First-Time Winners Top Cappies

At the Kennedy Center, Stone Bridge High's troupe sings a song from "Seussical." Mace Sorenson, center, won a top award. (By Marvin Joseph -- The Washington Post)

Two high schools in Loudoun and Arlington counties won the top honors last night at the annual high school theater honors program at the Kennedy Center. It was the first time in the seven-year history of the Critics and Awards Program that schools from those counties won the highest awards.

Stone Bridge High School in Loudoun won best musical for "Seussical," and H.B. Woodlawn of Arlington took best play for "The Marriage of Bette and Boo."

In all, 37 Cappies were awarded to high school performers, technical crews, critics and others. Fifty-eight high schools from Virginia, Maryland and the District participated this school year. Nearly all the awards were determined by the votes of student critics.

Top acting awards went to Abba Kaiser of Chantilly High School, Corey-Antonio Hawkins of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the District, Nicole Smith of the Seton School in Manassas and Mace Sorenson of Stone Bridge.

The award for best student critics team went to T.C. Williams of Alexandria for the fourth straight year. The students' reviews of school productions are published in the Extra sections of The Washington Post. The program, which started as a way to recognize performing arts students in the area, has spread to nine states and Canada.

-- Stephen C. Fehr