THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS (NHSMTA)/JIMMY™ AWARDS- The seventh annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards were held on Monday, June 29, 2015, at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. This one-of-a-kind-event was hosted by two-time Tony Award®-winner Michael Cerveris, currently on Broadway in this year's Best Musical Fun Home at Circle in the Square. The event was hosted by two-time Tony-winner Michael Cerveris who stepped in at the 11th hour for ailing Sutton Foster.
The Jimmy Award is named in honor of James M. Nederlander-the legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer. His son, James L. Nederlander, current Chairman of The Nederlander Organization, presented both winners with checks for $10,000 apiece to further their education. They will be eligible for a four-year merit and a need-based scholarship to attend the New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama, contingent upon acceptance into the program.
Wyndham Rewards will also be giving both winners their first big break later this year, casting them in one of its upcoming national advertising shoots.
Four runners-up each received a $2,500 scholarship toward their future education from the Barry and Fran Weissler Foundation. These winners were Alec Michael Ryan from The Tommy Tune Awards, Drayton Maclean Mayers from The Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards, Morgan Higgins from the M.A.C.Y. Awards and Marnie Quick from the Gene Kelly Awards. Three additional awards were presented to Madeline Mathias, Ovation Awards in East Lansing (Best Performance in an Ensemble); Rayven Burdette, The Tommy Awards in Madison (Most Improved), Drayton Maclean Mayers, Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards in Memphis (Spirit of the Jimmy Awards).
Another student, Kamari A. Saxon, was selected to attend Carnegie Mellon University's six-week Pre-College Drama Program.
Jimmy™ Award winners were selected by a panel of Broadway professionals including Kent Gash (Associate Arts Professor; Founding Director, New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama), Rachel Hoffman C.S.A. (Telsey + Company), Alecia Parker (Executive Producer, National Artists Management Company), Tara Rubin C.S.A. (Tara Rubin Casting), Nick Scandalios (Executive Vice President, The Nederlander Organization), Thomas Schumacher (President, Disney Theatrical Group), and Bernie Telsey C.S.A. (Telsey + Company).
