2015 Jimmy Award Winners Announced!

The seventh annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards / Jimmy Awards were held tonight, 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 coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor on Monday, June 29 at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre, was presented to Marla Louissaint (pictured, left) representing The Gershwin Awards and Anthony Skillman (below, right), representing the M.A.C.Y. Awards.

The Jimmy Award is named in honor of James M. Nederlander-the legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer. James L. Nederlander, Chairman of The Nederlander Organization, presented both winners with a check for $10,000 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 when the globally-known loyalty program casts them in one of its upcoming national advertising shoots. As part of the star treatment, each winner, along with their parent or guardian, will have the opportunity to fly roundtrip from their hometown to the multi-day shoot location where they'll receive not only complimentary hotel accommodations but $500 in spending money, courtesy of the program.

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 6-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).

Founded in 2009 by Nederlander Alliances LLC, Pittsburgh CLO, and Broadway Education Alliance (BEA), NHSMTA's mission is to raise the profile of musical theatre in schools, recognize dedicated teachers and inspire the next generation of performers and enthusiasts. Also known as The Jimmy Awards, in honor of legendary Broadway producer/theatre owner James M. Nederlander, the NHSMTA is supported by many leading theatre industry organizations. More information about the National High School Musical Theatre Awards can be found at nhsmta.com.

The production was directed by Van Kaplan and choreographed by Kiesha Lalama, with musical direction by Michael Moricz. Broadway stars Michael McElroy (Big River, Tony Award Nomination 2004), Eden Espinosa (Wicked), Adam Kantor (Rent), Telly Leung (Allegiance) and Julia Murney (Wicked), served as coaches for the nominees prior to the showcase.

The annual Broadway-focused talent showcase featured performances by all 52 participants and solos by select finalists. Their Broadway debut followed 5-days of rehearsals and private coaching with faculty at the New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama and other professionals. Students also enjoyed a discussion with American composer Frank Wildhorn and enjoyed a performance of An American in Paris, including a talkback with the cast.

The Broadway League will conduct the program through THE BROADWAY LEAGUE FOUNDATION, which acts as its philanthropic arm. Part of the Foundation's mission is to enlighten and increase the public's knowledge, appreciation and awareness of the theatrical arts, and since its founding in 1993 has supported a number of projects to help preserve Broadway's heritage and introduce new audiences to Broadway theatre. The Foundation is a corporation organized under the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York, the purposes of which are exclusively charitable as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

THE BROADWAY LEAGUE, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 700-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers who present in nearly 200 markets in North America, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. The Broadway League has recently added a new category for International membership to collaborate with professionals from around the world who produce and present Broadway quality theatre. Visit www.BroadwayLeague.com, or follow The Broadway League on Twitter @TheBwayLeague or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BroadwayLeague. BROADWAY.ORG is the League's official on-line headquarters for Broadway in NYC, on tour, and internationally. Download the free Broadway.org mobile app for iOS or Android, and the free IBDB mobile app for iOS or Android. The Broadway League annually presents the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry, with The American Theatre Wing.