Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts Announces 2017 Applause Awards Winners

Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts announces the 2017 recipients of the Applause Awards, boasting a range of students and talent from 32 schools in Central Florida.

The showcase, celebrating outstanding achievements of participating high schools' musical Theater Productions and the very best in Central Florida's young musical theater talent, will take place in the Walt Disney Theater on June 4, 2016 at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the awards showcase start at $19.75 and may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases are subject to handling fees.

This year's show will include performances from some of the Outstanding Musical winners: Dr. Phillips High School's Nice Work if You Can Get It, Freedom High School's Thoroughly Modern Millie, Lake Nona High School's In the Heights, Timber Creek High School's Once on This Island, University High School's productions of Cinderella and Godspell, and a performance from Harrison School of the Arts. The evening will also feature performances from individuals nominated in the categories of Outstanding Lead Performer, Outstanding Supporting Performer, Outstanding Dance Performer, Honorable Mention in Performance, as well as performances showcasing rising talent from middle schools Davenport School of the Arts and Celebration School.

The 2017 Applause Awards in funded in part by Publix Super Markets Charities.

The Applause Awards, a program put forth by the School of the Arts, supports participating high schools by providing high quality learning, performing and creative experiences for students. Schools register to have their musical Theater Productions reviewed by a qualified team of adjudicators who provide directors with valuable feedback. After a spring review period, the showcase, modeled after the Tony Awards, takes place each June. The event demonstrates the enthusiasm, dedication and talent of high school musical theater programs and encourages participating schools to grow and continue to improve their programs.

One male lead and one female lead will be selected from the Orlando showcase to move forward in competing in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA), also known as the Jimmy Awards. Named for James M. Nederlander, the legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer, awards for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor are awarded at The New York City ceremony. Students rehearse and learn from top industry professionals over the course of a week that culminates in the opportunity to perform on a Broadway stage. The ninth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on June 26, 2017.

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Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts 2017 Applause Awards Winners:

Outstanding Musical

Dr. Phillips High School, Nice Work if You Can Get It

Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Lake Nona High School, In the Heights - Cast A

Lake Nona High School, In the Heights - Cast B

Timber Creek High School, Once on This Island

University High School, Cinderella - Cast B

University High School, Godspell - Cast A

Outstanding Ensemble

Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Lake Nona High School, In the Heights - Cast B

St. Cloud High School, Fiddler on the Roof

Timber Creek High School, Once on This Island

University High School, Cinderella - Cast B

University High School, Godspell - Cast A

West Orange High School, 42nd Street

Outstanding Orchestra

Cypress Creek High School, Shrek The Musical

Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Osceola County School for the Arts, Into the Woods

Timber Creek High School, Once on This Island

University High School, Cinderella

Winter Park High School, Titanic

Outstanding Technical Achievement

Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

University High School, Cinderella

Outstanding Lead Performer

Annabell Mizrahi - Dr. Phillips High School, Rent

Anyae Reed - Winter Park High School, Footloose

Athena Jean-Etienne - University High School, Cinderella

Audrey Fisher - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Ava Mothersill - Lake Brantley High School, Into the Woods

Brendon Terra - Cypress Creek High School, Shrek The Musical

Brett Shelton - Lake Minneola High School, The Secret Garden

Catalina Rodriguez - University High School, Cinderella

Daniel Tracht - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Georgia Dezern - Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Jasmine Forsberg - Timber Creek High School, Once on This Island

JorDan Marshall - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Juliet Rosa - Lake Nona High School, Jesus Christ Superstar

Kristen Brock - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Maddy Montz - Dr. Phillips High School, Rent

Mark Lopez - St. Cloud High School, Fiddler on the Roof

Oliver Davids - Dr. Phillips High School, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Ryland Marbutt - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Ryland Marbutt - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Sabrina Michaels - Dr. Phillips High School, The Last Five Years

Sean Parkhurst - Liberty High School, Sister Act

Sofia Deler - Boone High School, Songs for a New World

Sofia Deler - Boone High School, All Shook Up

Tabitha Maxwell - Liberty High School, Sister Act

Tony Moreno - Trinity Preparatory School, Man of La Mancha

Vianca Collazo - Masters Academy, Tarzan

Outstanding Supporting Performer

Becky Martinez - Freedom High School, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

Ciara Burke - Colonial High School, Sister Act

Esmeralda Nazario - University High School, Godspell

Jake Rotz - Winter Park High School, Titanic

Jason James - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Juan Ayala - Dr. Phillips High School, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Kailey Jones - West Orange High School, 42nd Street

Leilani Torres - University High School, Cinderella

Madison Friar - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Mailys Reyes - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Matthew Cammarata - Lake Nona High School, Jesus Christ Superstar

Meghan McQueeney - University High School, Cinderella

Meghan McQueeney - University High School, Godspell

Neftali Benitez - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Oliver Davids - Dr. Phillips High School, Rent

Sean Parkhurst - Liberty High School, Cabaret

Outstanding Dance Performer

Alexa Norris - University High School, Cinderella

Brendan Morris - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Carolyn Nahikian - University High School, Cinderella

Ellie Roddy - West Orange High School, 42nd Street

Emma Kapper - Merritt Island High School, Once on This Island

Ireland Brown - Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Isabelle Pride - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Jeremy Gettis - Dr. Phillips High School, Rent

Julio Vazquez - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Kassidy Weideman - West Orange High School, 42nd Street

Sarah Chidester - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Tabitha Sofield - Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Taylor Artz - Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Outstanding Young Performer

Julia Jordan - West Orange High School, Shrek The Musical

Reese Wilder - Master's Academy, Tarzan

Aidan Fracker - Montverde Academy, 13

Ava Madara - Windermere Preparatory School, Pippin

Honorable Mention in Performance

Ally Moore - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Anna Laruffa - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Arnold Kilci - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Camerin Leiva - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Elise Hall - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Gabriel Semenitari - Montverde Academy, 13

Giancarlos Coris - Winter Springs High School, Spamalot

Jen O'Grady - Winter Park High School, Footloose

Jordan Dickens - University High School, Cinderella

Kennedy Mason - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Kenneth Rodriguez - University High School, Godspell

Lucas Manley - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Neftali Benitez - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Ty Arredondo - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Outstanding Director

Joe Sniegocki - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Matthew Nash-Brown - Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Melaney Douglass & Ryan Douglass - University High School, Cinderella

Ryan Douglass - University High School, Godspell

Suzi Lambert - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Trudy Bruner - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Outstanding Musical Director

Jay Dunn - University High School, Cinderella

Justin Chase - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Shannon Lyles - Freedom High School, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Terry Thomas - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Tim Hanes - Dr. Phillips High School, The Last Five Years

Tim Hanes - Dr. Phillips High School, Nice Work if You Can Get It

Tyler Campbell - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Outstanding Choreographer

Candace Isaacs - Timber Creek High School, Once on This Island

Katrina Ploof - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Laurel Renfroe & Ryland Marbutt - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Laurel Renfroe & Ryland Marbutt - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Paula Gale - University High School, Cinderella

Tami Uhrig - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Tara Whitman - West Orange High School, 42nd Street

Outstanding Stage Manager

Laura Swygert - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Lauren Vick - University High School, Cinderella

Shae Carroll - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Outstanding Set Design

Laura Copenhaver - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Matt Smith - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Nathan Uhrig - Liberty High School, Sister Act

Randy Cochran - St. Cloud High School, Fiddler on the Roof

Rene Alvarez - Lake Brantley High School, Into the Woods

Robbin Watts - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Ryan Douglass - University High School, Cinderella

Ryan Douglass - University High School, Godspell

Outstanding Lighting Design

Alexis Gonzalez - University High School, Cinderella

Alexis Gonzalez - University High School, Godspell

John Kiselica - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Jon Whitely - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Laura Copenhaver - Lake Nona High School, In the Heights

Laura Copenhaver - Lake Nona High School, Jesus Christ Superstar

Michael Pagan - Dr. Phillips High School, Rent

Outstanding Sound Design

Jackie Deo & Jessica Nguyen - University High School, Godspell

John Valines - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Outstanding Costume Design

Ceci Ingram - Harrison School of the Arts, Anything Goes

Ceci Ingram - Harrison School of the Arts, The Little Mermaid

Kris Kahn & Ryan Curtis - Cypress Creek High School, Shrek The Musical

Heidi Kure - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Honorable Mention in Technical Achievement

Eric Juergens - University High School, Cinderella

Danielle Ibrahim - Dr. Phillips High School, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Gail Bartell - Lake Highland Preparatory School, Seussical

Laurie Bitters - Winter Park High School, Titanic

Community Engagement

Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School, Peter Pan

Melbourne High School, High School Musical

Trinity Preparatory, Big River

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Opened in 1908, Florida Hospital is a faith-based institution focused on providing whole person care. It is one of the largest not-for-profit hospitals in the country, caring for more than two million patient visits per year - more than any other hospital in the country, according to the American Hospital Association. The Florida Division of Florida Hospital stretches from coast to coast with 26 hospitals, more than 4,600 patient beds, and more than 32,000 employees. The division includes the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children, dozens of outpatient facilities and 26 Centra Care urgent care locations throughout Central Florida. Florida Hospital provides a wide range of health services, including many nationally and internationally recognized programs in cardiology, cancer, women's medicine, neurosciences, diabetes, orthopedics, pediatrics, transplant and advanced surgical programs. Florida Hospital is a designated statutory teaching hospital and also trains physicians from all around the world on the newest technologies.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization operating the state-of-the-art performing arts center in downtown Orlando, Florida. With its opening in November 2014, the performing arts center launched its vision of Arts for Every Life by being a gathering place for creativity and discovery; a vibrant urban destination where artists, audiences and students come to experience, explore and learn. The two-block community destination features the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, 300-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Seneff Arts Plaza, Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts, the DeVos Family Room, and other event rental spaces. Future expansion includes Steinmetz Hall, a 1,700-seat acoustical theater, along with rehearsal, classroom, office space and commercial development spaces. Dr. Phillips Center is a private non-profit collaborating with the City of Orlando, Orange County, the State of Florida and generous donors.