| Jimmy Awards | |
| Presenter: | The Broadway League Pittsburgh CLO Nederlander Alliances, LLC |
| Location: | New York City |
| Holder: |
|
| Website: | JimmyAwards.com |
| Year: | 2009 |
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.
Performers qualify as nominees by winning a regional competition in one of 51 participating regional awards programs 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, Ryan McCartan 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]
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 nationwide 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.
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.[5] 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.[6]
The 2020 awards were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] The 2021 awards were presented virtually.[8]
In 2024, the Jimmy Awards celebrated its 15th Anniversary, with many alumni returning to the event to present and sing with the nominees.[9]
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).[10]
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.[11]
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 by Van Kaplan and choreographed by Kiesha Lalama.
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).[13]
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.[13] 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.[13]
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 2023, 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. All finalists also receive a $3,000 scholarship toward their future education.[14]
| Year | Actor | Hometown | Musical | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009[15] [16] | |||||
| Stephen Mark[17] | Ridgefield, Connecticut | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Jimmy Smith |
| |
| Kian McCollum[19] | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | The Wedding Singer | Robbie Hart | ||
| Joseph Pudetti | Rochester, New York | Godspell | Jesus | ||
| Jenny Wine | Wichita, Kansas | The Wedding Singer | Julia Sullivan | ||
| Grace Hardin | Waterbury, Connecticut | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Millie Dillmount | ||
| Year | Actor | Hometown | Musical | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010[20] [21] | |||||
| Kyle Selig[22] | Long Beach, California | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood |
| |
| Alex Field[26] | 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[27] | Atlanta, Georgia | Once on This Island | Ti Moune |
| |
| Katie Sapper | San Diego, California | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey | ||
| Stephanie Styles[28] | Houston, Texas | The Drowsy Chaperone | Janet Van De Graaff |
| |
| 2011[31] [32] | |||||
| 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[36] [37] | |||||
| 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[39] | Fullerton, California | Damn Yankees | Lola | ||
| Nicolette Burton | San Diego, California | Kiss Me, Kate | Lilli Vanessi / Katharine | ||
| Erica Durham | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Aida | Aida |
| |
| 2013[41] [42] | |||||
| Taylor Varga | Newtown, 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 | Little Women | Jo March | |||
| Martha Hellerman | Madison, Wisconsin | Spring Awakening | Wendla Bergmann | ||
| Eva Noblezada[43] | Charlotte, North Carolina | Footloose | Ariel Moore |
| |
| 2014[49] [50] | |||||
| Jonah Rawitz[51] [52] | Chicago, Illinois | In the Heights | Usnavi | ||
| Mekhai Lee[53] | Charlotte, North Carolina | Shrek The Musical | Shrek |
| |
| Matthew Richards | Logan, Utah | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Percy Blakeney | ||
| Jai'Len Christine Li Josey | 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[56] [57] | |||||
| Anthony Skillman[58] | 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[59] | 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[61] [62] | |||||
| Josh Strobl[63] | 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[65] | Charlotte, North Carolina | Ragtime | Sarah |
| |
| Kailey Boyle | Madison, Wisconsin | Once Upon a Mattress | Princess Winnifred |
| |
| Lauren Johnson | Omaha, Nebraska | Seussical | Gertrude McFuzz |
| |
| Marnie Quick (2) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 9 to 5 | Doralee Rhodes | ||
| 2017[66] [67] | |||||
| Tony Moreno[68] | Orlando, Florida | Man of La Mancha | Don Quixote (Cervantes) |
| |
| Antonio Cipriano[70] | East Lansing, Michigan | Hello! My Baby | Mickey McKee |
| |
| Nathan Keffer | Nashville, Tennessee | Little Shop of Horrors | Seymour | ||
| Sam Primack | Tempe, Arizona | Catch Me If You Can | Frank Abagnale, Jr. |
| |
| Sofia Deler | Orlando, Florida | Songs for a New World | Woman 1 |
| |
| Maggie Gidden | La Mirada, California | Footloose | Rusty | ||
| Hatty King | Nashville, Tennessee | Little Women | Jo March | ||
| Jasmine Rogers[76] | Houston, Texas | Into the Woods | Witch |
| |
| 2018[78] [79] | |||||
| Andrew Barth Feldman[80] | 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 |
| |
| Riley Thad Young | Memphis, Tennessee | James and the Giant Peach | Grasshopper | ||
| Reneé Rapp[83] | Charlotte, North Carolina | Big Fish | Sandra Bloom |
| |
| 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[86] [87] | |||||
| Ethan Kelso[88] | Logan, Utah | Big Fish | Will Bloom | ||
| Casey Likes | Les Misérables | Jean Valjean |
| ||
| Colin Miller | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Little Shop of Horrors | Seymour | ||
| Christian Spaay | Madison, Wisconsin | Les Misérables | Marius | ||
| Ekele Ukegbu[91] | New York, New York | Aida | Aida | ||
| Jessi Kirtley | Atlanta, Georgia | Mary Poppins | Mary Poppins | ||
| Lexie Love | Seattle, Washington | Les Misérables | Éponine Thénardier | ||
| Marisa Ines Moenho (2) | Palm Springs, California | Sister Act | Deloris Van Cartier | ||
| Year | Actor | Hometown | Musical | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021[92] | |||||
| Bryson Battle | Charlotte, North Carolina | Guys and Dolls | Nicely Nicely Johnson | ||
| Benjamin Brown | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | No applicable production | No applicable production | ||
| Justin Cooley | Kansas City, Missouri | No applicable production | No applicable production |
| |
| Mateo Lizcano | New York, New York | Big Fish | Edward Bloom | ||
| Elena Holder | Durham, North Carolina | Cry-Baby | Lenora | ||
| Victoria Evans | Seattle, Washington | No applicable production | No applicable production | ||
| Kuper Walker | Los Angeles, California | No applicable production | No applicable production | ||
| Ava Wolesky | Kansas City, Missouri | Carrie | Carrie White | ||
| 2022[94] | |||||
| Nicholas Barrón | San Antonio, Texas | The Baker's Wife | Dominique | ||
| Thomas Beeker | Denver, Colorado | The Music Man | Harold Hill | ||
| Dakota Renteria | Las Vegas, Nevada | Big Fish | Edward Bloom | ||
| Joshua Thompson | Durham, North Carolina | Anastasia | Dmitry | ||
| Kendall Becerra | San Diego, California | In the Heights | Nina | ||
| Sophie Pollono | Los Angeles, California | Into the Woods | Cinderella | ||
| Symoné Spencer | Durham, North Carolina | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | ||
| Anna Zavelson | San Antonio, Texas | Anastasia | Anya |
| |
| 2023[96] | |||||
| Langston Lee | Austin, Texas | Anastasia | Dmitry | ||
| Corbin Drew Ross | Dallas, Texas | Anastasia | Dmitry | ||
| Christian Strong | Columbus, Ohio | Kinky Boots | Lola | ||
| Omar Andre Real | Palm Springs, California | Bat Boy | Bat Boy | ||
| Lauren A. Marchand | New York, New York | Frozen | Elsa | ||
| Maya Sharma | West Palm Beach, Florida | Freaky Friday | Ellie | ||
| Samia Posadas | Tucson, Arizona | Legally Blonde | Elle Woods | ||
| Anna Wright | St. Louis, Missouri | Bright Star | Alice Murphy | ||
| 2024[97] | |||||
| Damson Chola, Jr.[98] | Cleburne, Texas | Little Shop of Horrors | Seymour | ||
| Peter Dessert | Kansas City, Missouri | All Shook Up | Chad | ||
| Luke Martin | Las Vegas, Nevada | Les Misérables | Jean Valjean | ||
| James Thibault | New Haven, Connecticut | Javert | |||
| Gretchen Shope | Midland, Michigan | Alice by Heart | Alice | ||
| Fabiola Caraballo Quijada | Dallas, Texas | Something Rotten! | Nostradamus | ||
| Catherine Dosier | La Mirada, California | The Secret Garden | Lily Caven | ||
| Samia Posadas (2) | Tucson, Arizona | Into the Woods | Cinderella | ||