The Fox Cities Performing Arts High School Musical Theater Program (Center Stage) came out with their awards for the 31 high schools and over 2000 students who participated in their high school’s musical in the Fox Valley area.

Three awards were granted to NDA performers Amelia Chrudimsky, Maame-Kyema Asiamah, Frannie Wied and Mrs. Andrea Gilson, English teacher and musical director.

The Center Stage program is an ‘education initiative’ that focuses on providing opportunities to students who want to pursue theater of some sort. They choose their award recipients by sending trained judges to each high school’s production and keeping scores on each participant based on the category they are in.

Asiamah and Wied won the award for outstanding performance in a supporting role. Mrs. Gilson won the award for outstanding influential theater educator.

Chrudimsky won the award for outstanding performance in a leading role for her performance as Ms. Hannigan in the production of Annie here at NDA.

“I am incredibly honored, humbled and excited to be receiving this award,” said Chrudimsky.

The next step for Chrudimsky is a showcase in May where she has the opportunity to be chosen to go to the ‘Jimmy Awards’ in New York City.

Asiamah, like Chrudimsky, was “so happy and honored” with the recognition from Center Stage.

“I do theater because initially I only really liked to sing, but then I realized how cool it is to play a character on stage and move the story along through music. It’s an amazing experience that I’m glad to be a part of,” she said.

“Being at NDA has helped me become more confident in singing and acting because you really have to put yourself out there, and I definitely had to learn how to do that,” she continued. “Through NDA I’ve also had the opportunity to be a part of different programs such as Center Stage where people from different schools can perform together. The directors of our theater program are also great mentors. They’ve all helped me be the best performer I can be.”