The bright lights of Broadway lit up Suffolk County this week as the Town of Huntington rolled out the red carpet for its own version of the Tony Awards — the “Hunting-Tonys.” Held in Greenlawn, the event celebrated the outstanding achievements of high school performing arts students from across the town.

The evening began with a high-energy performance from Huntington High School students, who brought a scene from "Mean Girls" to life on stage. The number set the tone for a night dedicated to recognizing theatrical excellence in local schools.

Nominees representing all nine high schools in the town were honored during the event, which featured 28 award categories, covering everything from acting and singing to lighting design and costume work. Hosting the evening were Huntington Town Councilmembers Dave Bennardo and Theresa Mari.

“It’s just great that we get to celebrate the arts and we get to celebrate the kids in our community,” said Mari.

Before the curtain rose, students strutted down a red carpet, greeted by enthusiastic cheers and camera flashes — courtesy of proud parents playing the role of paparazzi.

“It was crazy — I’ve never done anything like that,” said nominee Maxwell Vogel. “So many people were watching me, and it made me feel really accomplished for something cool I did.”

Cheers echoed through the auditorium as winners were announced, but the true focus of the evening was on community and camaraderie.

“It’s such a good opportunity to see all the other school’s talent,” said nominee Cassidy Gill. “It’s so exciting seeing everyone else.”

When you see the looks on the families’ faces and hear the cheers when a student wins, you know this is doing good things for the community," Councilman Bennardo added.

Among the evening’s highlights, Huntington High School won Best Play, while Half Hollow Hills West took home the award for Best Musical.