CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

"Rent" Cast Receives Awards in Ceremony

By Tara Armand, summer intern

Actors from Corona del Mar High School’s cast of “Rent” attended an award ceremony this week in Balboa Park in San Diego.

The National Youth Theatre organization named the play Best Musical and Best Ensemble; Ronald Martin was awarded as Best Director; and Hayley Palmaer and Hail Ketchum were given individual performance awards. Singer Heather Shields, who performed in the ensemble and attended the Sunday evening award ceremony, said: “I was so glad that we had the opportunity to do this show. It was amazing to see how our community could come together and unite to support equality for all. The energy and passion everyone in the cast put into the show was truly inspirational, and it was an honor to be part of it.”

The play created controversy earlier this year culminating in large protests that brought members of a Kansas hate group to Newport Beach. Read more about the protests here.