Two Will Represent Center Stage Awards In New York City This Summer

By: May. 20, 2018
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The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proud to announce the recipients of the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards Best Actor and Best Actress recognition. Travis Vandenberg of Kimberly High School and Paige Neumeyer of Green Bay East High School will represent the program at the Jimmy Awards/National High School Musical Theatre Awards this June.

Nominated for their leading performances at their high school and chosen through a separate audition process at the Center, they will represent the Center Stage Awards at the national level and have the opportunity to audition for scholarships, learn from professionals in a week of workshops and perform on stage at the Minskoff Theatre (currently the Broadway home to Disney's The Lion King).

Paige Neumeyer was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress for her role as Cassie in Green Bay East's production of A Chorus Line. Neumeyer is a senior at Green Bay East High School and has also performed with Next Stage Theater and at Interlochen Arts Camp. Neumeyer intends to study musical theater at Millikin University in Illinois this fall.

Travis Vandenberg was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actor for his role as Seymour Krelborn in Kimberly's production of Little Shop of Horrors. Vandenberg is a senior at Kimberly High School and has also performed with TeenStage Theater. Vandenberg intends to study English education and musical theater performance at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in the fall.

Throughout the 2017-18 school year, 17 local high schools have participated in the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program, an education initiative that celebrates and supports the achievements of high school theater programs in Northeastern Wisconsin.

During the program year, participating students were invited to attend eight workshops with professional artists at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and had the opportunity to ask questions and explore different aspects of theater, giving them a deeper understanding of professional performing arts.

A team of trained adjudicators attended each participating school's musical production and provided educational feedback, ultimately determining the recipients of this year's Center Stage Awards. Scores for each production were tabulated and the top qualifiers were nominated to represent their school at the official showcase. All qualifying nominees were recognized with an award in their category at the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase on May 19.

This year's participating high schools include: Appleton East, Ashwaubenon, Denmark, Fond du Lac, Freedom, Green Bay East, Green Bay Preble, Green Bay Southwest, Green Bay West, Hortonville, Kimberly, Little Chute, Mishicot, Neenah, Notre Dame Academy, St. Mary Catholic and Winneconne.

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

Additional partners in this program include Schneider Foundation, We Energies Foundation, Gunderson Family Companies, Nicolet National Bank, Angelo and Jennifer Ninivaggi, Octoberfest, an event of the Fox Cities Chamber and Wipfli LLP.

Mission-based programming is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and National Endowment for the Arts.

The Jimmy Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) program impacts more than 100,000 students who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of Touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. Presented by the Broadway League Foundation, the program sends a Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions to New York for a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only talent showcase on Broadway. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $2,000,000 in educational scholarships. The tenth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 25, 2018 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Coaching and rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event will be held Monday, June 18, 2018 through Monday, June 25, 2018 in New York City. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

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 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!



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