Photo Coverage: On the Red Carpet for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards!
By: Jennifer Broski Jun. 30, 2015
The seventh annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards / Jimmy Awards were held last night, 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 representing The Gershwin Awards and Anthony Skillman, representing the M.A.C.Y. Awards. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the red carpet!
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 WeisslerFoundation. These winners were Alec Michael Ryan from TheTommy 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 theGene 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.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski
2015 Nominees
Kiesha Lalama, Van Kaplan
Matthew Richards, Sarah Stout
Nick Scandalios, James L. Nederlander, Bernie Telsey, Kent Gash, Van Kaplan
James L. Nederlander, Myrna Gershon, Freddie Gershon
Van Kaplan, Sarah Lynn Marion, Kiesha Lalama
The kids of FINDING NEVERLAND
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The kids of FINDING NEVERLAND, MATILDA, THE LION KING
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