2019 Kenny Awards Finalists Announced

The Kenny Awards has announced its 10 program finalists for the 2018-2019 school year. The Kenny Awards, presented by Shea's Performing Arts Center and The Lipke Foundation, is an endeavor that recognizes the talent, dedication, and efforts of our local high school youth in musical theatre. The Lipke Foundation recently announced that it is doubling its grant to $10,000 for the WNY area high school that receives the Outstanding Musical Production award.

After reviewing applications and speaking with interested schools about their musical theatre programs, ten finalists were selected for the 2019 Kenny Awards. They are as follows:

Buffalo Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts - Les Misérables

Cleveland Hill Union Free School - Newsies

Cuba-Rushford Middle/High School - Annie

John F. Kennedy High School - The Wizard of Oz

Nardin Academy - The King and I

Niagara Wheatfield Senior High School - Sister Act

St. Mary's High School - The Addams Family

Sweet Home High School - Mamma Mia!

Tonawanda High School - Mamma Mia!

West Seneca West Senior High School - Legally Blonde

Over the coming months, the Kenny adjudicators will view all 10 of these productions and award the top schools and students for their efforts, including "The Kenny" for Outstanding Musical Production, which contains a $10,000 grant from The Lipke Foundation to be used solely by the school's theatre department. Other awards include categories for individual performances in leading and supporting roles, as well as areas of technical production, orchestration, choreography, set design, and vocal performance.

Since its inception in 1993, The Kenny Awards have bestowed $125,000 to theatre programs in Western New York high schools and has recognized over 50 local high schools and nearly 10,000 students. In addition to the awards, the program offers complimentary workshops, lectures, and demonstrations to students in the finalist schools to help enhance and develop their craft.

The Kenny Awards is one of 40+ awards programs nationwide participating in the National High School Musical Awards Program. The selected Outstanding Leading Actress and Actor of our Kenny Awards go on to receive an all-expenses-paid, week-long trip to New York City to participate in The Jimmy Awards in June, 2019. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity includes rehearsals with Broadway actors and musicians, performances, opportunities to win college scholarships, and a debut performance on a Broadway stage. www.JimmyAwards.com

The Kenny Awards ceremony will be held at Shea's on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $8.00 presale and $10 day of. Beginning April 27, tickets may be purchased at Shea's Ticket Office, 650 Main Street, or through Ticketmaster.