Broadway In Chicago is delighted to invite high schools across the State of Illinois to participate in the 13th Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA) celebrate excellence in high school theatre throughout the State of Illinois.
Beginning Wednesday, September 6, at 10AM, high school educators may fill out a School Application form. Application details can be found at www.ihsmta.com. Broadway In Chicago encourages all Illinois Public and Private High Schools to apply; however, School Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The deadline to submit School Applications for the 2024 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards is Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
Eligible schools must adhere to the following: the High School must be located in the State of Illinois; musical productions must take place between September 28, 2023 and April 21, 2024 to be considered, a musical production qualifies if it is a full-length musical listed on The Jimmy Awards® (National High School Musical Theatre Awards) Qualifying Show List.
This year’s categories include Best Performer in an Actor Role, Best Performer in Actress Role, Best Production, Best Direction and Best Ensemble. Twenty-four nominees (12 in each Best Performance category) will perform on stage at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) and compete in front of Chicago casting agents and theater professionals.
From the twenty-four nominees, two Illinois award recipients will go on an all-expense paid trip to New York City to represent the State of Illinois at The Jimmy Awards® and participate in a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway, where a panel of judges crowns the nation’s top performers. The Jimmy Awards® are named after legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander. Broadway In Chicago is a Nederlander presentation and is excited be a part of a network of theatres across the country participating in The Jimmy Awards®.
Important Dates
School Applications Available: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
School Applications Due: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 11:59PM
Tentative IHSMTA Program Date: Monday, May 20, 2024
The Jimmy Awards®: Summer 2024 (exact date to be announced)
The 2023 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Award recipients were Payton Fraser of Joliet West High School in Joliet, IL (Best Performer in an Actress Role) and William Gonzalez of Mundelein High School in Mundelein, IL (Best Performer in an Actor Role).
The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards have proven to be a steppingstone for young performers, with several appearing in Broadway & National Touring productions:
-Nathan Salstone (2012 IHSMTA Best Actor) made his Broadway debut in HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD, has recently appeared in the National Tour of HADESTOWN, and is in the current revival of SWEENEY TODD on Broadway.
-John Clay III (2013 IHSMTA Best Actor) made his Broadway debut in CHOIR BOY and was most recently seen in the original cast of NEW YORK, NEW YORK, on Broadway.
-Jack Cahill-Lemme (2016 IHSMTA Best Actor) recently appeared in the North American tour of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL, which premiered in Chicago in 2022, and made his Broadway debut in the Broadway production in Summer 2023.
-Cecilia Trippiedi (2016 IHSMTA Best Actress) joined the National Tour of HADESTOWN in 2022.
-Jacob Simon (2019 IHSMTA Best Actor) joined the National Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in 2022.
-Wren Rivera (2017 IHSMTA Nominee) made their Broadway debut in JAGGED LITTLE PILL in 2021.
-Joy Woods (2018 IHSMTA Finalist) made her Broadway debut in March 2022, joining the Broadway cast of SIX.
-Justin O’Brien (2018 IHSMTA Nominee) joined the National Tour of MEAN GIRLS in 2023.
Other Illinois winners have also been successful at The Jimmy Awards®:
-Jonah Rawitz (2014 IHSMTA Best Actor) was awarded the 2014 Jimmy Award® for Best Performance by an Actor.
-Cecilia Trippiedi (2016 IHSMTA Best Actress) was awarded the 2016 Jimmy Award® for Best Dancer.
-Darian Goulding (2018 IHSMTA Best Actor) was a 2018 Jimmy Award® finalist.
-Jacob Simon (2019 IHSMTA Best Actor) was the recipient of the 2019 Rising Star Award from The Jimmy Awards®.
ABOUT THE JIMMY AWARDS®
Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) program impacts more than 140,000 students who participate in 48 regional high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $6,000,000 in educational scholarships. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, Inc., the NHSMTA invites one Best Actress and one Best Actor nominee from each local regional ceremony to New York City for a week-long theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. Nominees will spend one week in New York City, and their efforts throughout the week will lead to one extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) is the owned NBC station in Chicago. Originally WNBQ, the station’s current call letters, WMAQ-TV, were established in 1964. During NBC 5 Chicago’s rich history, the station pioneered a number of television “firsts.” On April 15, 1956, NBC 5 became the world’s first all-color TV station. In September of 1986, NBC 5 became the first Chicago commercial station to broadcast in stereo. In 1989, NBC 5 was the first Chicago station to present closed captioning of all local newscasts. Currently, NBC 5 airs over 37 hours of local news per week in HD on its core channel and the latest news, weather and streamed original content on www.nbcchicago.com and the NBC Chicago Mobile App.
ABOUT SOUND, PRODUCTION, & LIGHTING
Sound, Production & Lighting (SPL) is a full-service event production and system installation company. We provide production services for corporate meetings, galas and fundraising parties, marketing activations, and anything between – we’re always up for a challenge. We offer permanent installation services for a variety of venues in fields such as live performance, education, worship, and hospitality. Our goal for any project is to provide an unparalleled experience and service. For more information, visit www.splchicago.com.
ABOUT JENNIFER HEIM PHOTOGRAPHY
Jennifer Heim Photography specializes in live stage, rehearsal and headshot photography. Having shot over 900 productions and countless headshots, Jennifer is able to capture the emotion of a scene and create images that portray character depth and beautiful lighting design. Being a director and choreographer, she can anticipate blocking and movement to capture the best moments of your production for IHSMTA submissions. You want your students to stand out in their college auditions. Jennifer teaches them how to be in front of the camera to perfectly capture their personality for college auditions. www.jenniferheimheadshots.com
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 23 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 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 Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.
For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.