Great coverage of the 2014 Jimmy Awards!

On Stage Across America covers the 2014 Jimmy Awards!

The 2014 Jimmy™ Awards!

The 2014 NHSMTA Nominees

      On Monday, June 30, 2014 our nominees hit the stage for the sixth annual Jimmy™ Awards! The night began with the 56 actors performing an awesome opening number that featured some of Broadway’s most famous and current songs. 2011 Jimmy™ Awards Best Actor winner Ryan McCartan, who recently starred as JD in the Off-Broadway musical Heathers and appears regularly in Disney’s Liv and Maddie and the USA Network’s Royal Pains, returned to the event as the evening’s host!

As the first medley group of actresses took the stage, the audience knew they were in for a truly magical night! Each medley showcased stellar performances by this year’s nominees and highlighted each of these remarkable teens’ talents.  The last medley of men sang “Who I’d Be” from Shrek the Musical, bringing the house down and closing Act I. 

 

  During intermission, our panel of judges met to deliberate over who the 2014 Jimmy™ Awards finalists would be. The panel of judges included Kent Gash (New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama), Rachel Hoffman (Telsey + Co), Arielle Tepper Madover (Tony® Award Winning Producer), Tara Rubin (Casting Director), Nick Scandalios (Nederlander Organization), and Sergio Trujillo (Award-Winning Choreographer).   

After intermission, our nominees returned to the stage to hear the announcement of this year’s six finalists: Jai’Len Josey of the Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards-Shuler Hensley Awards, Mekhai Lee of The Blumey Awards, Jonah Rawitz of The Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards, Matthew Richards of Utah High School Musical Theater Awards, Brooke Solan of The Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards, and Sophia Tzougros of The Tommy Awards. 

Jonah Rawitz and Jai'Len Josey

After each finalist performed their solos, they were brought back out on stage for the announcement of our 2014 winners. The award for Best Performance by an Actress went to Jai’Len Josey, from Tri-Cities High School, representing the Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards-Shuler Hensley Awards. The award for Best Performance by an Actor went to Jonah Rawitz, from Adlai E. Stevenson High School, representing The Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards. The winners gave wonderful speeches, thanking their families, friends, and coaches who helped them along the way. 

Three additional awards were presented to English Berndhardt, Wakeforest, N.C. (Best Performance in an Ensemble), Joshua Velez, Torrance, CA (Most Improved), and Matthew Washington, Cary, N.C. (Spirit of the Jimmy Awards). Best Actress winner Jai’Len Josey, East Point, GA, was also selected to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s 6-week Pre-College Drama Program. 

What another great year for the Jimmy™ Awards! We are so proud of each of our wonderful nominees and their amazing Broadway debuts. We are truly expecting some great things in the future from the 2014 NHSMTA class!

Want to see more photos highlighting the week’s events? Visit our Flickr page! Also, continue to share your own NHSMTA photos or memories on our Twitter and Facebook!