Being a theatre kid, the name “Jimmy” holds a lot more meaning than the average person might think. In 2009, to honor Broadway’s beloved James M. Nederlander, The Broadway League Foundation established a program to highlight talented high school students across the country. They called it the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, more commonly known as The Jimmy Awards. (Jimmy Awards) Students first compete in regional awards programs in their state, and the top actors and actresses from each region are invited to New York City to participate in the national ceremony. The Jimmy Awards aim to elevate the importance of theatre arts education in schools and showcase the incredible talent of young musical theatre performers.
It just so happens that our school participates in Orange County’s regional theater awards program called The Spirit of the Macy Awards. Recently, I, alongside Leilah Huttner (12) and Andrew Gardner (11), was nominated for Best Actress and Actor at this year’s ceremony. We were recognized for the roles we played in our spring musical, Bright Star.
“It’s super exciting,” said Leilah, “but also super intimidating. The fact that whoever wins gets to compete in New York is crazy, because everyone here is so talented.” Once in New York, winners participate in a week-long intensive to prepare for the ceremony. “I didn’t realize how much work it was,” said Andrew. “I thought you’d just win and fly there—but there’s a lot of paperwork and interviews beforehand.”
The Jimmy Awards are known nationwide among high school theatre students—especially because many past winners have gone on to become Broadway stars. Eva Noblezada, though she didn’t win, was a finalist and has since starred in Broadway productions such as Hadestown, The Great Gatsby, and Cabaret. In 2018, Andrew Barth Feldman won Best Actor and went on to play the title role in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. He also starred in the film No Hard Feelings alongside Jennifer Lawrence. That same year, Reneé Rapp won Best Actress. She later starred in Mean Girls on Broadway and its movie adaptation, and now releases her own original music. The thought that one of our very own Mustangs might follow in those footsteps is incredible—because, well, it almost happened! In 2019, Elyse Bell (A) won the Spirit of the Macy Awards and had the opportunity to compete at the Jimmys.
With all the excitement and preparation, there’s no denying the nerves the three of us feel. “I’m glad I get to sing these songs again,” Leilah gushes. “This show meant so much to me.” It truly is an honor just to be nominated, and Bright Star changed many of us for the better. “Whatever the outcome may be, I’m just so thankful for this opportunity,” Andrew reflects—and I couldn’t agree more. This nomination has opened my eyes to the possibility of a future in musical theatre. No matter what happens next, I’m so grateful to have shared this experience with two of my
