{"id":278400,"date":"2026-05-20T18:21:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T18:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/278400\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T18:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T18:21:11","slug":"adrienne-arsht-center-announces-winners-of-inaugural-arshties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/278400\/","title":{"rendered":"Adrienne Arsht Center Announces Winners of Inaugural Arshties"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Miami\u2019s first High School Musical Theater Awards Program celebrates outstanding student talent and sends two students to the Jimmy Awards in New York<\/p>\n

Excitement filled the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County\u2019s (@ArshtCenter<\/a>) Knight Concert Hall on Saturday, May 16, as more than 130 students from 17 Miami-Dade County high schools took center stage for the inaugural Arshties Showcase.<\/p>\n

Formally known as The Arsht High School Musical Theater Awards Program and affectionately referred to as\u00a0The Arshties<\/a>, this County-wide initiative was launched by the Arsht in October 2025.\u00a0 Students and teachers who opted in to participate in the program received access to free\u00a0Broadway\u2011caliber master classes, direct feedback from industry professionals along with technical theater training, culminating in nominations for Arshties awards and an invitation to participate in the May 16 showcase. The Arshties is an official regional awards program of The Jimmy Awards\u00ae\/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards\u00ae in New York City, presented by The Broadway League Foundation. The Jimmy Awards are the most prestigious recognition for high school musical theater performers in the nation.<\/p>\n

Hosted by Wesley Wray, an Arsht AileyCamp Miami alum currently starring in Broadway\u2019s\u00a0Buena Vista Social Club, the Tony Awards-style showcase featured high-energy ensemble performances from schools nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theater Production, along with standout medleys performed by Lead Performer nominees eligible to be chosen to represent Miami at The Jimmy Awards.<\/p>\n

Top honors were awarded across 12 categories recognizing excellence in musical theater performance, music, dance, design, stage management and student achievement.<\/p>\n

2026 Arshties recipients are as follows:<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theater Production\u00a0<\/p>\n

Miami Arts\u00a0Studio @ Zelda\u00a0Glazer,\u00a0The Drowsy Chaperone<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Performance\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ransom Everglades School,\u00a0Into the Woods<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in Dance\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coral Reef Senior High School,\u00a0Oklahoma!<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestral Performance\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coral Reef Senior High School,\u00a0Oklahoma!<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in Design\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Miami Coral Park Senior High School,\u00a0Shrek \u2013\u00a0Charlie De Jesus, Makeup Design<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in Student Reporting<\/p>\n

Miami Country Day School, Bianca Maria Bonetti\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management\u00a0<\/p>\n

Miami Country Day School,\u00a0In the Heights \u2013\u00a0Stella Mary Espenkotter and Serenity\u00a0Ukegbu<\/p>\n

Outstanding Achievement in a Supporting Role\u00a0<\/p>\n

New World School of the Arts,\u00a0As You Like It (Taub)\u202f\u2013\u00a0Sophia Jaramillo,\u00a0Silvia<\/p>\n

Outstanding Lead Performer \u2013 Best Actor<\/p>\n

Miami Arts\u00a0Studio @ Zelda\u00a0Glazer,\u00a0The Drowsy Chaperone\u00a0\u2013 Alec Avila,\u00a0Man in the Chair<\/p>\n

Outstanding Lead Performer \u2013 Best Actress<\/p>\n

New World School of the Arts,\u00a0As You Like It (Taub)\u202f\u2013 Olivia Serrano-Salow,\u00a0Rosalind<\/p>\n

Inspiring Educator<\/p>\n

Miami Arts Charter School, Leo Arteche<\/p>\n

The Arshties Spirit Award<\/p>\n

Miami Coral Park Senior High School, Valentina Davila<\/p>\n

The recipients of the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, Alec Avila (senior at Miami Arts\u00a0Studio @ Zelda\u00a0Glazer) and Olivia Serrano-Salow (senior at New World School of the Arts), will represent Miami-Dade County at the Jimmy Awards on June 22 in New York City. All expenses, including travel, accommodations and meals, are sponsored by the Arsht thanks to the generous supporters of the Arshties program.<\/p>\n

These two students will now join peers from across the country for 10 days of professional development in New York, including coaching sessions, training and rehearsals with Broadway professionals leading up to the culminating ceremony. Through the experience, students further develop their skills in acting, dance and vocal performance while representing the strength of theater education in Miami-Dade County schools. The experience concludes with a live showcase on a Broadway stage, performed before an audience that includes some of the most influential decision-makers in the theater world.\u00a0For more information, go to\u00a0JimmyAwards.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Applications for the next installment \u2013 the 2026\u20132027 Arshties \u2013 are now open to all Miami-Dade County schools at\u00a0ArshtCenter.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Development of the Arshties was funded in part by The Children\u2019s Trust, a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. Supporting sponsors included the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Florida Theatrical Association, Patrick & Camille McDowell and Charmaine & J. Randall Waterfield<\/p>\n

ABOUT ARSHT IMPACT PROGRAMS<\/p>\n

The Arshties is one of the more than a dozen ongoing Arsht Impact programs that create magical experiences and enrich the lives of more than 120,000 people of all ages in Miami, for free. Programs include:\u00a0Arsht for Miami,<\/a>\u00a0a vibrant series of free community events for all ages;\u00a0Gospel Fest Miami,<\/a>\u00a0a six-month season of celebration of gospel music\u2019s rich history and vibrant culture;\u00a0AileyCamp Miami<\/a>, a full-scholarship, six-week summer camp which uses dance as a vehicle for the personal development of young people;\u00a0Heritage Fest<\/a>, a free, family-friendly celebration that honors the richness of Pan-African culture;\u00a0CommuniTea Dance<\/a>, an annual celebration honoring Miami\u2019s LGBTQ+ community;\u00a0\u00a0Arsht on the Road<\/a>, a series of pop-up performances that bring the arts into Miami-Dade County\u2019s diverse neighborhoods;\u00a0Arsht Plus<\/a>, interactive pre- and post-show experiences connecting audiences more deeply with each Broadway, classical and dance performance;\u00a0Accessing the Arts Residencies<\/a>, performance workshops for children and adults with disabilities; and\u00a0Brushes with Cancer<\/a>, a program that matches artists with patients, survivors and caregivers touched by cancer to create art reflective of their journeys.<\/p>\n

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, and the state of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

About the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County<\/p>\n

Since opening in 2006 in the heart of downtown, the Arsht proudly serves as the cultural pulse of Miami \u2013 the heart of magical live arts experiences that spark the imagination and connect people to one another. Whether on our stages or in your neighborhood, the Arsht is alive year-round with international artists, innovative programming from\u00a0resident companies<\/a>\u00a0and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami\u2019s unique identity and more than 100 culturally diverse and impactful learning experiences for 80,000 children every year.<\/p>\n

The Arsht, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been recognized as a leader in the Miami\u2019s cultural transformation, producing more than 400 annual events that generate 11,500 local jobs and $125 million in economic impact. The Arsht is home to a robust series of touring Broadway musicals, star-studded jazz and classical music concerts curated for South Florida, an award-winning Miami-based theater program and numerous historic and televised events. Free annual Arsht events, such as Gospel Fest Miami, Art + Mind Day, Heritage Fest and our LGBTQ+ Pride celebration bring together people from all corners of our community. For more information, visit\u00a0ArshtCenter.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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