Congratulations senior Nicaya-Isabella Rios on winning best actress in the fifth Proctors High School Musical Theater Awards.
In lieu of live performances, participants in this year’s competition submitted pre-recorded auditions, which were filmed on stage at the historic Proctors Theatre in Schenectady. Winners were announced during a streamed broadcast on May 15.
Nicaya’s winning entry was the piece “Everything I Know,” from the musical “In The Heights.” In an interview with the Albany Times Union, Nicaya said the song had personal meaning to her as someone of Mexican-American descent.
“I lost my grandfather about six years ago and it was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. I sing this song for him every time,” Nicaya told the Times Union.
In her acceptance speech, Nicaya thanked her grandfather.
“A special thank you to my grandfather, who has always been at every show he could be and now has the best seat in heaven as he continues to inspire me and guide me from above,” Nicaya said.
Nicaya now moves on to compete in the 2021 National High School Musical Theatre Awards (“The Jimmy Awards”) , a national celebration of outstanding student achievement and artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance. The award ceremony for The Jimmy Awards will take place virtually in mid-July.
