Local Students Recognized at National High School Musical Theatre Awards

By: Jun. 27, 2017
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proud to announce that Liz Valentin has been recognized at The Jimmy Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards with both a Special Recognition Scholarship and the Spirit of the Jimmys award.

The Spirit of the Jimmys award is voted on by participants and recognizes a person who embodies what The Jimmy Awards are all about, the importance of arts education and rewarding excellence. The award is presented by Music Theatre International and includes a $2,500 scholarship.

The Special Recognition Scholarship recognizes six individuals with $2,500 to further their education. This award is presented by Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. and is selected by coaches and judges of the Jimmy Awards program.

Valentin took part in the event after winning best actress at the inaugural Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards, an education initiative of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Valentin is a recent graduate of Green Bay West High School.

Both Valentin and best actor Felix Torrez of Green Bay Southwest High School represented the Center Stage Awards at The Jimmy Awards. Joined by other regional award winners from across the country, the students participated in nine days of workshops and rehearsals with professional artists before making their Broadway debut at the Minskoff Theater (the current Broadway home to The Lion King).

Torrez was selected to perform in a medley for the awards ceremony, having the opportunity to sing a solo from his role as Beast in Southwest High School's Beauty and the Beast.

The Jimmy Awards were hosted this year by Ben Platt, who recently won the Tony Award for his performance as Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen.

"We are so incredibly proud of both of our students," said Trisha Witt, director of marketing and communications. "They were fantastic representatives of the Fox Cities P.A.C. and high school musical theater throughout Northeast Wisconsin."

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 were recognized with an award in their category. A full list of nominees can be found on the Center's website.

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.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
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, Community Engagement Award partner Wipfli, LLP, and sound, lighting and production partner Lighthouse Productions.

This program is also funded in part by a grant from the Jewelers Mutual Charitable Giving Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and by a Community Impact Grant from 91.1 The Avenue.

ABOUT THE JIMMY AWARDS
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 took place on Monday, June 26, 2017 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Coaching and rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event were held Monday, June 19, 2017 through Monday, June 26, 2017 in New York City. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

ABOUT THE FOX CITIES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
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. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center - Where the Arts Come Alive!



Videos