44°
HARRISON, N.Y. - Harrison High School senior Cayla Pettinato shined last weekend when she won the Westchester Teen Idol Competition at the Irvington Town Hall Theater.
Pettinato was ranked in the top 25 semifinalists last September out of hundreds of participants from throughout the region. She advanced through the semifinal round with her rendition of "Don't Rain on My Parade" from "Funny Girl" and advanced to the top five.
In the final found last Saturday night, Pettinato competed with three boys and one girl before a panel of Broadway stars. Finalists were judged in the areas of voice, acting, showmanship, styling and movement. Her performance of "Gimme Gimme" from the musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie," which she sang as the lead in the Harrison High School production last spring, was the song that put her over the top.
"Cayla won it on sportsmanship," said judge Chris Jamison, a professional who has appeared in two Tony-award winning Broadway shows. "I gave the first finalist all [five-out-of-five scores] like Cayla, but she stole our hearts in the end."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Harrison and receive free news updates.
