Boca Raton Student Performs With Cappies International Theater

Boca student Angela Miller has a passion for theatrics.

The local teen recently honed her skills by performing with the Cappies International Theater for four weeks this summer in Washington, D.C.

“One huge learning experience for me was realizing the differences between stage acting and film acting,” said Miller.

“On film you have to bring everything down from the over exaggerated movements performed on stage and when you are acting in front of a camera you do not have the audiences laughs and energy to feed off of.”

Miller said she plans to continue a career in acting. The senior at Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton won a “Cappie” this past spring for Lead Actress in a Musical and was chosen to be part of the cast for the summer program, where she performed with thirty students from across the country and Canada. The program allows a group of student critics to attend High School productions, write a review, and then vote on which actor or actress was the best in a certain category. At the end of the year there is a Tony-style gala where the five nominees are announced and the winner is chosen. Cappie winners across the country and Canada who won Lead Actor/Actress in a Musical/Play like Miller are invited to C.I.T program. She received the Cappie award for Lead Actress in a Musical for portraying the role of the Leading Player in the musical Pippin.

School administrators said they are proud that Miller was chosen for the prestigious program.

“Our theater department at Pope John Paul is dedicated to the development and training of student writers, performers and technical crew,” said Sister Eileen Sullivan, Principal of Pope John Paul II High School.

Vince Castellano, Theater Director of Pope John Paul II High School, added, “We are so proud of Angela Miller and her accomplishments. Cappies offers a remarkable program and we are sure Angela will bring back many new ideas to share with her peers.”

Miler and her fellow Cappie honorees performed three shows, which were all written by students, over the course of four weeks; Starz!, Playz! and Senioritis.

Cappies International Theater is a program made possible by the creation of new Cappies programs throughout the US and Ottawa, Canada. Through Cappies International Theater, Cappie award honorees from across the U.S. and Canada workshop new works, written by student playwrights.

Miller said each of the four weeks where teens auditioned and then performed in shows. “During the weeks, we had different specific goals that combined to make one general goal to perform, perfect our crafts, and have fun and make friends doing it,” she said, adding, “It is also a large benefit to work with new directors, choreographers, and musical directors. As an actor, we need to be able to accommodate to any director so the more I get to work with them, the more I can learn how different directors work. It was such a privilege and honor to take part in this program.”

Besides learning about theatre, Miller said the experience also helped her grow up.

“I would say the biggest learning experience for us all was to be away from home and live with a host family for a month.

As an upcoming senior, college is the next step in my life so having this “away from home” mentality for a month will be extremely beneficial next year,” she said.