Adrienne Arsht Center Launches “The Arshties,” New Musical Theater Awards Program for Miami-Dade High Schools
- Miami Living Team
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County has announced the launch of The Arsht High School Musical Theater Awards Program, known as The Arshties — a new annual initiative celebrating musical theater education in Miami-Dade County high schools.
Developed with support from The Children’s Trust, The Arshties aims to recognize and elevate student achievements in musical theater while creating professional opportunities for young performers and technical theater students. The program is the first of its kind in Miami-Dade County and marks the Arsht Center’s latest investment in arts education.
Open to all public, private, and charter high schools in the county producing a musical between October 2025 and May 2, 2026, the program will offer students access to Broadway-caliber master classes, professional feedback, and technical training. The experience will culminate in a Tony Awards-style showcase on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall.
During the showcase, two student performers will be selected to represent Miami-Dade County at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy Awards®) in New York City.
“The Arsht is deeply committed to empowering the next generation of artists,” said Jairo Ontiveros, executive producer and VP Dorothea Green Chair of Education and Community Engagement at the Arsht Center. “With The Arshties, we’re creating equitable pathways for students to experience the transformative power of the performing arts; whether they dream of Broadway or simply want to build confidence, spark creativity and strengthen teamwork.”
In addition to performance-based awards, The Arshties will recognize excellence in technical theater, stage management, vocal performance, choreography, and design, promoting a full appreciation for the collaborative nature of musical theater. The program will also include free professional development workshops for educators, equipping teachers with tools to further support arts learning in local schools.
Applications for participation are now open and must be submitted by Friday, December 12, 2025. Each school production requires a $100 registration fee, with waivers available upon request. Tickets for the May 2026 showcase will go on sale April 1, 2026.
For details on eligibility, award categories, and registration, visit ArshtCenter.org/Arshties.