Teah Renzi of Newtown Attends The Jimmy Awards in NYC

Pictured above: Teah Renzi on the red carpet at the Stephen Sondheim Awards at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven

New York, NY - The Jimmy® Award is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer. The Jimmy® Award for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor is awarded annually to two grand prize winners selected from a group of student performers representing the participating professional theatres. Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts.

The Jimmy Awards program begins with programs throughout the US. High schools sign up to have their shows and students adjudicated by industry professionals in their cities. The winners of Best Actor and Best Actress from their state get to attend the Jimmy awards in New York City. Laura Benanti served as the host and the awards ceremony was live streamed on the Jimmy Awards Facebook page on Monday evening.

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

ANDREW BARTH FELDMAN of Lawrence Woodmere Academy. He played Frank Abagnale, Jr. in their production of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and earned the Best Actor Award from The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance in New York, NY.

RENEÉ RAPP from Northwest School Of The Arts. She played Sandra Bloom in BIG FISH and was named Best Actress at The Blumey Awards in Charlotte, NC.

Both award winners were presented with a $10,000 scholarship.

Local students who participated in the Jimmy Awards on Monday were COOPER CARDONE from North Kingstown High School in Rhode Island. He played Beast in the school’s production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and was named Best Actor at The Stephen Sondheim Awards in New Haven CT.

Representing Connecticut in the Best Actress category was TEAH RENZI from Newtown High School. She portrayed Eponine in their stellar production of LES MISERABLES and was named Best Actress at The Stephen Sondheim Awards in June.