Rules and Regulations

2026 Rules & Regulations

Only those programs that have been approved for participation by the NHSMTA are recognized as official Regional Awards Programs of the Jimmy Awards^®. View the Participation Guidelines for more information.

Each Regional Awards Program (RAP) of the Jimmy Awards^® must adhere to the following Rules & Regulations in order to participate in the 2026 Jimmy Awards^®/ National High School Musical Theatre Awards^® (NHSMTA^®).

General

• The RAP is sponsored by a legitimate professional theatre/company that is a member in good standing of The Broadway League.
• The sponsoring legitimate professional theatre/company that is a member of The Broadway League has sponsored only one (1) RAP this year (unless an exception is approved by the NHSMTA Advisory Board).
• Every participating program must pay the participation fee in full, and the payment must be made by the Broadway League member sponsoring organization.
• New Regional Awards Programs may send Nominees to New York in the first year of their program, if they so choose.
• In addition to the non-refundable participation fee, the RAP is also responsible for funding round-trip travel to New York City for its two Nominees (and Chaperone, if applicable). NHSMTA will arrange and pay for Nominees’ expenses in New York City including housing, meals, and other necessary expenses for the duration of the program. Any expenses incurred outside of the scheduled program dates will be the responsibility of the RAP.
• The RAP must adhere to and comply with all Press Guidelines as outlined by the NHSMTA.
• The Jimmy Awards encourages RAPs to engage adjudicators, presenters, and guest artists who are reflective of their communities. RAPs are also encouraged to connect with and consider alternative opportunities for schools that may not have the budget to produce full-length musicals and/or meet Jimmy Awards/NHSMTA eligibility requirements.

Nominee Selection Process

• The RAP is expected to adjudicate student performances through a full-scale Awards Program Model based on a Tony Awards ^® model (for reference please refer to similar programs such as Gene Kelly Awards, The Blumey Awards, or the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards).
  • The RAP sends qualified adjudicators to review high school musical theatre productions presented by individual schools during the 2025-26 school year. All aspects of shows, such as acting, choreography, design, etc. are adjudicated on performance and production quality. To be considered for Jimmy Awards nomination, a student must perform a Qualifying Role in an Approved Musical in a full-length high school production that took place during the 2025-26 school year.
  • Regional Awards Programs must act in accordance with licensing organizations’ established guidelines.
  • All Regional Awards Programs must present awards at a full-scale public event in which nominees perform/participate in solo and group musical numbers for a live in-person audience of no fewer than 100 attendees (not including participants). While new Regional Awards Programs may choose to present a smaller culminating event for their first year, they are required to present a full-scale public event by the second full year of participation in the Jimmy Awards/National High School Musical Theatre Awards.
  • At or before this event, RAPs must select two (2) nominees to participate in the Jimmy Awards. One student is announced as the Jimmy Awards Best Actress Nominee, and one student is announced as the Jimmy Awards Best Actor Nominee.
  • Jimmy Awards Nominees are chosen by RAPs based on the results of the adjudication of their performance of a Qualifying Role in an Approved Musical in a full-length high school production that took place during the 2025-26 school year.
  • For the purpose of NHSMTA, qualifying roles will be defined per the list found here. Approved RAPs may appeal roles and musicals that are not on the current list for inclusion. School editions/versions of musicals are permitted; “junior” versions are not. Junior versions are usually referred to as: G2K (Getting to Know Series), Young @ Part, Middle School Editions (from 101 School Editions), Broadway Jr., Youth Editions, and Young Performers. Concert versions are not permitted.
  • All nominees must meet any additional criteria and comply with all regulations as designated by the individual Regional Awards Program’s policies for the 2025-26 season in order to be eligible as a Jimmy Awards Nominee.
• Regional Awards Programs must submit all required information and materials on behalf of their two participating Nominees by June 1st, regardless of culminating program event/ceremony date. Please refer to the Documentation & Materials section of the Rules & Regulations for further detail.
• Regional Awards Programs must ensure that their two participating Nominees have been informed of their nominations for the Jimmy Awards by June 1st.
• Regional Awards Programs must ensure that their two participating Nominees have been announced to the public no later than one (1) week prior to the start date of the NHSMTA week in NYC.

Nominee Requirements

Only those students who have been selected and designated as such by an official Regional Awards Program of the Jimmy Awards are recognized as official Jimmy Award Nominees. Please see above for more information about the Nominee Selection Process.

• A Jimmy Awards Nominee must be a current high school student, grades 9 through 12.
• A Nominee’s high school may participate in one (1) RAP only.
• A Nominee may participate in one (1) RAP only.
• A Nominee may represent one (1) high school and one (1) Qualifying Role only. The nominee will represent the high school that produced the Qualifying Show for which they were nominated.
• Nominees must be conflict free and available for all days during the NHSMTA week, tentatively scheduled for Friday, June 12^th – Tuesday, June 23^rd.
• Nominees are required to travel to New York City to participate in a rigorous 10-day program that will include individual coaching and group rehearsals for the Jimmy Awards ceremony.
• Upon arrival in NYC, Nominees will participate in a live Preliminary Adjudication to determine their award eligibility and Performance Group placement. The forty (40) Nominees who continue to be eligible for Finalist and Best Performance awards and scholarships following the Preliminary Adjudication will participate in a second live Adjudication prior to the public Jimmy Awards ceremony.
• Nominees must understand and agree to all possible videotaping, televised opportunities, photos, press interviews, and print advertising. Waivers are provided in the Nominee Information Packet.
• Once a Nominee has won the Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor or Best Performance by an Actress, they may not return in subsequent years to participate as a Nominee at the Jimmy Awards in New York City.
• Nominees must abide by any health and safety protocols implemented by either The Juilliard School or the NHSMTA.

Documentation & Materials

• Once accepted to participate in the NHSMTA Program, the RAP is required to submit the following necessary documentation in digital form. Please note that all material requirements are subject to change. Specific guidelines and upload instructions will be provided in the 2026 RAP Participation Packet. All documentation is to be submitted to NHSMTA by the RAP, not by Nominees, their teachers, or their parents/guardians:
  • Participating High Schools List, which includes:
    • The name and street address, and phone number of each high school participating in the RAP
    • Show titles of each high school production adjudicated by the RAP
    • Dates of each production adjudicated by the RAP
    • The estimated number of students participating in each production adjudicated by the RAP
    • Each high school musical director’s name, mailing address, email address, and phone number
    • The name of another primary contact at the high school, including phone number, email, and mailing address
  • RAP logo
  • RAP adjudication score sheet demonstrating process of determining Jimmy Awards nominees
  • Three digital images from RAP’s 2026 ceremony
  • RAP Chaperone/Travel Companion Selection Form
  • Chaperone Personal Release/Waiver Form/Medical Information, if applicable
  • Nominee Release/Waiver Forms and Parental Release Forms
  • Nominee Medical Information Forms
  • Nominee color headshots (current)
  • Nominee resumes formatted to NHSMTA-provided template
  • Nominee one-page essays
  • Nominee bios
  • Three productions photos demonstrating each Nominee’s performance was from a Qualifying Role in an Approved Musical in a full-length high school production during the 2025–26 school year
  • A video submission featuring each Nominee’s topic response
  • Nominee Wardrobe Information Forms
  • Nominee Music Submissions

Recommendations for Establishing Adjudicator Guidelines & Adjudication Processes for Regional Awards Programs

• Determine definition and expectations of expertise in musical theatre for adjudicators.
• Actively recruit a pool of adjudicators that is reflective of your local community.
• Consider sourcing potential adjudicators from:
  • local colleges or universities
  • regional theatres
  • theatre critics/reviewers
  • retired theatre professionals
• Avoid bias or the perception of bias of any kind, including but not limited to:
  • current or former affiliations with a participating high school or district
  • familial connections with a potential nominee and/or participating high school
  • independent coaches or teachers whose student rosters include potential nominees
• Offer training for adjudicators.
• Establish and share with participating high schools an adjudication rubric with clearly defined terms and expectations.
• Communicate procedure for determining nominees/awards/recognition to participating high schools.
• Consider providing constructive and educational feedback to participating high schools following adjudication of their shows.
• Communicate time commitment and procedural expectations for adjudicators upfront.