A Night to Remember for Aspiring Broadway Stars
A billboard showcasing some of this year’s nominees for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, better known as the Jimmy Awards. José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR
Tonight marks a pivotal moment for more than 100 high school theater enthusiasts as they gather in New York City for the prestigious National High School Musical Theatre Awards, commonly referred to as the Jimmy Awards. This annual event invites young talents from across the nation to Broadway, giving them a chance to shine on stage after just 10 days of preparation.
“It’s hard,” admits Hayden Poe, who was nominated for his portrayal of Hermes in Dalton High School’s rendition of Hadestown: Teen Edition. “We work our voices and we work our bodies, but the kindness and the love and the friendship gets us through.”
The journey to the Minskoff Theatre begins with approximately 150,000 students nationwide. Through rigorous regional competitions, a select number make it to New York to compete for the coveted awards.
Named after the legendary Broadway figure Jimmy Nederlander, the top honors for best actor and actress in a musical are highly sought after. For 16 years, students have vied for the opportunity to take home a Jimmy Award.
Nominee Sascha Bass of Little Rock, Ark. sees her photo on the billboard. José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR
The nominees spend over a week rehearsing at The Juilliard School. Jayden Vega, a nominee from Tampa, Fla., for his role in Urinetown, describes the demanding schedule: “We have breakfast at 7:30, our first rehearsal starts at 8:30 and we end at 8:30 [p.m.], and from then we meet with our pods – like our little family for this week,” he says. “We’re working long days, but it’s so worth it.”
Gathering in Times Square, the students climbed the iconic red steps, eagerly rushing to see their headshots displayed on a large billboard. “It’s such a dream,” said Vega, visibly emotional. “I’m so happy to experience it with the people around me.”
For some, the experience was overwhelming. Natalie Sierk from Des Moines, Iowa, nominated for her performance in 9 to 5, expressed: “Seeing myself up there is unlike anything else in the world. How can I possibly be a part of something so huge? It’s such an honor.”
Many former Jimmy nominees have gone on to perform in Broadway shows, with some even earning Tony nominations. Jasmine Amy Rogers, Julia Knitel, and Eva Noblezada are just a few of the notable names to emerge from the program.
The Jimmy Award nominees cheered for a group photograph. José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR
Rachel Reiner, the program’s executive director, shares her excitement about watching the students’ journeys: “It is such an honor to be a part of their journey and to see them grow and develop in the week that they’re with us, and then launch their careers.”
The ceremony, hosted by Josh Groban, will be streamed live on the Jimmy Awards website at 7:30 pm on Monday.
