Winners Announced for 2014 National High School Musical Theater Awards

The sixth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards took place on Monday, June 30, 2014, in New York City. Dubbed the  JimmyTM Award is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theater owner and producer, the 56 nominees made their Broadway debuts at the Minskoff Theatre.

The nominees from Connecticut were Connecticut High School Musical Theater Award winners Jillian Caillouette who played Sara Crewe in St. Paul Catholic High School production of A Little Princess and Michael Hudak who played Jean Valjean in Immaculate High School's production of Les Misérables. Broadway producer Van Dean attended the awards gala and kept those of us at home updated on Facebook. I greatly appreciated his up-to-the-minute reports as I kept my fingers crossed for another Connecticut winner.

Mr. Dean first reported that Michael Hudak just "did a beautiful job performing 'Bring Him Home' as a duet with another Valjean on the stage of the Minskoff." Soon after he added that Ms. Caillouette "just killed it with her rendition of 'Live Out Loud.' Our Connecticut contingent has done us proud. It's in the judges' hands now." After intermission, Mr. Dean sadly posted that "our two truly incredible CT performers did not make it into the final three. I am incredibly proud of them both and they are winners to me."

NHSMTA announced on their website that the winners were Jai'Len Josey, representing the Shuler Hensley Awards in Atlanta, GA and Jonah Rawitz, representing the Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards in Chicago, IL. In a surprising coincidence, both of the young male and female winners of the National High School Musical Theater Awards have just finished their sophomore years.

In April, Tri-Cities High School sophomore Jai'Len Josey won Georgia's 2014 Shuler Hensley Musical Theater Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Effie in DREAMGIRLS. Here are clips from Jai'Len's winning performance in Atlanta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ey_4bgyDsg

In April, Adlai E. Stevenson sophomore Jonah Rawitz won the 2014 Illinois High School Musical Theater Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Usnavi in IN THE HEIGHTS. Here are clips from Jonah's winning performance in Chicago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEAVNdCmEw8

The two winners each received $10,000 to further their education. They are also 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. Jai'Len was also selected to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s 6-week Pre-College Drama program.

Four runners-up each received a $2,500 scholarship toward their future education from the Barry and Fran Weissler Foundation. These winners were Matthew Richards from Layton, UT; Brooke Solan from Las Vegas, NV; Sophia Tzougros from Dousman, WI; and Mekhai Lee from Charlotte, NC.

Three additional awards were presented to English Bernhardt of Wake Forest, NC (Best Performance in an Ensemble), Joshua Velez of Torrance, CA (Most Improved), and Matthew Washington of Cary, NC (Spirit of the Jimmy Awards).

During their week of rehearsals in New York City, the nominees also  got to experience some of the best that Broadway has to offer. Stephen Schwartz spoke to the group and The Shubert Organization sponsored a dinner at Sardi's. The nominees also attended a performance of Kinky Boots and got to have a post-show talkback with the cast afterwards.

The NHS Musical Theater Awards is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theater. The program recognizes individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance, and honors teachers and their schools’ commitment to excellence in performing arts education.

For more information, visit http://www.nhsmta.com/.