KAUKAUNA — Kaukauna High School theater students were recognized Wednesday in two categories as the the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center announced the 2024-25 Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program recognition recipients.
Throughout the 2024-25 school year, more than 2,100 students from a record 34 local high schools in Northeast Wisconsin participated in the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program.
- Kaci Franzen was honored for Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role as Regina George in Kaukauna’s production of Mean Girls High School Version.
- Kaukauna was also recognized for its Outstanding Student Run Crew.
The Center Stage Program was launched in 2016 as an education initiative the Fox Cities P.A.C. that celebrates and supports the achievements of high school musical theater while developing confidence, creativity and community among high school students throughout Northeast Wisconsin.
Education opportunities are provided all season long for students and educators to learn and grow together in their craft.
The 2024-25 Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program recognition recipients are:
Community Engagement – Partner: Wipfli LLP
- Brillion High School
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Spirit Recognition
- De Pere High School
Honorable Mention in a Lead Role
- Allyana Mikeal as Eurydice in Valders’ production of Hadestown: Teen Edition
- Grace Peters as Jane Porter in Fox Valley Lutheran’s production of Tarzan
- Isaac Moscinski as Jean Valjean in Appleton East’s production of Les Misérables
- Joelle Jefferson as Davey in Green Bay Southwest’s production of Disney’s Newsies
- Julia Skinner as Ariel Moore in Oshkosh West’s production of Footloose
- Katie Naegele as Delilah McPhee in Two Rivers’ production of Between the Lines
- Maame-Kyema Asiamah as Ellie in Notre Dame’s production of Freaky Friday
- Sofia Collins as Drowsy Chaperone in Ashwaubenon’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone
- Tynan Conway as Uncle Fester in Denmark’s production of The Addams Family
- Vincent Kroes as Tinman in Menasha’s production of The Wizard of Oz
Influential Theater Educator Nominees – Partner: Nicolet National Bank
- Bethany Meyer, Director at Oshkosh West High School
- Bonita Weydt, Music Director at Southern Door High School
- Charlotte Deehr, Director at Chilton High School
- Deanne Stokes, Director at Manitowoc Lincoln and Two Rivers High Schools
- Files, Pit Orchestra Director at Southern Door High School
- Jennifer Farrell, Director of the Engler Center at Chilton High School
- Kevin Spindler, Director at New London High School
- Lizbeth Thomas, Director at Gibraltar High School
- Mary Hall, Director at Southern Door High School
- Molly Suehs, Director at Weyauwega-Fremont High School
- Shannon Meulbroek, Music Director at Two Rivers High School
Inspiration Through the Arts Scholarship – Partners: Johnson Financial Group and Star98
- Amelia Chrudimsky, Notre Dame Academy
- Mia McCartney, New London High School
Outstanding Achievement – Partner: Angelo & Jennifer Ninivaggi
- Benedict Salmi Klotz, Gibraltar High School
Outstanding Ensemble
- Fox Valley Lutheran High School and their production of Tarzan
- Green Bay Southwest High School and their production of Disney’s Newsies
- New London High School and their production of Guys and Dolls
- Notre Dame Academy and their production of Freaky Friday
- Pulaski High School and their production of Once Upon a Mattress
- Two Rivers High School and their production of Between the Lines
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role
- Caleb Johnson as Young Terk/Terk in Fox Valley Lutheran’s production of Tarzan
- Chloe Johanek as Grace McPhee in Two Rivers’ production of Between the Lines
- Everett Magnuson as Trunchbull in Weyauwega-Fremont’s Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
- Greta Nolte as Kala in Fox Valley Lutheran’s production of Tarzan
- Gwen Rybak as Princess Winnifred in Pulaski’s production of Once Upon a Mattress
- Isaac Schultz as Buddy in Brillion’s production of Elf the Musical
- Kaci Franzen as Regina George in Kaukauna’s production of Mean Girls High School Version
- Lily Lemery as Miss Adelaide in New London’s production of Guys and Dolls
- Mary Baumgardt as Miss Hannigan in De Pere’s production of Annie
- Mary McCurdy as Maria Rainer in St. Mary Catholic’s production of The Sound of Music
- Noah Wright as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in New London’s production of Guys and Dolls
- Tito Fliehman as Scarecrow in Menasha’s production of The Wizard of Oz
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
- Caiya Klish as Grace Farrell in De Pere’s production of Annie
- Elizabeth Davis as Joy in St. Francis Xavier’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition)
- Emma Murphy as Lavendar in Weyauwega-Fremont’s Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
- Ethan Pelch as Porter in Fox Valley Lutheran’s production of Tarzan
- Evy Pamenter as Carol Strong in Oshkosh North’s production of Catch Me If You Can
- Jack Clark as Max Detweiller in St. Mary Catholic’s production of The Sound of Music
- Jude Alrand as Mr. Snoring Man/Ezekiel Foster in Southern Door’s Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
- Juliette Bergstrom as Liesel Von Trapp in St. Mary Catholic’s production of The Sound of Music
- Lillian Murray-Heller as Aunt Em/Glinda in Menasha’s production of The Wizard of Oz
- Tim Bienert as Kerchak in Fox Valley Lutheran’s production of Tarzan
Outstanding Student Lighting Operator
- Will Verhagen, Southern Door High School
Outstanding Student Pit Orchestra
- Neenah High School
- Pulaski High School
- Valders High School
Outstanding Student Run Crew
- Denmark High School
- Kaukauna High School
- Mishicot High School
Outstanding Student Sound Operator
- Carter Elgin, Shawano Community High School
Outstanding Student Stage Manager
- Mia McCartney, New London High School
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