National High School Musical Theater Awards Announced Winners, 6/28

Two students were presented with Jimmy^TM Awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress on Monday, June 28 at Broadway's Marquis Theatre at the 2nd Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA), presented by Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances LLC. Alexandria Payne of the Tri-Cities High School in Atlanta won for her performance as ‘Ti Moune' in Once on This Island and Kyle Selig of Huntington Beach High School in Long Beach, CA won for his turn as ‘Don Lockwood' in Singin' in the Rain. Each student received $10,000 to further their education and they are eligible for four-year merit and need-based scholarship assistance to attend the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama, Undergraduate at New Studio on Broadway: Music theatre and Acting, contingent upon acceptance into the program.

Three additional awards were presented to Sarah Schultz of Fullerton, CA (Best Performance in an Ensemble), Arsalan Akhavan of Atlanta, GA (Most Improved), and Claire Gerig of Wichita, KS (Spirit of the Jimmy Awards). Each won a $2,500 scholarship towards their future education.

The ceremony was hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and presenters included nine-time Tony® Award-winner Tommy Tune, Krysta Rodriguez and Adam Riegler (The Addams Family), and Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music). The awards presentation featured student performances from all 44 participants and a special performance from the cast of Come Fly Away accompanied by a 16-piece orchestra including eight students from New York City's famed Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School and LaGuardia High School.

The Jimmy^TM Award, named in honor of James M. Nederlander-the legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer, was presented following 5-days of private coaching, master classes and rehearsals at New York University Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama's New Studio on Broadway: Music Theatre and Acting.

The NHSMTA is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance by high school students. Nearly 1,000 high schools nationwide participated in the 2009-2010 program offered at 22 regional theatres across America. The complete list of 2010 National High School Musical Theater Award nominees and the participating regional theaters is available at www.nhsmta.com.

Jimmy^TM Award winners were selected by a panel of industry experts including Scott Ellis (Roundabout Theater Company); Kent Gash (NYU Tisch School of the Arts, New Studio on Broadway: Music Theatre and Acting); Tony® Award-nominee Montego Glover (Memphis, The Color Purple); Alecia Parker (NAMCO); Nick Scandalios (Nederlander Organization) and Bernie Telsey (Telsey + Company and MCC Theater).

The National High School Musical Theater Awards was established in 2009 to help invigorate and support in-school theatre arts programs. The program has already been recognized by The National Endowment for the Arts, The Broadway League, The Shubert Organization and other industry organizations and foundations committed to nurturing future artists and audiences.

Photo Credit: Henry McGee