THE SMITH CENTER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF ITS SIXTH ANNUAL NEVADA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS
Cole Duffy from Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and Ahnaleisa Hodges from Centennial High School to represent Nevada at the national Jimmy™ Awards on Broadway in New York City
Following talented performances by competitors on May 13, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts announced the winners of its sixth annual Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards as Cole Duffy from Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and Ahnaleisa Hodges from Centennial High School. The event, hosted in The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, showcased solo and ensemble performances by the top 24 musical theater students from 14 Nevada high schools.
The two winners received the Dr. Keith Boman Prize for Best Actor and Best Actress from Smith Center CEO and president Myron Martin. In recognition of their hard work and skill, both Duffy and Hodges will receive a complimentary 10-day trip this June to New York City, where they will perform on a Broadway stage to represent Nevada in the national Jimmy™ Awards (previously known as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards), named after legendary theater producer James M. Nederlander.
Duffy showcased powerful stage presence with his performance of “Come to a Party” from Dogfight. Hodges demonstrated her show-stopping vocals while singing “All For You” from Seussical The Musical.
The winners’ upcoming trip will include complimentary housing at New York University, as well as coaching, master classes, rehearsals with renowned professionals, and attending a Broadway show where they will meet the cast. They will also receive opportunities for merit scholarships and professional advancement.
Duffy and Hodges will also experience the rare opportunity to perform at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway during the Jimmy™ Awards. A panel of industry experts will select two exceptional students from the nationwide participants to receive a Jimmy™ Award for Best Performance.
In addition, Gus Pappas from Silverado College Prep. & Career Technical High School and Grace Parker from Faith Lutheran High School each earned a Spotlight Award. They will serve as alternates at the national competition, if Duffy and Hodges are unable to attend.
This year’s Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards were emceed by Martin and Keith Thompson. Judges for the event included Punam Mathur, Torrey Russell, Norma Saldivar, Jasmine Trias, Andy Walmsley and Ray Winters.
For more information about the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards and to learn how to participate in the 2018 – 2019 school year, please visit TheSmithCenter.com or call 702-749-2542.
ABOUT THE SMITH CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS:
The hallmark of downtown Las Vegas’ 61-acre urban development known as Symphony Park, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is a public-private partnership that opened in March 2012. Heralded as the city’s Heart of the Arts®, The Smith Center is an architectural triumph and long-awaited cultural achievement that educates and entertains the citizens of Southern Nevada. The $470 million world-class performing arts center offers a blend of performances by resident companies, first-run touring attractions, lectures and internationally-acclaimed performers in music, theater and dance. The five-acre campus features four performance spaces including the 2,050-seat Reynolds Hall, the 250-seat Myron’s Cabaret Jazz club, the 240-seat Troesh Studio Theater and the 1.7-acre Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park for outdoor concerts. Additionally, the campus is home to the Discovery Children’s Museum that opened in March 2013. For more information about The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, please visit www.TheSmithCenter.com. Keep up with news and events on Facebook and follow The Smith Center on Twitter at @SmithCenterLV.