School News

Cary-Grove High School’s production of All Shook Up won two awards from Broadway in Chicago’s Illinois High School Music Theater Awards. The musical picked up Best Production and Best Choreography during the May ceremony.  

“It was so thrilling to take home both awards, and I was truly overwhelmed with pride and gratitude,” said Rob Boncosky, Cary-Grove musical director. “Cary-Grove has a longstanding tradition of excellence in performance. I am blessed to work with students who are passionate about their work and brave enough to share their gifts and talents in such extraordinary ways.”

The production of All Shook Up was also nominated for Best Ensemble, Best Scenic Design, and Nathan Ancheta and Blake Nolan were nominated for Best Actor, while Alysha Brezina was nominated for Best Actress.

“The experience I had in being nominated for best actor along with the other 4 awards was pure gratitude,” said Blake Nolan, a Cary-Grove senior.

“I feel that these wins are an affirmation that our school is doing the musicals right and the dedication of our directors along with all those involved will not go unnoticed,” said Nathan Ancheta, a Cary-Grove senior. “Also winning Best Choreography was really something special for our community because I know how hard our Choreographer works to create incredible pictures that move the audience along with the show.”

The nominees were selected from 72 productions throughout Illinois. Twenty-four high school students in Illinois were nominated for best actor and best actress. Alysha Brezina was one of three finalists Best Actress category.

“There is something special and unique about Cary-Grove’s theater department, the adults that make it function, and the students that take full advantage of everything it has to offer,” said Alysha Brezina, Cary-Grove senior. “I was lucky enough to not only find a home on the Cary-Grove stage but to find a family standing up there with me enjoying the opportunity we get.”

The Illinois chapter of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards serves as an annual national celebration of outstanding achievement in musical theatre performance by high school students.

Cary-Grove Art teachers want to offer middle school students a week long opportunity to work with them and some amazing high school mentors. The camp will run from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. each day June 17 - June 21 at Cary-Grove and costs $150.00. We also invite you and your family to join us right after the last day of the camp to celebrate the artists and have some snacks.

To download the registration form, click here.

Eighty Crystal Lake South and Cary-Grove High School students participated in a Mock Trial on December 7. Students prepared, planned, and organized this event by working with State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally and his office staff. Each year the cases are written by the Illinois State Bar Association for High School Mock Trials. Students from both Crystal Lake South and Cary-Grove took on roles of defense and prosecutor attorneys, as well as witnesses and jurors from each school.

Student attorneys and witnesses prepared with a State's Attorney for one class period prior to the event and for about one hour before the event. During the trial, a State's Attorney sits with them and guides them during the opening statements, direct examination and indirect examination of witnesses as well as during the closing statements. This year, the Assistant State’s Attorneys Theresa V. Kaman and Brette Dunbar helped with Cary-Grove, and Michelle Clesceri and Bobby Zalud helped with Crystal Lake South.

“This has been a very successful and rewarding learning experience for our students and we hope to continue it in the future,” said Theresa Miller, Cary-Grove’s Business Education Teacher.

For the past three years, District 155 Business Law classes have been participating in Mock Trials at the McHenry County Government Center.