Local High Schools to be Recognized at First Center Stage Awards Showcase

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards.

Throughout the 2016-17 school year, 14 local high schools have participated in the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program, an education initiative that celebrates and supports the achievements of high school theater programs in Northeastern Wisconsin.

During the program, participating students had the opportunity to attend six workshops at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center with professional touring artists to learn, ask questions and try new things to give them a deeper understanding of professional theater.

A team of adjudicators have attended each participating school's musical production and provided educational feedback, ultimately voting for the recipients of the first Center Stage Awards. Scores for each production were tabulated and the top four qualifiers were nominated to represent their school at the official showcase. All qualifying nominees will be recognized with an award in their category.

Participating high schools in the inaugural year included: Appleton East, Berlin, Chilton, Fox Valley Lutheran, Green Bay Preble, Green Bay Southwest, Green Bay West, Hortonville, Kimberly, Luxemburg-Casco, Mishicot, Neenah, Oshkosh North and St. Mary Catholic.

Nominated performers will participate in a professionally produced showcase on May 20 at 7:30 p.m. on stage at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

The 2016-17 Center Stage High School Musical Theater Award nominees are:

Outstanding Musical Theater Production
Green Bay Preble High School's Aida

Green Bay Southwest High School's Beauty and the Beast
Kimberly High School's Urinetown
Neenah High School's Spamalot

Outstanding Ensemble

Green Bay Preble High School's Aida

Green Bay Southwest High School's Beauty and the Beast
Kimberly High School's Urinetown
Neenah High School's Spamalot

Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor
Brandon Tolman as Radames in Green Bay Preble High School's Aida

Nick Myers Olson as Gaston in Green Bay Southwest High School's Beauty and the Beast

Felix Torres as Beast in Green Bay Southwest High School's Beauty and the Beast

Jack Murphy as Brave Sir Robin in Neenah High School's Spamalot

Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress
Rachel Bednarowski as Mother Superior in Appleton East's Sister Act

Megan Flood as Aida in Green Bay Preble High School's Aida

Liz Valentin as Doralee in Green Bay West High School's 9 to 5

Genevieve Ecklaert as Mrs. Pennywise in Kimberly High School's Urinetown

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor

Chase Heezen as Zoser in Green Bay Preble High School's Aida
Will Wegner as Officer Lockstock in Kimberly High School's Urinetown
Ethan Nimmer as Bud Frump in Luxemberg-Casco High School's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Brandon Wegner as Orin in St. Mary's High School 's Little Shop of Horrors

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress

Rebecca Heyer as Charlotte in Fox Valley Lutheran High School's Cinderella

Kylie Medenwald as Nehebka in Green Bay Preble High School's Aida
Diane Pokotylo as Babette in Green Bay Southwest High School's Beauty and the Beast
Sarah Engels as Little Sally in Kimberly High School's Urinetown

Community Engagement Award
Celebrating one outstanding school who connected their production back to their community.

Mishicot High School with their production of The Little Mermaid

Outstanding Achievement Award
Celebrating a student who has triumphed and defied difficulties.
Aliza Ramsey from Mishicot High School's production of The Little Mermaid

Backstage Spirit Award
Recognizing the individuals or crews who tirelessly contributed to the creation of seamless storytelling on stage.

Heads of Department from Hortonville High School's production of Once Upon a Mattress

At the showcase, one outstanding lead actress and one outstanding lead actor will be announced as Best Actress and Best Actor. Chosen through a separate audition process, these two performers will represent the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program at The National High School Musical Theatre Awards , also called The Jimmys, in New York City on June 26. Participants in that program will audition for scholarships, learn from professionals in a week of workshops and perform on stage at the Minskoff Theatre (currently the Broadway home to Disney's The Lion King).

The community is welcomed to celebrate the successes of local high school musical theater programs and see the local stars of tomorrow at the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase on Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for this performance are $15 for adults and $10 for students and go on sale Friday, May 5 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Fox Cities P.A.C. ticket office in person or by phone (920) 730-3760 or through Ticketmaster online or by phone at (800) 982-2787. Additional fees may apply.

The Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program is an educational initiative of the Fox Cities P.A.C. with additional support from corporate partners Fox Communities Credit Union and The Post-Crescent.

Additional partners in this program include workshop and rehearsal partner Schneider Foundation, social media partner Nicolet National Bank and Community Engagement Award partner Wipfli, LLP.

The Jimmy Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) impacts more than 50,000 students who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of Touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions is sent to New York for a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway, where a panel of judges crowns the nation's top performers. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $1,000,000 in educational scholarships. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the ninth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 26, 2017 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Coaching and rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event will be held Monday, June 19, 2017 through Monday, June 26, 2017 in New York City. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural education organization located in downtown Appleton, provides a premier venue for live performing arts. Since 2002, the Center has proudly served as a gathering place for the community to engage in educational opportunities while enhancing a greater understanding and appreciation of life through the live performing arts.