Celebrate the accomplishments of Nebraska’s high school and middle school musical theater programs at the Tony Awards®-inspired Nebraska High School Theater Academy Showcase! The tenth-annual showcase is the culminating event of O-pa’s NHSTA education program and will be hosted by Broadway star Kevyn Morrow and feature performances by hundreds of talented students.
Celebrate the accomplishments of Nebraska’s high school and middle school musical theater programs at the tenth annual, Tony Awards®-inspired Nebraska High School Theater Academy Showcase!
The red carpet ceremony will be hosted by Broadway star and Omaha native Kevyn Morrow and feature performances by hundreds of students from across the state. Awards will be given for outstanding productions, top performers and ensembles, excellence behind-the-scenes and more.
The Nebraska High School Theater Academy Showcase is the culminating event of Omaha Performing Arts’ Nebraska High School Theater Academy (NHSTA) education program that supports students and teachers and connects them with Broadway artists, master classes and professional development. It’s a night to celebrate the future of Broadway and the performing arts!
2022/2023 Award Winners
2022/2023 AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding Musical Theater Production
Bellevue West High School – Legally Blonde The Musical
Concordia High School – Hello, Dolly!
Grand Island Northwest High School – Tarzan
Grand Island Senior High School – Big Fish
Lincoln Southeast High School – Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
Lincoln Southwest High School – Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Omaha Burke High School – Urinetown
Papillion-La Vista Senior High School – Big Fish
Papillion-La Vista South High School – Catch Me If You Can
Westside High School – Shrek the Musical
Columbus Middle School – Disney’s The Lion King JR.
Millard North Middle School – Disney’s High School Musical JR.
Outstanding Ensemble
Bellevue West High School – Legally Blonde The Musical
Grand Island Northwest High School – Tarzan
Grand Island Senior High School – Big Fish
Gretna High School – Disney’s Newsies
Lincoln Southeast High School – Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
Lincoln Southwest High School – Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Millard South High School – The Wizard of Oz
Omaha Burke High School – Urinetown
Papillion-La Vista Senior High School – Big Fish
Westside High School – Shrek the Musical
Columbus Middle School – Disney’s The Lion King JR.
Gretna Middle School – Disney’s Frozen JR.
National Jimmy Awards Finalists
Addisyn Stueve, Bellevue West High School
Anna Metzger, Lincoln North Star High School
Carly Purdy, North Platte High School
Cooper Strickland, Omaha Burke High School
Derek Penner, Blair High School
Henry Stelling, Kearney High School
James Rasser, Papillion-La Vista Senior High School
Jocelyn Tisdale, Lincoln High School
Jordan Head, Hastings St. Cecilia High School
Olivia Nelson, Lincoln Southeast High School
Reese Schultz, Grand Island Northwest High School
Sahara Pandit, Papillion-La Vista Senior High School
Steven Dao, Lincoln Southwest High School
Tyler Kalinowski, Bellevue West High School
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role
Addison Stelzer, Lincoln Southwest High School – Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Alex Cook, Norfolk Senior High School – Robbie Hart from The Wedding Singer
Caden Keller, Grand Island Northwest High School – Tarzan from Tarzan
Cooper Strickland, Omaha Burke High School – Bobby Strong from Urinetown
Drew Cota, Westside High School – Donkey from Shrek the Musical
Greta Hegarty, Concordia High School – Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi from Hello, Dolly!
Imari Harris, Lincoln Northwest High School – Alice Beineke from The Addams Family
Isabella Rivera, Grand Island Northwest High School – Kala from Tarzan
Jacee Bates, Chadron High School – Donna Sheridan from Mamma Mia!
Jaci Foster, Fremont High School – Rusty from Footloose
James Rasser, Papillion-La Vista Senior High School – Edward Bloom from Big Fish
Josiah Hydeen, Gretna High School – Crutchie from Disney's Newsies
Kate Anderson, Omaha Burke High School – Hope Cladwell from Urinetown
Mariana Hernandez-Moreno, Omaha South High School – Ella from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Marisol Marquez, Wahoo High School – Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Mekhi Payne, Omaha South High School – Topher from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Stella Clark Kaczmarek, Omaha Burke High School – Officer Lockstock from Urinetown
Steven Dao, Lincoln Southwest High School – Beast from Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Tyler Kalinowski, Bellevue West High School – Emmett Forrest from Legally Blonde The Musical
Zhenja Wallin, Bellevue West High School – Paulette from Legally Blonde The Musical
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
Anna Simpson, Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School – Lorraine from All Shook Up
Ava Albracht, Papillion-La Vista South High School – Carol Strong from Catch Me If You Can
Ava Held, Elkhorn South High School – Madame from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Ava Woods, Fremont High School – Wendy Jo from Footloose
Avari Geppert, Millard South High School – Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch from The Wizard of Oz
Bailey Domann, Blair High School – Jenny Hill from Big Fish
Benjamin Michael, Waverly High School – Rooster from Annie
Brekkin Yates, Bellevue West High School – Aaron Schultz from Legally Blonde The Musical
Colton Knott, Gretna High School – Les from Disney's Newsies
Diego Martinez Gutierrez, Omaha South High School – Jean-Michel from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Hannah Hobza, Lincoln Southwest High School – Babette from Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Henry Cline, North Platte High School – Michael Banks from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
Jack Wyllie, Bishop Neumann Catholic High School – The Mock Turtle from Alice in Wonderland
Jake Braun, Hastings High School – Uzo from Godspell
Jaylynn Taylor, Grand Island Northwest High School – Leopard from Tarzan
Jordan Thomas, Gretna High School – Race from Disney's Newsies
Levi Baker, Lincoln Southeast High School – Bruce from Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
Marc Kersten, Millard West High School – Dewey/Nikos Argitakos/Law Registrar from Legally Blonde The Musical
Marisa Pfeifer, North Platte High School – Jane Banks from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
Phoenix Nehls, Millard South High School – Glinda/Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz
Backstage Excellence Award
Millard South High School
Columbus Middle School
Outstanding Educator Award
Kristen Friesen, Waverly High School
Lori Brown, Millard North Middle School
Lifetime Achievement in Education Award
Bob Henrichs, Lincoln Southwest High School
Senior of the Year
Pretzel Urwin, Omaha Central High School
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Aiden Carman, Westside High School – Scenic Design
Devin Hoshaw, Millard West High School – Sound Design
Ella Seitner, Millard West High School – Costume Design
Katie Picard, Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School – Lighting Design
Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management
Jagger Methe, Kearney High School
Leah Hurley, Bishop Neumann Catholic High School
Orpheum Theater
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ARRIVING AT THE VENUE
The box office at the Orpheum Theater opens 90 minutes before events. Lobbies open 60 minutes before and seating begins 30 minutes before showtime.
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