By Janice Llanes Fabry

The Metropolitan High School Theater Award for Best Comic Performance went to Rye Neck High School senior Isaak Meier. He received the award at a ceremony at SUNY Purchase on June 12.

“I did not have a speech prepared, so I shouted out to the people at Rye Neck who made this possible, including Mr. Harris and my friends here,” said Meier.

Director Scott Harris called Meier, along with his peers, among the most talented and dedicated seniors with whom he has worked. Also nominated were Rachel Wurzburger and Justin Sturgis for their outstanding duet as Elle and Emmett; Bria McClain for her supporting role as Paulette, her second nomination; and Jill Hurlbut for technical merit as stage manager.

The Metro Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional high school musical theater productions in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Bergen counties. This year, they singled out Meier’s uproarious turn playing Kyle O’Boyle in “Legally Blonde.”

“Isaak, quite simply, was hilarious. He has a wonderful sense of comedy, and a perfect deadpan expression that made him ideal to play the role of the unwittingly handsome UPS delivery man,” said Harris. “He made the most of the part, keeping a straight face while the characters around him helped inform the audience of just how funny his strut and delivery were.”

About the short time he had on stage, Meier confessed, “The best part was hearing the laughs, which pumped the character to new heights. I could not have performed as well without the audience’s reaction.”

Headed to Northeastern University this fall, Meier plans to major in computer science, “but I might look into some clubs and see what they offer in theater.”

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Rye Neck High School senior Isaak Meier