Singing on a Broadway stage was even better than Meadow Nguy imagined.

"It was mind-boggling," the O'Fallon High School senior said the highlight of her June 20-25 trip to New York City. She was one of 60 students from across the country selected to participate in the 2012 National High School Musical Theater Awards program. "Performing on that stage inspired me to work even harder to make it happen."

"It" is a career in musical theater and someday making it back to Broadway as a professional.

Meadow, 16, was not one of the six finalists in the program, but she did get to sing with the group in the opening number and the grand finale of the show. She also sang "Over the Rainbow" during a medley of songs.

She is the daughter of Alicia and Au Nguy, of O'Fallon. -- Patrick Kuhl

1. What was the highlight? "Definitely getting to perform on the Minskoff stage. They are doing 'The Lion King' now and to see all the props and sets and everything that goes on backstage for a Broadway show was amazing. ... And I got to meet a lot of nice people who share my passion."

2. Were you nervous? "The first time we stood on stage was so emotional. Some of us were moved to tears," she said, admitting she was, too. "But when it was time to perform, everything fell into place."

3. Did you get to do anything else fun in New York? "I got to see the Broadway show 'Nice Work If You Can Get It,' got to eat at Sardi's and went on The Ride, a sightseeing bus that has one side that is completely clear.

"The next day, I was exhausted."

4. What are you doing this summer? "I'm playing Rosemary, the female lead in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.' It opened last night (Wednesday) and it went really well." (The Brass Rail Players musical's last performance is at 2 p.m. today at Lindenwood University's Belleville auditorium.)

"The rest of the summer is filled with college trips and applications." She is considering majoring in theater at Cincinnati Musical Arts Conservator, the University of Michigan, Roosevelt University and the University of Indiana, among others.

5. Are you ready to go back to school at O'Fallon? "Not so much."