In 2008, the Islip Arts Council wanted to encourage students to continue their education and pursue careers in performing arts and theater. Thus, The Teenys Gala was born: Islip Arts Council’s version of the Tony Awards for the Town of Islip’s high school theater students.

2024 marks the 16th year of The Teenys Gala, with this year’s award show held on June 2, hosted at Brentwood High School for the very first time.

This year’s talented theater performers from Town of Islip high schools dressed to the nines and took to the red carpet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the show beginning at 7 p.m. The gala was heavily attended by fellow students, family, friends, and patrons of the arts. The funds contributed through donations and sponsorships are applied to scholarship awards and the administration of the Teenys. 
Throughout the night, high school theater students were honored, celebrated, and recognized for their outstanding talent and dedication with a wide array of awards for those both in front of, and behind, the curtain.

“This year, we have the most nominees ever in the history of the Teenys,” Lynda Moran, executive director of the Islip Arts Council and executive producer of the Teeny Awards, shared with the crowd.

“What is so special is that it isn’t high school against high school,” noted Islip Arts Council president Waldo Cabrera. “You can hear the kids from all schools rooting each other on.”

Attendees were truly wowed by the one-of-a-kind production. In between the awards being presented by special guest announcers and hosts Kelly Murphy and Ryan Alvarado, students put on dazzling performances, showcasing a sliver of their school’s productions.

Among the performances was a medley performed by students from all schools; Brentwood’s performance of a mega-mix from their production of “On Your Feet”; Bay Shore’s performance of “Ain’t No Good” from “Children of Eden”; Hauppauge’s performance of “I Won’t Grow Up” from “Peter Pan”; Sachem East’s performance of “America” from “West Side Story”; and a grand finale performance of students from all schools.

And the winners are…

Lead actor in a comedy or drama

Jake Morris as Cherdyakov/Kuryatin/Army/Hauppauge/“The Good Doctor”

Lead actress in a comedy or drama

Stevie Rosenfeld as Writer/Hauppauge / “The Good Doctor”

Victoria Acquavita as Writer/Hauppauge / “The Good Doctor”   

Tara Murphy as Writer/Hauppauge/“The Good Doctor”

Supporting actor in a comedy or drama

Jacob Solomon as Auditioner/Man/Hauppauge/“The Good Doctor”

Supporting actress in a comedy or drama

Jordan Reilly as Wife/Woman/Hauppauge/“The Good Doctor”

Featured actor in a comedy or drama

Anderson Ross as Smeagol/East Islip/“Game of Tiaras”

Featured actress in a comedy or drama

Amanda Bolen as Narrator 2/East Islip/“Game of Tiaras”

Venti Ammenwerth as Narrator 1/East Islip/“Game of Tiaras”

Ensemble in a comedy or drama

East Islip/“Game of Tiaras”

Hauppauge/“The Good Doctor”

Lead actor in a musical

Isaiah Baston as Father/Bay Shore/“Children of Eden”

Lead actress in a musical

Krista Flynn as Eve/MamaNoah/Bay Shore/“Children of Eden”

Supporting actor in a musical

Jeronnie McDougald as Chip Tolentino/Bay Shore/“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Supporting actress in a musical

Allison Orellana as Yonah/Storyteller 10/Bay Shore/“Children of Eden”

Featured actress in a musical

Charlie Roman as Count Ipolitov/Count Leopold/West Islip/“Anastasia”

Ensemble in a musical

Bay Shore/“Children of Eden”

To see the full list of nominees for the above awards, as well as the recipients of the Director’s Choice, Pit Orchestra, and Student Theater Recognition awards, visit www.isliparts.org