MADISON — Overture Center for the Arts and The Grand Theater in Wausau have named nearly 40 Wisconsin high school students to their 2023/24 Jerry Ensembles, the premier vocal performance groups representing the Jerry Awards. Two of those students are local: Lilly Cherney of Monroe and Nathan Heil of New Glarus.
Students from participating Jerry Awards high schools can audition each year to join the Central or Southern Jerry Ensemble. The Central Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble is directed by Marshall DeLonay, and the Southern Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble is directed by Gail Becker.
The accomplished singers of the Jerry Ensemble participate in the group 2-4 years each, delighting audiences with songs from musical theater, movies, legendary artists and more. They present solos, duets, trios and group performances in front of a variety of audiences in a variety of settings each year, including the Jerry Awards Ceremony, Cocktails with Tim and Karra, UW basketball games and Kids in the Rotunda. According to Karra Beach, Overture’s director of Broadway Engagement Programs, performing live with the ensemble helps students develop poise and confidence while building technical skills in acting, singing and dancing.
“For over 10 years, I’ve been the director of the Jerry Ensemble,” said Gail Becker, director of the Southern Ensemble. “Overture Center mentors this unique group of talented ensemble members to not only perform but to serve as ambassadors for their youth programs. Since the pandemic, our performers are even more excited to get in front of audiences and share their incredible gifts. Of course, they are fantastic entertainers, but it is not only about singing and acting; it is more about being a member that is important. Every time I see these students engaging themselves in front of people at different types of events, they are so poised. They speak with guests and represent the program with an excellent demeanor. The skills they gain from the Jerry Ensemble will propel them through college and beyond. Overture is helping to grow and mold our future leaders. It’s going to be a marvelous year.”
THE JERRYS
Celebrating 15 years, the Jerrys is Overture’s high school musical awards program that encourages, recognizes and honors excellence in high school musical theater. The program began in the 2009/10 school year with 23 productions within 45 miles of Madison and has since expanded across the state through partnerships with Marcus Performing Arts Center, The Grand Theater and Viterbo University Fine Arts Center. Educators and industry professionals review productions at Wisconsin high schools and/or community theater organizations and provide valuable feedback to students. In its first decade, the Jerry Awards engaged more than 700,000 students, teachers, theater professionals and community members and has grown into a nationally recognized showcase of the brightest stars in Wisconsin high school musical theater.
Overture Center partners with Marcus Performing Arts Center, The Grand Theater and PBS Wisconsin, which expands the reach of the Jerry Awards to Milwaukee, Wausau and La Crosse area schools. Funding for the Jerry Awards is provided by American Girl Fund for Children with additional funding provided by Katie Dowling-Marcus and Ben Marcus and contributions to Overture Center for the Arts.
2023/24 Southern Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble
(Local members in bold)
■ Erica Briski, Oregon High School
■ Lilly Cherney, Monroe High School
■ Matias Finley, Abundant Life Christian School
■ Gracie Halverson, Madison West High School
■ Nathan Heil, New Glarus High School
■ Beau Bastian Jacobs, Oregon High School
■ William Kastner, Kettle Moraine School for Art & Performance
■ Teagan Kluetzman, Madison East High School
■ Dalaney Lange, DeForest High School
■ Zöe Littlefield, Madison West High School
■ Molly McArdle, Sun Prairie West High School
■ Lucy Natale, Parker Arts Academy
■ Leena Rathgeber, Monona Grove High School
■ Owen Sehgal, Middleton High School
■ Connor Wilkinson, Sun Prairie East High School
■ Aurelia Wochenske, Oregon High School (Alternate)
Upcoming Performances
■ Cocktails with Tim & Karra, Disney’s Aladdin, October 8
■ Cocktails with Tim & Karra, My Fair Lady, November 16 and 17
■ Kids in the Rotunda performance of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS, January 13
