Fox Cities PAC Announces 2026 Center Stage Program Honorees

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center has announced the 2026 representatives of the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program: Amara Kennedy of Sheboygan Falls and Antonio Thompson of Oshkosh North.

These nominees were first announced live at the 10th Annual Center Stage Showcase on Saturday, May 16, and will now head to New York City to represent our region at the prestigious Jimmy Awards®/National High School Musical Theatre Awards® from June 12-23, joining an elite cohort of students from 58 regional programs across the country.

This year’s representatives emerged from a vibrant season of local talent, with more than 2,200 students from 34 participating high schools across the region pouring their hearts into the 2025-26 Center Stage Program. 

Amara and Antonio were nominated based on their leading performances in their high school productions, and then chosen through a separate audition to represent the Center Stage Program at the national level. Their New York experience will include intensive workshops with industry titans and the life-changing opportunity to compete for scholarships, culminating in a performance on the legendary Minskoff Theatre stage – the current Broadway home of Disney’s The Lion King – where they will showcase their talents in the heart of the Theater District.

Amara, a senior at Sheboygan Falls, was nominated for her performance in the role of Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act.

Antonio, a senior at Oshkosh North, was nominated for her performance in the role of Hermes in Hadestown: Teen Edition.

The 10th Annual Center Stage Showcase also lent a spotlight to the mentors who make these milestones possible with the presentation of Influential Theater Educator recognition. This honor celebrates a teacher whose tireless commitment and mentorship have left an indelible mark on their students and the broader theater community, highlighting the vital role educators play in fostering the next generation of storytellers. The 2025 Influential Theater Educator selected for recognition is Andrew Mildebrandt, director at Winnebago Lutheran Academy.

ABOUT THE 2025-26 CENTER STAGE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM

Throughout the 2025-26 school year, 34 area high schools participated in the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program, an education initiative that celebrates and supports the achievements of high school theater programs in Northeastern Wisconsin.

This year's participating high schools were: Appleton East, Ashwaubenon, Brillion, Chilton, De Pere, Denmark, Fox Valley Lutheran, Gibraltar, Green Bay East, Green Bay Southwest, Green Bay West, Hortonville, Howards Grove, Kiel, Little Chute, Luxemburg-Casco, Manitowoc Lincoln, Manitowoc Lutheran, Menasha, Mishicot, Neenah, New London, Notre Dame, Oshkosh North, Oshkosh West, Pulaski, Shawano Community, Sheboygan Falls, Southern Door, St. Mary Catholic, Two Rivers, Valley Christian, Weyauwega-Fremont, and Winnebago Lutheran. 

During the program year, participating students had the opportunity to attend workshops with professional artists, to ask questions and explore different aspects of theater, giving them a deeper understanding of the live performing arts industry, focusing on a variety of skills including dancing, acting, technical theater and hair and makeup.

A team of trained adjudicators attended the participating schools' musical productions and provided educational feedback. Scores for each production were tabulated, and applications were reviewed to determine the program recognition recipients. 
 

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