STAGE TUBE: KLRN Presents The LAS CASAS Foundation Joci Awards 2015

Thanks to their fantastic performing arts skills and Las Casas Foundation, two aspiring teen performers will start their summers in the spotlight on a Broadway stage! Through the 2015 Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, "The Joci Awards", talented teens Travis Anderson and Sabrina Uriegas are off to New York City to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA), June 24 through June 30.

Check out the video featured on PBS affiliate, KLRN!

Anderson and Uriegas were selected to attend NHSMTA through the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition held in April at San Antonio's Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. The competition serves as a Regional Award Program, or "RAP", for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the "Jimmy Awards" in recognition of the program's founder, Jimmy Nederlander.

In addition to winning scholarship funds, Anderson and Uriegas were awarded the opportunity to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City, a national celebration of outstanding student achievement recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance. During the week-long awards program, the students will experience private coaching with the industry's top professionals and train for a finale performance where they will compete for additional scholarship funds against other students from around the country. In order to compete at NHSMTA, students must have played a lead role in their high schools' musical theatre production and perform a song from that role during the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition.

Anderson, a sophomore at San Antonio's North East School of the Arts, played the role of Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes. Uriegas, a senior at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School in Austin, played the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Thanks to their talented performances during The Joci Awards, they not only won the opportunity to attend NHSTMA, but also received $5,000 scholarships to pursue their college careers. Anderson was selected as the competition's overall winner as well, taking home an additional $10,000 scholarship.

Both teens have plans to pursue not only their college educations in the performing arts, but also plan to pursue careers on the stage. "Through our partnership with the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, Las Casas Foundation is able to send these talented students to New York to pursue their dreams," explains Kaye Lenox, CEO of Las Casas Foundation. "We're so excited that we are able to help give these teens a once in a lifetime opportunity to hone their craft and further their love for the performing arts in the nation's theatre capital, while the scholarship funds they were awarded will help them grow their skills in college. "

The 2015 Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, "The Joci Awards", awarded $100,000 in scholarship funds. Since the competition's inception, more than $585,000 in scholarships has been awarded. The National High School Musical Theatre Awards, which takes place on Monday, June 29 at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City, is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement. "The Jimmy Award" is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer. Those interested in attending the New York performance to cheer on Anderson and Uriegas may purchase their tickets through Ticketmaster by searching National High School Musical Theatre Awards at www.ticketmaster.com.

To catch a glimpse of what NHSTMA entails, watch the series "Broadway or Bust" on PBS, available online at www.nhstma.com. To learn more about the Las Casas Foundation, visit www.lascasasfoundation.org, or follow Las Casas on Facebook at LasCasasFoundation or on Twitter, @LasCasasFDN. About Las Casas Foundation Recipient of the National Arts Star Award from the American Foundation For Arts Education in recognition of its significant impact on arts education, Las Casas Foundation is dedicated to the development of the performing arts through education and scholarships, as well as the restoration and preservation of historic theatres. Las Casas Foundation offers a variety of educational initiatives to nurture and grow the performing arts, including the annual Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, awarding $100,000 in scholarship funds each year, as well as additional educational and training opportunities. For more information, visit www.lascasasfoundation.org