Cast, crew of Oklahoma recognized through prestigious ensemble award

The western touch of the music department lives on as West’s production of Oklahoma will be heading to the Appleton Performing Arts Center in May. On April 9, the cast, crew, and pit were called down to the choir room for a special surprise for everyone, including director and choir teacher Bethany Meyer, as they learned the production garnered the prestigious Ensemble Award. 

With the award comes intense competition and prestige, as 34 schools from across the state of Wisconsin all compete indirectly against each other. Even Meyer felt shocked at this chance for her students to gain well deserved recognition.

“The Center Stage High School Musical Program has over 25 adjudicators to see all of the shows so you kind of have to impress that group of people when they come to see your show,” she said.

The entire group erupted in applause when they found out that Oklahoma had been one of the selections of the tenth anniversary outstanding ensemble recipients for the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program at the Performing Arts Center. Senior Jacob Schaefer, who played Curly, felt the excitement at this shocking news.

“Everyone was together and we were all cheering and all hugging each other,” he said. “That shows how strong of a community that music and specifically musical theatre can be.”

During this emotional moment, the group had a chance to reminisce on how this was one of their first performances that they were able to get elected to perform in the program as a whole instead of sending a duo to perform in the ending number. Meyer explained that this was an extra vulnerable moment for her as she had been wishing for this chance for her students for years.

“We have been a part of the Center Stage program for around four to five years now and we have not received any recognition,” she said. “This is just a testament for how hard our students work, and I always go to other shows and think that our kids are just as good as them”

Later that week, the PAC Center Stage High School Musical Theater program sent out the recipients for engagement, ensembles, outstanding performances from leads and side characters, and more. Schaefer and junior Stella Schwersenska, who played Ado Annie, both are recipients for the outstanding performance in a lead role. Schaefer relishes the opportunity to get another chance to perform again alongside his cast mates.

“I was very excited to have the chance to perform on the PAC stage again, especially with all my friends in the ensemble and also Stella, because she worked really hard,” he said.

Schwersenska saw the chance to be a part of this program as something she had dreamed of achieving for a long time. Programs like this spark joy and passion in all those who work hard to accomplish it.

“I have been hoping to do this since I found out it existed sophomore year and being able to go as someone who gets to perform in the medley for Outstanding Lead is so exciting,” she said.

The two recipients have a chance to win an award at the PAC programs performance on May 16 where if they win, they will be able to attend the National High School Musical Theater Awards, formally known as the Jimmy awards, which is an award ceremony in New York City for high school theater students. Schaefer feels the immense pressure these awards put on students, including a cut-throat audition process.

“I have to learn a new song in two and a half to three weeks, which I’m not very excited for, but in the end, it should pay off,” he said.

This stressful preparation also brings new friendships that Schwersenska couldn’t find otherwise, providing a community that can extend beyond just one school and production.

“The thing I’m most excited about is getting to know other people in theater and making new friends, because it’s so fun to make the connections, and I love performing,” she said.

Having the opportunity to attend and perform at the PAC comes rarely, but the preparation and effort all paid off. Meyer feels this opportunity gave her relief and triumph after not being able to have a chance in the PAC as a big group.

“We always talked about ‘how can we continue to elevate, how do we get better because our kids are so talented and they should be up there singing and dancing with everyone else,’” she said “We always talked about what makes a show a good show.”

The opportunity to earn awards is only an added bonus to partaking in this musical. For Schaefer, the most important thing about Oklahoma were the people who made it special.

“I found my people in this environment, especially choir and being able to sing, dance, and have fun.”

by Kayden Brandt and Chloe Lusvardi

Published April 27, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue VII