Excitement filled the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County’s 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.
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Formally known as the Arsht High School Musical Theater Awards Program and affectionately referred to as “The Arshties,” this county-wide initiative was launched by the Arsht in October 2025.
Students and teachers who opted in to participate in the program received access to free Broadway caliber 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/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards 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.
Hosted by Wesley Wray, an Arsht AileyCamp Miami alum currently starring in Broadway’s Buena 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.
Top honors were awarded across 12 categories recognizing excellence in musical theater performance, music, dance, design, stage management and student achievement.
2026 Arshties recipients are:
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theater Production — Miami Arts Studio @ Zelda Glazer, The Drowsy Chaperone
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Performance — Ransom Everglades School, Into the Woods
Outstanding Achievement in Dance — Coral Reef Senior High School, Oklahoma!
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestral Performance — Coral Reef Senior High School, Oklahoma!
Outstanding Achievement in Design — Miami Coral Park Senior High School, Shrek – Charlie De Jesus, Makeup Design
Outstanding Achievement in Student Reporting — Miami Country Day School, Bianca Maria Bonetti
Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management — Miami Country Day School, In the Heights – Stella Mary Espenkotter and Serenity Ukegbu
Outstanding Achievement in a Supporting Role — New World School of the Arts, As You Like It (Taub) – Sophia Jaramillo, Silvia
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Outstanding Lead Performer – Best Actor — Miami Arts Studio @ Zelda Glazer, The Drowsy Chaperone – Alec Avila, Man in the Chair
Outstanding Lead Performer – Best Actress — New World School of the Arts, As You Like It (Taub) – Olivia Serrano-Salow, Rosalind
Inspiring Educator — Miami Arts Charter School, Leo Arteche
The Arshties Spirit Award — Miami Coral Park Senior High School, Valentina Davila
The recipients of the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, Alec Avila (senior at Miami Arts Studio @ Zelda Glazer) 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.
The two students now will 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.
For more information, go to JimmyAwards.com.
Applications for the next installment – the 2026-27 Arshties – are now open to all Miami-Dade County schools at ArshtCenter.org.
Development of the Arshties was funded in part by The Children’s 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.
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