Shea's Performing Arts Center Announces 2015 Kenny Award Winners

Shea's Performing Arts Center and The Lipke Foundation are proud to announce the winners of 22nd Annual Kenny Awards, an endeavor that recognizes the talent, dedication, and efforts of our local high school youth.

Outstanding Orchestral Performance

Lewiston Porter High-Annie

Outstanding Technical Design

East Aurora High-Disney's Beauty & the Beast

Outstanding Choral Performance

Starpoint High-The Phantom of the Opera

Outstanding Scenic Design

Starpoint High-The Phantom of the Opera

Outstanding Dramatic Performance

Tonawanda High-The Addams Family

Outstanding Costume Design

Tonawanda High-The Addams Family

Outstanding Dance Performance

Iroquois High-Little Shop of Horrors

Blossom Cohan Award

Honors a performer who "Blossoms" in a Role

Elise Vullo (as Gingy) in Shrek the Musical/Bishop Timon

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble

Notes-Managers in The Phantom of the Opera/Starpoint High

Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role

Gillian Beard (as The Drowsy Chaperone) in The Drowsy Chaperone/City Honors

Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role

Justin Pope (as Uncle Fester) in The Addams Family/Tonawanda High

Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role

Lauren Roetzer (as Christine) in The Phantom of the Opera/Startpoint High

Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role

Connor Maxwell (as Gomez) in The Addams Family/Tonawanda High

Outstanding Musical Production

Tonawanda High School - The Addams Family

For the past twenty years, over 130 outstanding musical productions in local high schools have been recognized and honored by the Kenny Awards. Now in its 22nd year, the Kenny Awards at Shea's has again recognized local high school talent for excellence in producing and performing musicals, hosted by Lauren Hall from WIVB's morning show Wake Up.

Applications for this year's Kenny Awards Program were accepted in October and reviewed by the panel of Kenny judges. From the applicant pool, seven schools were selected to participate as finalists in this year's ceremony. The finalists for the 2015 Kenny Awards are Bishop Timon-St. Jude -Shrek the Musical, City Honors School - The Drowsy Chaperone, East Aurora High School - Disney's Beauty & the Beast, Iroquois High School - Little Shop of Horrors, Lewiston Porter High School - Annie, Starpoint High School - The Phantom of the Opera, and Tonawanda High School - The Addams Family.

After viewing the productions of all seven finalists, the Kenny judges will award the top schools and students for their efforts, including giving "The Kenny" for Outstanding Musical Production. The Kenny includes a $5,000 grant from the Lipke Foundation to be used solely by the school's theatre department. Other awards include categories for individual performances in leading and supporting roles, as well as areas of technical production, orchestration, choreography, set design, and vocal performance.

Shea's Mission Statement: To restore and maintain Shea's Buffalo Theatre for present and future generations to enjoy as a working historic theatre providing a wide variety of live performing arts experiences for our patrons and innovative and effective educational experiences fostering an appreciation of live theatre by area youth.

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