Students walked the red carpet at the Ray of Light Awards Sunday night outside the Community Arts Theatre. From left to right are Hughesville students, Rachel Charles, Avery Lentz and Jessica Culver.

WILLIAMSPORT – The Community Theatre League’s second Ray of Light Awards were held at 7 p.m. on Sunday night at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. More than 60 nominees were present and 33 judges chose the winning nominations. 13 of the judges were adult CTL members and the other 20 judges were students who were in a play at some time at the CTL according to Jacquie Engel, graphic designer and artistic director of musicals.

Judging is based on how hard students have worked on such things as learning their lines, pacing and accurately hitting their cues. The judges used a score sheet that evaluated a performance in areas such as acting, vocal ability, projection, energy and style, on a scale of one to 10.

“It’s a grand spectacle,” Engel said. “Last year was our first year. People underestimate what are youth are capable of when it comes to musicals and drama. This is a real opportunity for them to showcase their talent,” she added.

Nearly 400 student performers within 30 miles of Williamsport that were in plays or musicals from participating high schools arrived to honor the “best and the brightest” The event got its start through a memorial contribution fund from CTL president Andree Phillips after her husband, Dr. Ray Phillips passed away. Only schools that entered both a musical and a play are eligible for the category, according to Andree Phillips, one of the founders of the Community Theater League and presenter of the award.

“The whole purpose is to support the arts in the schools,” Engel said. “It’s hard to imagine their excitement level for participating in such a high quality and talented show.”

The big award of the evening, the Ray Phillips Memorial Trophy for best dramatic program, went to South Williamsport High School. Matt Webb, a Montgomery Area High School student won best performance by a featured performer for his acting in Class Action. Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play was given to Jenna Lorson of Hughesville High School for her role in “Who Poisoned His Meatball?

The following area students were up for awards in the following categories:

Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role

Avery Lentz – Hughesville High School, “Who Poisoned His Meatball?”

Michael Kramer – Warrior Run Area High School, “Battle of the Sexes”

Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role

Erika Allegrucci – Hughesville High School, “Who Poisoned His Meatball?”

Noelle Hostelley – Warrior Run Area High School, “Battle of the Sexes”

Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role

Brandt Snyder – Hughesville High School, “Who Poisoned His Meatball?”

Tre Wehr – Warrior Run Area High School, “Battle of the Sexes”

Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role

Jenna Lorson – Hughesville High School, “Who Poisoned His Meatball?”

Megan Walls – Warrior Run Area High School, “Battle of the Sexes”

Jeanna Stiadle – Montgomery Area High School, “Godspell”

Outstanding Featured Performer

Jessica Culver – Hughesville High School, “Who Poisoned His Meatball?”

Matt Webb – Montgomery Area High School, “Class Action”

Erika Allegrucci – Hughesville High School, “Anything Goes”

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography

Hughesville High School – “Anything Goes”

Best Play

Hughesville High School – “Who Poisoned His Meatball?”

Best Large-Scale Musical

Ray Phillips Memorial Award for Best Program (schools must have presented both a play and a musical)

Central Mountain High School

Hughesville High School

Montgomery Area High School

Montoursville Area High School

South Williamsport Area High School

Warrior Run Area High School

Other participating school districts were Loyalsock, Jersey Shore, and Milton