ALADDIN's Adam Jacobs to Lead Workshop for Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards

Broadway In Chicago has announced that the sixth annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards will feature a workshop led by Adam Jacobs, star of Disney's Aladdin North American tour, who originated the title role in Aladdin on Broadway, along with his wife Kelly Jacobs, who previously performed in Chicago in the Mary Poppins North American tour.

The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards will be held at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E Chestnut) on Monday, June 5, 2017. Sponsored by Aladdin and Grosh Backdrops & Drapery, the Illinois chapter of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards serves as an annual national celebration of outstanding achievement in musical theater performance by high school students.

Jacobs, who most recently originated and starred in the iconic title role in Aladdin on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, and received a 2014 Drama Desk Award nomination for "Outstanding Actor in a Musical" for his portrayal of "Aladdin," has previously appeared on Broadway as "Marius" in Les Miserables and "Simba" in The Lion King and recently released his debut album, "Right Where I Belong," featuring songs of Alan Menken.

In addition to the workshop, finalists will receive tickets to Aladdin in Chicago (currently playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through Sept. 10, 2017). Finalists will perform for a panel of casting agents and theater professionals on stage at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place on June 5, 2017. From the 24 finalists, the top two performers (Best Actor and Best Actress award recipients) will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to participate in a performance enrichment program and represent the state of Illinois at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy Awards), on Broadway.

An award for Best Production, Best Direction of a Musical, and the Grosh Scenic Design Award will be presented to participating schools.

The 2016 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Award recipients were Jack Cahill-Lemme of Park Ridge, IL (Main South High School) as BEST ACTOR for his portrayal of Edward Bloom in BIG FISH, Cecilia Trippiedi of Orland Park, IL (Carl Sandburg High School) as BEST ACTRESS for her portrayal of Eliza Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY, Cary-Grove High School for their production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA (BEST PRODUCTION) and Coal City High School for their production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (BEST SCENIC DESIGN).

For more information on both awards and complete rules and regulations, visit BroadwayInChicago.com/IHSMTA. For more information on The Jimmy Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA), visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

List of Participating Schools at the 2017 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards:

Name of School

City

Addison Trail High School

Addison

Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Lincolnshire

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School

Palos Hills

Barrington High School

Barrington

Benet Academy

Lisle

Bolingbrook High School

Bolingbrook

Byron High School

Byron

Canton High School

Canton

Carl Sandburg High School

Orland Park

Carterville High School

Carterville

Cary-Grove High School

Cary

Champaign Central High School

Champaign

Chicago Academy for the Arts

Chicago

Chicago Christian High School

Palos Heights

Coal City High School

Coal City

Crystal Lake Central High School

Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake South High School

Crystal Lake

Deerfield High School

Deerfield

Delavan High School

Delavan

Downers Grove South High School

Downers Grove

Dunlap High School

Dunlap

Elgin High School

Elgin

Evanston Township High School

Evanston

Evergreen Park High School

Evergreen Park

Farmington Central School District

Farmington

Fenwick High School

Oak Park

Frankfort Community High School

West Frankfort

Glenbard West High School

Glen Ellyn

Glenbrook North/South

Northbrook

Grayslake Central High School

Grayslake

Hampshire High School

Hampshire

Harvest Christian Academy

Elgin

Hinsdale South High School

Darien

Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Flossmoor

Hononegah High School

Rockton

Joliet West High School

Joliet

Kaneland High School

Maple Park

Lake Forest High School

Lake Forest

Lake Zurich High School

Lake Zurich

Libertyville High School

Libertyville

Lincoln-Way East High School

Frankfort

Lincoln-Way West High School

New Lenox

Maine East High School

Park Ridge

Maine South High School

Park Ridge

Marion High School

Marion

Meridian Senior High School

Macon

Minooka Community High School

Minooka

Moline High School

Moline

Monmouth-Roseville High School

Monmouth

Mother McAuley High School

Chicago

Mundelein High School

Mundelein

Naperville Central High School

Naperville

Nazareth Academy

Lagrange park

Normal Community High School

Normal

Northside College Preparatory High School

Chicago

Oak Park & River Forest High School

Oak Park

Oswego High School

Oswego

Palatine High School

Palatine

Plainfield East High School

Plainfield

Prairie Ridge High School

Crystal Lake

Providence Catholic High School

New Lenox

Rockford Christian High School

Rockford

Rosary High School

Aurora

Saint Ignatius College Prep

Chicago

Schaumburg High School

Schaumburg

Taft High School

Chicago

Thorton Fractional South High School

Lansing

Trinity High School

River Forest

Urbana High School

Urbana

Vernon Hills High School

Vernon Hills

Wauconda High School

Wauconda

West Aurora High School

Aurora

William Fremd High School

Palatine

York High School

Elmhurst

In 2012, the program inspired preeminent broadcaster WGBH Boston to produce a 3-part documentary series called "Broadway or Bust," which follows students on a journey from their hometown competitions to their debut on Broadway. The series remains popular viewing at www.pbs.org. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the ninth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 26, 2017 at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Coaching and rehearsals for this one-of-a-kind event will be held Monday, June 19, 2017 through Monday, June 26, 2017 in New York City. For more information, visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, Disney's Aladdin features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten!).

Aladdin, adapted from the Academy Award-winning animated Disney film and centuries-old folktales including "One Thousand and One Nights," is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin's journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance. This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage.

Tickets for Aladdin at the Cadillac Palace Theatre are on sale now. In Chicago, tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. A select number of Premium Ticket Packages, which include a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available for many performances. Group tickets for 15 or more are available by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. For a complete performance schedule for Aladdin, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 17 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including The PrivateBank Theatre, the Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.