Month: June 2023

Miller Place Students Walk the Red Carpet at the Teeny Awards

Students recognized at East End Arts High School theater award show
for their productions of Anastasia and You Can’t Take It With You

Miller Place High School actors, set designers, musicians and others involved in the Miller Place High School Panther Players productions of the musical Anastasia and the play You Can’t Take It With You were honored recently at the East End Arts’ 21st Annual Teeny Awards. The annual high school theater awards show, given its name as a reference to the Tony Awards, took place on June 11th at Longwood High School in Yaphank.

Carly Shurbet won the Teeny Award in the category of lead role in a musical, drama or jukebox/revue for her portrayal of Anya Anastasia in Anastasia. Julianne Donohue took home a Teeny Award in the category of a supporting role in a musical, drama or jukebox/revue for her portrayal of Lilly Malevsky-Malevitch in Anastasia.  

“Congratulations to our students who took home awards and to everyone who was nominated this year. The Teeny Awards is recognition for students to receive acclaim for all their hard work and dedication of our Panther Players.,” said Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie. “We had incredible productions this year and we’re so proud of everyone involved for contributing to these outstanding performances.”

The Teeny Awards has been celebrating outstanding performances and remarkable behind-the-scenes work in high school theater since 2002. Anonymous volunteer judges with backgrounds in theatre attend high school productions in Suffolk County throughout the year to select nominations before the winners are decided by a judging committee.

Other Miller Place High School students receiving acting recognition at the awards ceremony included:

Student                                     Nomination Category               Role

Kai Schiera                          lead role in a play                      Martin Vanderhof
(Grandpa) You Can’t Take it With You

                                                lead role in a musical, Dmitry
drama or jukebox/revue Anastasia

Natalie Cervenka            supporting role in a play            Essie Carmichael
You Can’t Take It With You

Claire Wagner                       supporting role in a play            Madame Kolenkhov
You Can’t Take It With You

Student                                    Nomination Category    Role

Gregory Marino                   supporting role in a musical, Vlad Popov
drama or jukebox/revue             Anastasia

Lucas McGuire                     supporting role in a musical,  Gleb Vaganov
drama or jukebox/revue             Anastasia

Vienna Sigismondi            outstanding performer in a play     Grand Duchess
Olga Katrina
You Can’t Take It With You

In the technical categories, Julianne Donohue received a nomination for outstanding student choreography for her work in Anastasia. Emma Rosequist was lauded for her artwork, receiving a nomination for outstanding poster design for creating the poster for Anastasia.

Technical recognition was also given to Rayna Bruno, Sophia Cui, Rachel Leonoff, Erin Maloney, Isabella Romero and Natalie Shurbet for lending their make-up skills to the production of Anastasia.

Lighting designers, assistants and crew members Emma Balamoti, Joseph Costa, Jordan Miletti, Aiden Pace and Alex Trocchio were named for their work in Anastasia.

Stage manager/assistant stage manager Gianna Benavides was recognized for her work in Anastasia and Abby Bosshard was named for her work in You Can’t Take It With You.

Sound designers, assistants and crew members Taylor Higgins and Lauren Soreil were recognized for their work in You Can’t Take It With You.

Stage crew members Gianna Benavides, Jane Delaney, Lorilei Specht, Michael Venegoni and Evie Weiner were recognized for their work in Anastasia; Molly Caufield, Sarah DiPersio, Taylor Higgins, Kaitlyn Lopez, Antonio Minier, Aiden Pace, Lauren Soreil, Alex Trocchio and Gabby Zorn received praise for their behind-the-scenes work in You Can’t Take It With You; and Abby Bosshard, Sophia Necci and Kylie Taylor lent their talents to both You Can’t Take It With You and Anastasia.

Pit orchestra members also received acclaim for their performances in Anastasia, including Analynn Bisiani on clarinet, Brennos Blake on piano, Mia Carvajal on violin, Lucy Chang on violin 2, Bernard Creedon on tenor sax, Mary Duffy on percussion, Eileen Duffy on violin, Kyle Fehling on alto sax, Rosa Fuentes on violin 2, Nathaly Garcia on cello, Jacob Huwer on violin, Hope Jacobsen on flute, Robert John Kalin on baritone sax, Grace Lassiter on viola, Lilah Lindemann on piano, James Loughlin on percussion, Maura Luby on trombone, Taylor McHugh on bassoon, Nick Nania on viola, Nailah Rahman on bass, Jack Serrentino on trumpet, Wyatt Shattes on trumpet, Faith Torres on cello, Emma Venegoni on oboe and Bianca Zou on violin 2.

To learn more about the Teeny Awards, visit https://eastendarts.org/featured-events/teeny-awards/.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page.

Miller Place High School students were honored at the East End Arts’ 21st Annual Teeny Awards for their work in their fall production of You Can’t Take It With You and their spring production of Anastasia. 
Miller Place High School students were honored at the East End Arts’ 21st Annual Teeny Awards for their work in their fall production of You Can’t Take It With You and their spring production of Anastasia. 
Miller Place High School students were honored at the East End Arts’ 21st Annual Teeny Awards for their work in their fall production of You Can’t Take It With You and their spring production of Anastasia. 
Miller Place High School students were honored at the East End Arts’ 21st Annual Teeny Awards for their work in their fall production of You Can’t Take It With You and their spring production of Anastasia. 
Miller Place High School students were honored at the East End Arts’ 21st Annual Teeny Awards for their work in their fall production of You Can’t Take It With You and their spring production of Anastasia. 

Miller Place Student Athletes to Continue their Athletic Careers in College

District holds Spring National Letter of Intent signing for 13 students

The Miller Place School District recently held its Spring National Letter of Intent signing event for 13 student athletes who will continue their athletic and academic careers after graduation. Students displayed pride in their future schools by wearing sweatshirts and other apparel with their colleges’ names and logos.

“We are so proud of these talented and skilled student athletes. We are confident they will excel in their future athletic endeavors,” said Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie.

Jack Kiernan and Dominic Falino, both members of the Miller Place High School boys’ baseball team, will be continuing their baseball careers at SUNY Cortland and Fairleigh-Dickinson University, respectively.

Lacrosse players Natalia Altebrando and Caden Stubba will be representing Stony Brook University and St. Joseph’s University, respectively. 

Football players Edward Haeffer and Nick Oliva will be teammates again for Utica University; Edward will also join the track team.

Additionally, Ella Neyland will join the equestrian team at Lynchburg College, Kylie Hoffmann will play field hockey for SUNY Oneonta, Katie Doherty will be joining the soccer team at SUNY Oneonta, Zander Klaric will join the swimming team at Le Moyne College, Shanna Wolfe will be joining the cheerleading team at Long Island University, Dominic Cahill will play golf for Coker University, and Robert Cunningham will join the wrestling team at SUNY Cortland.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page.

Miller Place High School student athletes Jack Kiernan, left, and Dominic Falino signed their National Letters of Intent.
Edward Haeffer, back-left, Dominic Cahill, Nick Oliva, Robert Cunningham, Caden Stubba,
Ella Neyland, front left, Kylie Hoffmann, Katie Doherty, Natalia Altebrando, Zander Klaric and Shanna Wolfe signed their National Letters of Intent.

Laura Opitz Named Middle School Science Teacher of the Year

North Country Road Middle School teacher is honored by the Science Teachers Association of New York State

Laura Opitz, a science teacher at North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place School District, was recently named the 2023 Middle School Teacher of the Year by the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS).

“Ms. Opitz is an extraordinary teacher and an encouraging mentor to both students and members of our faculty and staff. We commend her on this very well-deserved achievement,” said Miller Place School District Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie.

Ms. Opitz is a veteran teacher and Science Club advisor who has helmed many unique and interactive learning opportunities for her students. Recently, she and her students worked with the New York Marine Rescue Center to rehabilitate and rescue a sea turtle named Peachy Keen. Her students continue to monitor Peachy Keen, who is currently navigating the Northeastern Coast of Florida.

This past fall, Ms. Opitz brought another exciting project to Miller Place by collaborating with the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and NASA. Students had the opportunity to conduct research and present their findings to NASA researchers and administrators during the live, virtual Student Research Symposium. 

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page.

NCRMS Principal Matthew Clark, left, with Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie, NCRMS Science Teacher Laura Opitz, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Craddock and Curriculum Specialist for Math and Science Nicholas Corleto.