Jordan-Elbridge High School wins four Syracuse High School Theater Awards

Jordan-Elbridge High School took home four awards including best overall production for “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” at the second annual Syracuse High School Theatre Awards held at the Landmark Theatre on June 4.

The red carpet event honored students from more than 25 area schools and recognized their accomplishments in 14 different categories.

Winners from Jordan-Elbridge also included: Blake Trexler, who won Outstanding Performance by an Actor as J. Pierrepont Finch; Esther Richardson, who won Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role as Smitty; and Lucus Ivey, who won Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role as Mr. Bratt.

Denise Deapo, who directed the production, called the win “exciting,” and feels that the theatre community and judges recognized the professionalism of the cast and crew.

“I think the word got out last year that our show was really professional, and when they saw this year’s show, it clicked. It was an extremely funny show with a lot of cool effects, and I think all the leads fit their parts perfectly,” she said. “I think people can tell our whole staff works really well together.”

Deapo said the show featured the largest male ensemble (more than 30) to ever grace the JE stage and it was great to see the student athletes and musicians working together.

“All the shows we put on led up to this one. The legacy was built this way,” she added.

Trexler called his win “shocking,” because he said he was up against many other talented actors. He credited his win to pushing himself in the role.

“I’m a relaxed person and my character had a lot of energy, so it was very exciting to push myself to play him,” he said.

Ivey, who’s a senior, has been acting since sixth grade and has been the drama department student director for six years. He feels his experience helped him win the award.

“It was surreal and amazing to win. That was the hardest role I’ve ever played because the character was so serious,” he said.

And Richardson, a freshman, said she froze when she won and barely heard the cast and crew cheering for her. Still, winning represented a moment she’ll never forget.

“My character was sassy and I took on her personality and made it my own,” she said. “I’m so happy I won because there were so many other great actresses in that category. I think my parents were really proud.”