumés, but also insights into humanity. Through performing in Ranney shows from Lower and Middle School with Mrs. Lillianne Torrente as well as eight Doyle-directed shows over the years, from The Threepenny Opera to Carousel, I have been able to gain a depth in acting that I wouldn’t have achieved with ‘safer’ or more traditional choices.


“Mr. Doyle constantly encourages his actors to be original, nuanced and interesting in their roles and to create a newness with each character. Each of my roles at Ranney has helped me to want to continue to develop my acting. In theatre, it’s the roles that actors play and the plays that directors select that allow everyone involved to shape their toolbox for any part, and it is this versatility that has helped me to gain more depth and become more intense in my own craft. I plan to study drama and pursue my love of acting at NYU Tisch School of the Arts in the fall.”
 
Karl is one of a few Ranney students to have earned a Basie award after their nomination. Previous Basie award winners have included:
  • Evelyn Giovine (Class of 2012) - Special Basie - Alice in Wonderland
  • Kara Santora (Class of 2010) - Supporting Actress- Nurse - Romeo and Juliet
  • Ben Puvalowski (Class of 2013) - Supporting Actor- Kolenkoff - You Can't Take it with You
  • Ben Puvalowski (Class of 2013) - Lead Actor - Toby Belch - Twelfth Night
  • Whitney Kelly (Class of 2014) - Lead Actress Musical - Mrs. Peachum - Three Penny Opera
 
View the media galleries from Ranney productions at www.ranneyschool.org/arts

See APP.com's coverage leading up the awards
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.