The Speech and Theater Association of New Jersey hosted their annual competition on January 6th, which saw over 600 students from 28 high schools across the state in attendance. Hoboken High School Students took first place in two different categories, and won 6 awards altogether. Hannah Mack, Anthony Sparacino and Brandon Lyons will receive the Governor’s Award in Arts Education on May 22nd in Trenton for their first place winning scene, while Anthony will take home an additional Governor’s Award for being the first-place best actor across the entire competition.
1st Place Scene: Hannah Mack, Anthony Sparacino, Brandon Lyons
1st Place Overall Best Actor: Anthony Sparacino
2nd Place Overall Best Actress: Hannah Mack
6th Place Comedic Monologue: Demeara Davenport
7th Place Comedic Pair: Sofia Melfi & Demeara Davenport
7th Place Dramatic Scene: Daniel Safanova & Angel Quinones
As if that weren’t enough, eight students from the Hoboken High School Competition Thespians team won Superior Medal Awards at the NJ Thespians Festival last weekend, which will allow them to compete against other Superior Medal Award winners from across the world at the International Thespians Festival at the University of Nebraska in June. David Rivera and Hannah Mack each received 6 college callbacks for their efforts. A full list of awards can be found below.
Wilderness, one-act play: 2nd Place Overall
1st Place Best Actress: Sofia Melfi
2nd Place Best Actor: Daniel Safavona
Contrasting Monologues, Superior Medal: Hannah Mack
Musical Theater Solo, Superior Medal: David Rivera
Duet Acting Scene, Superior Medal: Sofia Melfi & Demeara Davenport
Group Musical Theater, Superior Medal: HHS Cast of Spring Awakening (
Hannah Mack, David Rivera, Sofia Melfi, Rebecca Weintraub, Daniel Safanova, Andrew Moya, and Anthony Sparacino)