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The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proud to announce the 2023-24 Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program recognition recipients.

Throughout the 2023-24 school year, approximately 2,000 students from 31 local high schools in Northeast Wisconsin have participated in the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program.

This year’s participating high schools are: Appleton East, Ashwaubenon, Brillion, Chilton, De Pere, Denmark, Fox Valley Lutheran, Green Bay East, Green Bay Southwest, Green Bay West, Hortonville, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Luxemburg-Casco, Manitowoc Lincoln, Menasha, Mishicot, Neenah, New London, Notre Dame de la Baie Academy, Oshkosh North, Oshkosh West, Preble, Pulaski, Shawano Community, Southern Door, St. Francis Xavier, St. Mary Catholic, Two Rivers, Weyauwega-Fremont and Winnebago Lutheran Academy.

The Center Stage Program was launched in 2016 as an education initiative that celebrates and supports the achievements of high school musical theater while developing confidence, creativity and collaboration among high school students throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Educational opportunities are provided all season long for students and educators to learn and grow together in their craft. This year, workshops focused on a variety of skills including dancing, singing, technical theater, comedy and acting (monologue).

A team of trained adjudicators attended each participating school’s musical production and provided educational feedback. Scores for each production were tabulated and applications were reviewed to determine the program recognition recipients. Participating schools and recognition recipients will be celebrated when the program culminates in a red carpet, Tony Awards^®-style Showcase at the Center on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

At this showcase, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center will announce the two nominees selected in a separate process following production adjudication to attend The Jimmy Awards^®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards^® Friday, June 14, 2024 through Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in New York City. This time spent in New York will culminate with the 15th annual Jimmy Awards^® where 102 high school students from across the country will showcase their talents on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway.

Tickets for the Showcase are $15 for adults and $10 for students and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at foxcitiespac.com, the Fox Cities P.A.C. ticket office in person or by phone (920) 730-3760, or on the Fox Cities P.A.C. mobile app. Additional fees may apply.

The 2023-24 Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program recognition recipients are:

Outstanding Ensemble

• Ashwaubenon High School — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Little Chute High School — Chicago: Teen Edition
• Luxemburg–Casco High School — The Addams Family
• Southern Door High School — Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
• Two Rivers High School — Bye Bye Birdie

Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role

• Matthew Brand as Gomez Addams in Luxemburg-Casco High School’s production of The Addams Family
• Amelia Chrudimsky as Miss Hannigan in Notre Dame de la Baie Academy’s production of Annie
• Aren Damayo as Joseph in Ashwaubenon High School’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Jonah DeWitt as Shrek in St. Mary Catholic High School’s production of Shrek the Musical
• Jennifer Duarte Castillo as Matilda Wormwood in Green Bay East High School’s production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
• Emily Gronert as The Baker’s Wife in Appleton East High School’s production of Into the Woods
• Chloe Johanek as Mae Peterson in Two Rivers High School’s production of Bye Bye Birdie
• Mary Kendall as Lion in St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition
• Delilah Larson-Poeschl as Miss Agatha Trunchbull in Oshkosh North High School’s production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
• Dion Limon as Albert Peterson in Two Rivers High School’s production of Bye Bye Birdie
• Noah Rass as Bert in Southern Door High School’s production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
• Lucia Suarez as Dee Dee Allen in Green Bay Southwest High School’s production of The Prom
• Chris Techlin as Billy Flynn in Little Chute High School’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition
• Natalie Tlachac as Little Red Ridinghood in Appleton East High School’s production of Into the Woods

Honorable Mention in a Lead Role

• Bowie Bredael as Morticia Addams in Luxemburg-Casco High School’s production of The Addams Family
• Jonah Doperalski as Uncle Fester in Luxemburg-Casco High School’s production of The Addams Family
• Nadia Dorsey as Mama Morton in Little Chute High School’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition
• Jackie Dramm as Sir Harry in Manitowoc Lincoln High School’s production of Once Upon a Mattress
• Lydia Fite as the Narrator in Ashwaubenon High School’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Kaci Franzen as Sister Mary Robert in Kaukauna High School’s production of Sister Act
• Benjamin Lindsley as Tevye in Denmark High School’s production of Fiddler on the Roof
• Angela McGreevey as Dorothy in St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition
• Avery Moureau as Mr. Hawkins in Green Bay Southwest High School’s production of The Prom
• Frannie Wied as Annie in Notre Dame de la Baie Academy’s production of Annie

Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role

• Elizabeth Davis as Professor Marvel/Wizard in St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition
• Lydia Flanigan as Yente in Denmark High School’s production of Fiddler on the Roof
• Isabelle Garrigan as Potipher’s Wife in Ashwaubenon High School’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Molly Hall as Jane Banks in Southern Door High School’s production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
• Maame Kyeme-Asiamah as Grace Farrell in Notre Dame de la Baie Academy’s production of Annie
• Mary McCurdy as Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy in St. Mary Catholic High School’s production of Shrek the Musical
• Ava Nichols as Young Anna in Menasha High School’s production of Disney’s Frozen Jr.
• Grace Peters as Jane Banks in Fox Valley Lutheran High School’s production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
• Ellason Popp as Miss Andrew in Fox Valley Lutheran High School’s production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
• Lilly Schmidt as Michael Banks in Southern Door High School’s production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins

Outstanding Student Pit Orchestra

• Ashwaubenon High School — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Fox Valley Lutheran High School — Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
• Green Bay East High School — Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Backstage Spirit

• Fox Valley Lutheran High School’s Stage Crew

Community Engagement

• Weyauwega-Fremont High School with their production of Willy Wonka

Inspiration Through the Arts Scholarship

• Noah Rass, Southern Door High School
• Angelina Vu, Oshkosh West High School

Outstanding Achievement

• Evelyn Oehler, Oshkosh North High School

Outstanding Student Hair/Makeup Artist

• Bridgette Beau, Preble High School

Outstanding Student Stage Manager

• Jera Jennings, Oshkosh North High School

Influential Theater Educator Nominees

• Bridget Duffy-Ulrich, Director — Oshkosh North High School
• Andrea Gilson, Director — Notre Dame de la Baie Academy
• Mary Hall, Drama Director — Southern Door High School
• Matthew Koepsell, Set Designer — Fox Valley Lutheran High School
• Jim Romenesko, Director — St. Francis Xavier High School
• Bethany Meyer, Director — Oshkosh West High School
• Andrew Mildebrandt, Director — Winnebago Lutheran Academy
• Bernie Rocheleau, Director — Ashwaubenon High School

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program is an educational initiative of the Fox Cities P.A.C. with support from corporate partner Fox Communities Credit Union.

Additional partners in this program include Johnson Financial Group, Nicolet National Bank, Angelo & Jennifer Ninivaggi, Schneider Foundation, Skogen’s Festival Foods, WFRV and Wipfli. Programs like the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program are also supported in part by contributions to the Center’s Annual Partner Campaign.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS
The Jimmy Awards^®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards^®(NHSMTA^®) program impacts approximately 130,000 students who participate in 51 regional high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $6,000,000 in educational scholarships since its launch in 2009. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, Inc., the NHSMTA invites two nominees from each local regional ceremony to New York City for a rigorous theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. Nominees will spend ten days in New York City from Friday, June 14, 2024, through Tuesday, June 25, 2024, and their efforts throughout the week will lead to one extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. The fifteenth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Minskoff Theatre. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.