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 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 are: 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.
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 partner support in this program include Heid Music, Image Printing, Johnson Financial Group, Lighthouse Productions, Nicolet National Bank, Angelo and Jennifer Ninivaggi, Star 98, WFRV, Wipfli LLP, and a grant from the Jewelers Mutual Impact Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. 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®/National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) is a celebration of student achievement in high school musical theatre across the country, spotlighting the next generation of Broadway talent. The program impacts over 180,000 students who participate in 58 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 $9,000,000 in educational scholarships since its launch in 2009, and over 90 alumni have performed on Broadway and in National Tours. 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 12, 2026, through Tuesday, June 23, 2026, and their experience will culminate in an extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. The seventeenth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Minskoff Theatre. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com
ABOUT THE FOX CITIES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural education organization located in downtown Appleton, provides a premier venue for live performing arts. Since 2002, the Center has proudly served as a multicultural gathering place for the community to engage in educational opportunities while enhancing a greater understanding and appreciation of life through the live performing arts. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center — Where the Arts Come Alive!