Shea’s Performing Arts Center and The Lipke Foundation are proud to celebrate the 19th year of honoring the talent and commitment of area youth with the Kenny Awards program. Over 100 outstanding musical productions from local high schools have been recognized and honored by The Kenny Awards since its inception in 1993. The Kenny Awards program recognizes excellence in high schools producing and presenting Broadway musicals. Recipients for “Outstanding Production” receive a $5,000 grant from the Lipke Foundation in support of their theatre department. “The Kenny” crystal trophy, commissioned and designed exclusively for the program, is on permanent display at Shea’s and stands as a tribute to the young talent in Western New York.

Kenny Awards History
“The Kenny” was created in 1993 in honor of the late Dr. Ken Lipke, the founder of Gibraltar Steel. This award is a testimony to Dr. Lipke’s passion and dedication to the arts and to his belief that the business community is an integral pillar of support for the arts.

Application Procedures
Every year seven (7) high schools are selected to participate in the Kenny program. Information and applications are sent to all public, private and charter high schools in Erie, Niagara and Chautauqua counties at the beginning of the school year. Every school that applies to the program must participate in an interview process with our Kenny panel. Interviews are typically held in the middle of October. Following the interviews the Kenny panel will select seven finalist schools to participate in the program.

Once finalists have been selected, the Kenny judging committee will attend all the finalists’ musical productions when they are presented at their respective schools. Once the committee has attended all the productions they meet to select winners in a variety of categories including: Outstanding Leading and Supporting Actor and Actress, along with other categories such as Orchestral Performance, Technical Elements and Choreography.

The awards ceremony is held in May. All finalist schools are invited to present a 5-7 minute number from their musical. Awards are presented following the performances.

For additional information please contact Jennifer Fitzery, Senior Education Associate, at
(716) 829-1152 or at jfitzery@sheas.org.

The 2012 Kenny Awards Winners




Spotlight Awards:
Production Design Choreography Set Design Vocal Performance Technical Design with Artistic Impact Costuming Orchestral Performance	Barker Central School Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat East Aurora High School Thoroughly Modern Millie Lake Shore Senior High School Disney’s Beauty and the Beast St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Anything Goes Wilson Central School The Phantom of the Opera Cardinal O’Hara High School Seussical the Musical Iroquois High School Scrooge: The Musical



Blossom Cohen Award	Honors an actor or actress who truly blossomed in a role Joe Saltarelli as General Genghis Kahn Schmitz Cardinal O’Hara High School’s Seussical the Musical



Individual Awards:
Outstanding Ensemble	Barker Central School’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat



Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role	Arianne Davidow as “Bonnie” St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute’s Anything Goes



Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role	Josh Ranallo as “Moonface Martin” St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute’s Anything Goes



Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role	Hannah Braun as “Millie Dillmount” East Aurora High School’s Thoroughly Modern Millie



Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role	Kevin Harmon as “Billy Crocker” St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute’s Anything Goes



Outstanding Production	St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute’s Anything Goes

St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Anything Goes

Please click the links below to download an application and information.
Kenny Application | Kenny Information