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). Winners and nominees have often gone on to significant careers in musical theatre, such as Eva Noblezada, Reneé Rapp, McKenzie Kurtz, Ryan McCartan and Andrew Barth Feldman, who went on to starring roles in Broadway productions. The Jimmys have been described by The New York Times as "The Tonys, for teenagers."
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 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. 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). In 2012, PBS released a three-part documentary series, Broadway Or Bust, following the nominees of the Jimmy Awards that year. 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. The number of participating regional theatres has increased over time, reaching a high of 43 regional competitions (and 86 nominees) in 2019.
The 2020 awards were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 awards were presented virtually.
In 2024, the Jimmy Awards celebrated its 15th Anniversary, with many alumni returning to the event to present and sing with the nominees.
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).
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.
Award show
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, choreographed by Kiesha Lalama, and music supervised and conducted by Geoffrey Ko.
The award show is held at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway, and is typically hosted by a celebrated Broadway actor (for example Laura Benanti in 2018).
The show begins with an opening number (typically a "mega-mix of contemporary Broadway hits") 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. 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 medley format was conceived by original musical director Michael Moricz.
During an intermission, a panel of experts selects about eight finalists. During the show's second half, the finalists each perform a solo backed by a pianist, and the winners are announced followed by the closing number performed by all of the nominees. 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.
Winners and finalists 2000s Year Actor Hometown MusicalCharacterNotes 2009 Stephen Mark Ridgefield, Connecticut Thoroughly Modern Millie Jimmy Smith John in national touring company of Anything Goes Kian McCollum Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Wedding Singer Robbie Hart Joseph PudettiRochester, New YorkGodspellJesus Jenny Wine Wichita, Kansas The Wedding Singer Julia Sullivan Grace Hardin Waterbury, ConnecticutThoroughly Modern MillieMillie Dillmount
2010s Year Actor Hometown MusicalCharacterNotes 2010 Kyle Selig Long Beach, California Singin' in the Rain Don LockwoodMade Broadway debut in The Book of Mormon in 2013 Baby John in the 2016 Hollywood Bowl production of West Side Story with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Homer Hickam in the 2016 musical, October Sky, inspired by the film of the same name at the Old Globe Theatre Aaron Samuels in 2018 Broadway musical, Mean Girls Replaced Grant Gustin as Jacob Jankowski in Water for Elephants in September 2024 Cast in Los Angeles and Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Alex Field Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Wiz Tinman Matthew Hill San Jose, California Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Freddy Benson Cast in Les Miserables on national tour John Jorge Woodbridge, Connecticut Les Misérables Jean Valjean Alexandria Payne Atlanta, Georgia Once on This Island Ti Moune Cast in the national tour of The Lion King at age 10 Katie Sapper San Diego, California Little Shop of Horrors Audrey Stephanie Styles Houston, Texas The Drowsy Chaperone Janet Van De Graaff Louisa von Trapp in national tour of The Sound of Music at age 12 Katherine Plumber in 1st national tour of Newsies Made Broadway debut as Lois Lane/Bianca in the 2019 revival of Kiss Me, Kate 2011 Ryan McCartan Minneapolis, Minnesota How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont FinchDiggie on the Disney Channel comedy Liv and Maddie Jason "J.D." Dean in 2013 Off-Broadway run of Heathers: The Musical Brad Majors in 2016 television musical, The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again Made Broadway debut as Fiyero in Wicked in 2018 and played Hans in Frozen on Broadway in 2020 and on tour in 2022. Replaced Jeremy Jordan as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby on Broadway 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 AidaAida 2012 Joshua Grosso Tampa, Florida The Phantom of the Opera Raoul de ChagnyMarius in the U.S. touring company of Les Misérables Replacement Telephone Guy in U.S. tour of The Band's Visit Ensemble of Gatsby: An American Myth at American Repertory Theater Swing in New York City Center Encores! production of Urinetown Cast as Nick Carraway in the national tour of The Great Gatsby Evan Greenberg Atlanta, Georgia The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee William Barfée Drew Shafranek Irving, Texas The Music Man Harold Hill Elizabeth Romero Fullerton, California Damn Yankees Lola Nicolette Burton San Diego, California Kiss Me, Kate Lilli Vanessi / Katharine Erica Durham Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania AidaAidaCast as Squeak in the U.S. national tour of The Color Purple Understudy (and later took over the role of Florinda) in the 2023 national tour of Into the Woods Cast as Standby for Claire & Gil Brentley in the U.S. national tour of Maybe Happy Ending. 2013 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 Starred in Booksmart and Daybreak Sarah Lynn Marion Fullerton, California Hello, Dolly! Mrs. Dolly Gallagher LeviCast as understudy in the U.S. national tour of Kimberly Akimbo Jillian Caillouette Waterbury, Connecticut Little Women Jo March Martha Hellerman Madison, Wisconsin Spring Awakening Wendla Bergmann Eva NoblezadaCharlotte, North Carolina FootlooseAriel MooreMade professional debut as Kim at age 17 in the West End revival of Miss Saigon in 2014 Éponine in West End production of Les Misérables in 2016 Made Broadway debut headlining Miss Saigon in 2017 Eurydice in both West End and Broadway productions of Hadestown in 2018 and 2019, respectively Nominated for Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, for Miss Saigon in 2017, and again for Hadestown in 2019 Cast as Daisy in Paper Mill Playhouse and Broadway musical production of The Great Gatsby Cast as Sally Bowles replacement in Broadway and West End productions of Cabaret in 2025 2014 Jonah Rawitz Chicago, Illinois In the Heights Usnavi Mekhai Lee Charlotte, North Carolina Shrek The Musical Shrek Cast as Grady in 2017–18 U.S. national tour of The Color Purple Matthew Richards Logan, Utah The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney Jai'Len Christine Li Josey Atlanta, Georgia Dreamgirls Effie Melody White Appeared in Tyler Perry's Love Thy Neighbor Made Broadway debut as Pearl Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical in 2017 Brooke Solan Las Vegas, Nevada The Drowsy Chaperone Janet Van De Graaff Sophia Tzougros Dousman, Wisconsin Thoroughly Modern MillieMillie Dillmount Made Broadway debut in Good Night and Good Luck 2015 Anthony Skillman Mission Viejo, California Tarzan Tarzan Drayton Maclean Mayers Memphis, Tennessee Big Fish Edward Bloom Alec Michael Ryan Houston, Texas Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Lawrence Jameson Swing in A Beautiful Noise on National Tour and on Broadway Cast in Jersey Boys on National Tour Marla Louissaint New York, New York Caroline, or Change Caroline ThibodeauxEnsemble member of the U.S. touring company of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Performed as Fate and as an understudy for Persephone in the national tour and Broadway productions of Hadestown Morgan Higgins La Mirada, California Les Misérables Éponine Thénardier Made Broadway debut as Marie in Bad Cinderella Marnie Quick Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Shout! The Mod MusicalOrange Girl 2016 Josh Strobl Los Angeles, California Hairspray Link Larkin Universal cover for Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen in 2019 Understudy for Ponyboy and Johnny in original Broadway cast of The Outsiders 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 Charlotte, North Carolina Ragtime Sarah Cast as Jane Seymour in the US Boleyn Tour of Six Cast as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds in the Broadway production of Hamilton Kailey Boyle Madison, Wisconsin Once Upon a Mattress Princess WinnifredCast in ensemble of Gatsby: An American Myth at the American Repertory Theater