Jimmy Awards
Frequently Asked Questions
The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA®) program is a coast-to-coast celebration of individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance. Its mission is to celebrate outstanding student achievement in musical theatre, advance a national conversation about the importance of arts education, and encourage more schools to produce musicals. Sponsored annually by presenters of touring Broadway, nominees selected by affiliated regional competitions across the country travel to New York City to participate in the national program, a rigorous theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. Their experience culminates in the annual Jimmy Awards® ceremony – an extraordinary, one-night-only talent showcase. During this unforgettable event at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre, a panel of judges from the Broadway industry will bestow a number of awards and scholarships, including the coveted awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress. Students receive opportunities for merit scholarships, professional advancement, and other awards.
The National High School Musical Theatre Awards program was established in 2009.
Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances, LLC founded NHSMTA. Pittsburgh CLO is one of the country’s leading not-for-profit producers of musical theatre. The organization’s educational efforts include its Gene Kelly Awards which is one of the oldest high school musical programs in the country. The Gene Kelly Awards competition involves dozens of high schools and is the prototype for other programs like it in the U.S. Pittsburgh CLO wanted to use the “playbook” of its own successful regional competition to create a national program involving theatre organizations across the country. Nederlander Alliances, LLC was looking for an educational program to honor the legacy of legendary theatre owner and producer James M. Nederlander. These two industry leaders united in a common mission to nurture future artists and audiences.
The Jimmy® is named for legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer James M. Nederlander, or “Jimmy” as he is known on Broadway. Until his death in 2016, Mr. Nederlander was the Chairman of the Nederlander Producing Company of America Inc., the owner/operator of a vast chain of theatres, including nine Broadway houses, and a producer of distinguished entertainment for more than 70 years. The Nederlander Producing Company also presents Broadway shows in Los Angeles, Chicago, Durham, Greensboro, North Charleston, Oklahoma City, San Diego, San Jose, Tucson, Washington DC, Anchorage, and London. The Broadway League presented Jimmy with the Schoenfeld Vision for Arts Education Award in 2010 for establishing The National High School Musical Theatre Awards.
The event takes place in New York City in a Broadway theatre in late June. Students are housed and attend workshops and rehearsals on a local college campus.
Because “Broadway” is the heart of the theatre industry in the United States, and due to the vast resources available there, New York became the logical host city.
Over 50 programs participate in NHSMTA.
Participating Regional Awards Programs are required to be sponsored by a member of The Broadway League. Each participating Regional Awards Program nominates two student representatives to compete at the “Nationals” in New York.
Over 100 students participate in the program in New York. These students were selected as nominees by their local competitions to represent their regions.
We estimate that approximately 180,000 students at 2,600 high schools are represented by participating programs each year.
Awards and scholarships vary by year.
The program is referred to as "The National High School Musical Theatre Awards." The awards ceremony is called The Jimmy Awards. "The National High School Musical Theatre Awards" is the incorporated name of the program.
All press inquiries should be directed to our Communications Department.
You can donate online via QGiv or contact Rachel Reiner at [email protected].
Please see our Participation Guidelines and email [email protected] with further questions.
NHSMTA c/o The Broadway League Foundation
729 Seventh Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-764-1122
General inquiries: [email protected]