The Pomperaug High School Theatre Company (PTC) continues to shine on Connecticut’s high school theatre stage, receiving 3 awards and 16 nominations at the 2026 HALO Awards, held at The Palace Theater in Waterbury on May 28th. This annual red-carpet event, sponsored by Seven Angels Theatre, celebrates the very best in high school theatre from across the state, with over 100 schools participating and awards presented across 43 performance and technical categories.

This year, Pomperaug Theatre Company (PTC) was recognized for its outstanding Fall production, The Greek, and its Spring musical, Freaky Friday. The company earned top nominations, including Best Contemporary Musical, Best Choreographer, Best Performances by Supporting and Leading Female and Male Roles, Best Orchestra, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Make up Design, Best Lighting, Best Scenic Design, Best Props Design, Best Stage Management, and took home wins in three categories.

Join us in celebrating our 2026 HALO Winners:

• Izzy Winer – Student Direction for The Greek
• Addie Evens and Sara Gilchrist - Best Choreographer for Freaky Friday
• Xavier Chu - Leading Male Role in a Contemporary Play as Creon in The Greek

Beyond the big wins, PTC was recognized with a staggering 16 total nominations, highlighting the depth of talent both on stage and behind the scenes.

• Best Performance in a Featured Female Role in a Play: Jules Hakim-Santiago as The Friend in The Greek
• Best Performance in a Featured Female Role in a Musical: Cate Nespoli as Fletcher in Disney's Freaky Friday
• Best Performance in a Supporting Female Role in a Play: Sarah Sugden as Creon's Wife in The Greek
• Best Performance in a Leading Male Role in a Contemporary Play: Xavier Chu as Creon in The Greek (WINNER)
• Best Performance in a Leading Female Role in a Contemporary Play: Bella Yost as The Lamb in The Greek
• Best Performance in a Leading Female Role in a Contemporary Musical: Addie Evans as Katherine in Disney's Freaky Friday

Production & Technical Nominations

• Best Costume Design and/or Execution: Clara Kromer, Anna Gilchrist, Chloe Rouen, Rory McKeown, Queenie Zheng, Amaris Fontanez & Emma Ojeda for The Greek
• Best Hair and/or Makeup Design and/or Execution: Aimee Heck, Alexandra Carballo, Penelope Pavlock, Alexis Koval, Maddie Festa & Colin Simon for The Greek
• Best Lighting Design and/or Execution: Eli Hornberger for The Greek
• Best Scenic Design and/or Execution: Max Cardenas, Tooley Bergman & Gaige Scherer for The Greek
• Best Props Design: Charis Hubbard, Nancy Brase, Gavin Bush, Amelia Mirabal & Hana Hieke for Disney's Freaky Friday
• Best Stage Management: Tooley Bergman, Sarah Sugden (SMs), and Michaelina Gatesman (ASM) for Disney's Freaky Friday
• Best Orchestra: The Orchestra of Disney's Freaky Friday
• Best Choreographer: Addison Evans for The Greek and Addie Evans & Sara Gilchrist for Disney's Freaky Friday (WINNER)

Show Nominations

• Best Contemporary Musical: Disney's Freaky Friday
• Best Student Director: Izzy Winer for The Greek

“We are deeply proud of all our students, backstage and on. As a student-led program they put in an incredible amount of hours to create what you all enjoy. They win just by showing up and practicing the skills necessary to innovate their designs and character portrayals. As I tell them every year, if you were nominated for something, it means just as much as the win; and we were nominated for many things including Best Musical!” said Madge O’Toole, PHS Drama teacher and Artistic Director of the Pomperaug Theatre Company. 

“Special nod to our new faculty director for "Freaky Friday,” Tim Gaipa. It was his first year directing with us and he did an amazing job leading the kids. Thank you also to the entire community for your unwavering support for our productions and students. There is a surprising number of students who leave Pomperaug to pursue a career in Theatre and Film arts and they are doing incredible things because of your generosity and interest,” O’Toole shared.

The HALO Awards recognize excellence in varied categories acknowledging the full scope of student theatre.

Xavier Chu - Leading Male Role in a Contemporary Play as Creon in The Greek

• Izzy Winer – Student Direction for The Greek

About the Halo Awards:

In 1993, Artistic Director Semina DeLaurentis created the Seven Angels Theatre High School Halo Awards, a program that celebrated high school theatre in the Greater Waterbury Region. The program included 8 schools and the ceremony was held at Seven Angels Theatre. Over the years, the program grew too large to be held at Seven Angels and eventually transferred to the Palace Theater. The program has grown from one night of awards to two nights of awards and is now the powerhouse that is it with four nights of awards and over 100 participating high schools from across the state.