Jimmy Award® Nominees Announced at 10th Annual Center Stage Showcase
The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proud to announce 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 the role of Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act.
Antonio, a senior at Oshkosh North, was nominated for 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.
Join us in congratulating these very deserving individuals, and all the students, educators and supporters who have made the Center Stage High School Theater Program such a success over ten wonderful seasons.