Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Ms. Ohaus Wins National Award

The following article was written by Ronni Reich of the Star-Ledger and published on June 29, 2009. This is an amazing national honor for a woman who has given so much of her time and expertise to our district. -Dr. Petrosino

A Hoboken High school drama teacher was honored with a national award tonight at New York University.

Chosen from drama teachers across the country, Hoboken High's Paula Ohaus received the first National High School Musical Theater Award for Outstanding Arts Educator. The award, presented at NYU's Skirball Center, comes with a $5,000 prize.

Also known as the Jimmy Awards after theater icon James M. Nederlander, the ceremony featured 32 student performers -- including two high school students from northern New Jersey -- vying for "best actor" and "best actress" honors. Those awards went to Stephen Mark of Connecticut and Jenny Wine of Kansas.

Julia Knitel of Fair Lawn High School and Anthony Bruno of Bergen County Academies, both Rising Star Awards winners, represented New Jersey and the Paper Mill Playhouse.

Created to recognize individual artistry in high school students' vocal, dance and acting performances, the event was hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and featured Tommy Tune as a presenter. A panel of industry experts judged the competition based on auditions, interviews and rehearsals.

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