The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proud to announce Amara Kennedy and Antonio Thompson made their debut on a Broadway stage at the 17th annual The Jimmy Awards®/National High School Musical Theatre Awards®. The national showcase was held in New York City on Monday, June 22, and hosted by actor and comedian Bowen Yang.
Amara Kennedy of Sheboygan Falls High School and Antonio Thompson of Oshkosh North High School were nominated for their leading performances in their high school musicals and a subsequent audition process to represent Northeast Wisconsin through the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program.
As part of their experience at the Jimmy Awards®, Amara and Antonio were joined by more than 100 fellow high school students from across the country as they immersed themselves in education and feedback from Broadway professionals. They spent 10 days in workshops and rehearsals leading up to the June 22, 2026 performance at the Minskoff Theater (currently the Broadway home to Disney's The Lion King). The duo also visited Times Square, where they saw their headshots prominently displayed, and enjoyed MJ The Musical during their New York City visit.
Amara Kennedy was nominated for her performance as Deloris Van Cartier in Sheboygan Falls’ production of Sister Act and is a recent graduate of Sheboygan Falls High School.
Antonio Thompson was nominated for his performance as Hermes in Oshkosh North’s production of Hadestown: Teen Edition and is a recent graduate of Oshkosh North High School.
"Amara and Antonio beautifully showcase the incredible student talent we have right here in Northeast Wisconsin, and we are thrilled that their outstanding work is taking them to the national stage," said Maria Van Laanen, President and CEO of the Fox Cities P.A.C. "Heading to New York to learn directly from Broadway professionals alongside peers who share their passion is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. It has been an absolute honor to watch them represent both our community and the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program, and we are excited to see where their dreams and dedication lead them next."
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.
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!