Jimmy Awards

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards, more commonly known as the Jimmy Awards, are awards given annually to recognize musical theatre performances by high school students in the United States. Two main awards are given each year, Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor.

Jimmy Awards
LocationNew York City
Presented byThe Broadway League
Pittsburgh CLO
Nederlander Alliances, LLC
First awarded2009
Currently held by
  • Ekele Ukegbu for Aida (2019)
  • Ethan Kelso for Big Fish (2019)
WebsiteJimmyAwards.com

Performers qualify as nominees by winning a regional competition in one of approximately 40 participating theatres across the country. Nominees travel to New York City to perform at a talent showcase held on Broadway. Winners and finalists receive a scholarship (in 2019, winners received $25,000 scholarships).[1] Winners and nominees have often gone on to significant careers in musical theatre, such as Eva Noblezada, Reneé Rapp, and Andrew Barth Feldman, who went on to starring roles in Broadway productions.[2] The Jimmys have been described by the New York Times as "The Tonys, for teenagers".[3]

History

The Jimmy Awards were inspired by the Gene Kelly Awards, an award given by the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera since 1991, honoring musical theatre productions put on by high schools in the Pittsburgh area. Van Kaplan, the executive producer of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, pitched the idea of creating a nation-wide version of the awards to the Nederlander Organization. The two organizations founded the new award, naming it after the Broadway producer and theatre owner James ("Jimmy") M. Nederlander. The first Jimmy Awards were held in 2009 at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, with 32 contestants from 16 regions.[4] The 2010 awards were held at the Marquis Theatre, with all subsequent shows held at the Minskoff Theatre.[5]

The awards became a success, in part due to growing popularity online of videos of performances from the award show (particularly the show's signature medleys).[4] In 2012, PBS released a three-part documentary series, Broadway Or Bust, following the nominees of the Jimmy Awards that year.[6] In 2014, The Broadway League Foundation (the charitable arm of The Broadway League, which produces the Tony Awards) took over the management of the Jimmy awards.[4] The number of participating regional theatres has increased over time, reaching a high of 43 regional competitions (and 86 nominees) in 2019.[7]

The 2020 awards were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

Qualification

Students qualify for the Jimmys based on a role played in a high school musical production that year. The role must be significant (for example, the character must perform at least one solo).[9]

Approximately 40 theatres belonging to the Broadway League hold "Regional Awards Programs" (RAPs), each of which selects two winners for the region (a Best Actor, and Best Actress) who then become Jimmy Award nominees. The RAP selects candidates by reviewing high school musical productions. Selected candidates perform at an RAP award ceremony (which must be a "full-scale public event" with at least 100 attendees), performing in the same role they played in their high school production.[10]

Award show
Tony Award-winning Broadway performer Laura Benanti hosted the 2018 Jimmy Awards ceremony.

The Jimmy Award nominees travel to New York City for a week in June, culminating in a live show in which the winners are determined. During the week, the nominees rehearse their performances for the award show and receive coaching from industry professionals. The show is directed is directed by Van Kaplan and choreographed by Kiesha Lalama.[11]

The award show is held at the Minskoff Theatre[12] on Broadway, and is typically hosted by a celebrated Broadway actor (for example Laura Benanti in 2018).[11]

The show begins with an opening number (typically a "mega-mix of contemporary Broadway hits")[3] involving all nominees, followed by a series of "showcase medleys", in which several nominees appear in costume in the role they performed in their high school's musical, each in turn singing a short solo, while the remaining performers act as backup singers and dancers. These medleys have gained a cult following, with fans appreciating the crossover between disparate popular musicals.[11] Since 2016, due to an increasing number of nominees and time limitations, only a portion of nominees have participated in showcase medleys, with the remainder instead performing in a group number. The medleys are arranged and conducted by musical director Michael Moricz.[11]

During an intermission, a panel of experts selects about eight finalists. During the show's second half, the finalists each perform a solo, and the winners are announced. In addition to the main awards of Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor, other awards are given out with smaller prizes. In 2019, awards were given for Best Dancer, Rising Star, Best Performance in an Ensemble, and Spirit of the Jimmys, each associated with a $2,000 scholarship.

Winners and finalists
Year Actor Hometown Musical Character Notes
2009[13][14]
1st Jimmy Awards
Stephen Mark[15] Norwich, Connecticut Thoroughly Modern Millie Jimmy Smith
Kian McCollum Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Wedding Singer Robbie Hart

Jenny Wine[15] Wichita, Kansas The Wedding Singer Julia Sullivan
Grace Hardin Waterbury, Connecticut Thoroughly Modern Millie Millie Dillmount
2010[17][5]
2nd Jimmy Awards
Kyle Selig[18] Long Beach, California Singin' in the Rain Don Lockwood
Alex Field[20] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Wiz Tinman
Matthew Hill San Jose, California Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Freddy Benson
John Jorge Waterbury, Connecticut Les Misérables Jean Valjean

Alexandria Payne[21] Atlanta, Georgia Once on This Island Ti Moune
Katie Sapper San Diego, California Little Shop of Horrors Audrey
Stephanie Styles[22] Houston, Texas The Drowsy Chaperone Janet Van De Graaff
2011[25][26]
3rd Jimmy Awards
Ryan McCartan Minneapolis, Minnesota How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch
Seth Jones Kansas City, Missouri Crazy for You Bobby Child
Mackenzie Orr Irving, Texas Into the Woods Baker

Shauni Ruetz Rochester, New York Into the Woods Witch
Kirsten Hoover Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania No, No, Nanette Nanette
Breyannah Tillman Memphis, Tennessee Aida Aida
2012[30][31]
4th Jimmy Awards
Joshua Grosso Tampa, Florida The Phantom of the Opera Raoul de Chagny
Evan Greenberg Atlanta, Georgia The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee William Barfee
Drew Shafranek Irving, Texas The Music Man Harold Hill

Elizabeth Romero[33] Fullerton, California Damn Yankees Lola
Nicolette Burton San Diego, California Kiss Me, Kate Lilli Vanessi / Katharine
Erica Durham Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Aida Aida
2013[35][36]
5th Jimmy Awards
Taylor Varga Waterbury, Connecticut How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch
Michael Burrell La Mirada, California Into the Woods Baker
Austin Crute Atlanta, Georgia The Wiz Scarecrow

Sarah Lynn Marion Fullerton, California Hello, Dolly! Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi
Jillian Caillouette Waterbury, Connecticut Little Women Jo March
Martha Hellerman Madison, Wisconsin Spring Awakening Wendla Bergmann
Eva Noblezada[37] Charlotte, North Carolina Footloose Ariel Moore
2014[44][45]
6th Jimmy Awards
Jonah Rawitz[46][47] Chicago, Illinois In the Heights Usnavi
Mekhai Lee[48] Charlotte, North Carolina Shrek The Musical Shrek
Matthew Richards Logan, Utah The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney

Jai'Len Christine Li Josey[46] Atlanta, Georgia Dreamgirls Effie Melody White
Brooke Solan Las Vegas, Nevada The Drowsy Chaperone Janet Van De Graaff
Sophia Tzougros Dousman, Wisconsin Thoroughly Modern Millie Millie Dillmount
2015[51][52]
7th Jimmy Awards
Anthony Skillman[53] Mission Viejo, California Tarzan Tarzan
Drayton Maclean Mayers Memphis, Tennessee Big Fish Edward Bloom
Alec Michael Ryan Houston, Texas Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Lawrence Jameson

Marla Louissaint[54] New York, New York Caroline, or Change Caroline Thibodeaux
Morgan Higgins La Mirada, California Les Misérables Éponine Thénardier
Marnie Quick Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Shout! The Mod Musical Orange Girl
2016[56][57]
8th Jimmy Awards
Josh Strobl[58] Los Angeles, California Hairspray Link Larkin
Cameron Chang San Diego, California The Drowsy Chaperone Aldolpho
John Fredrickson Dallas, Texas Mary Poppins Bert
Devin Moore Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Les Misérables Jean Valjean

Amina Faye[60] Charlotte, North Carolina Ragtime Sarah
Kailey Boyle Madison, Wisconsin Once Upon a Mattress Princess Winnifred
Lauren Johnson Omaha, Nebraska Seussical Gertrude McFuzz
Marnie Quick Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 9 to 5 Doralee Rhodes
  • Also a 2015 Jimmy Awards finalist
2017[61][62]
9th Jimmy Awards
Tony Moreno[63] Orlando, Florida Man of La Mancha Don Quixote (Cervantes)
Antonio Cipriano[64] East Lansing, Michigan Hello! My Baby Mickey McKee
  • Cast in the premiere production of Jagged Little Pill.[65]
  • Made Broadway debut in Broadway production of Jagged Little Pill in December 2019[66]
Nathan Keffer Nashville, Tennessee Little Shop of Horrors Seymour
Sam Primack Tempe, Arizona Catch Me If You Can Frank Abagnale, Jr.

Sofia Deler[63] Orlando, Florida Songs for a New World Woman 1
  • Cast as Shelby in 2020 film production of The Prom
Maggie Gidden La Mirada, California Footloose Rusty
Hatty King Nashville, Tennessee Little Women Jo March
Jasmine Rogers[68] Houston, Texas Into the Woods Witch
2018[69][70]
10th Jimmy Awards
Andrew Barth Feldman[71] Long Island, New York Catch Me If You Can Frank Abagnale, Jr.
Darian Goulding Chicago, Illinois Beauty and the Beast Beast
J.R. Heckman Cleveland, Ohio The Secret Garden Archibald Craven
  • Also a 2016 and 2019 Jimmy Awards nominee
Riley Thad Young Memphis, Tennessee James and the Giant Peach Grasshopper

Reneé Rapp[71][73] Charlotte, North Carolina Big Fish Sandra Bloom
  • Made her Broadway debut as Regina George in Mean Girls in June 2019[74]
Sabrina Astle La Mirada, California Legally Blonde Elle Woods
Emily Escobar Tampa, Florida Zombie Prom Toffee
Marisa Ines Moenho Palm Springs, California Urinetown Hope Cladwell
2019[75][76]
11th Jimmy Awards
Ethan Kelso[77] Logan, Utah Big Fish Will Bloom
Casey Likes Tempe, Arizona Les Misérables Jean Valjean
  • Cast as William Miller in the world premiere of Almost Famous at The Old Globe Theatre in August 2019[78]
Colin Miller Albuquerque, New Mexico Little Shop of Horrors Seymour
Christian Spaay Madison, Wisconsin Les Misérables Marius

Ekele Ukegbu[79] New York City, New York Aida Aida
Jessi Kirtley Atlanta, Georgia Mary Poppins Mary Poppins
Lexie Love Seattle, Washington Les Misérables Éponine Thénardier
Marisa Ines Moenho Palm Springs, California Sister Act Deloris Van Cartier
  • Also a 2018 Jimmy Awards finalist

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