Displaying items by tag: IHSMTA

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to invite high schools across the State of Illinois to participate in the 16th Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA). The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards celebrate excellence in high school theatre throughout the State of Illinois.

Beginning today, Wednesday, September 9, at 10AM, high school educators may fill out a School Application form to become an IHSMTA participating high school. Application details and program rules and regulations 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, and may close early based on demand. The deadline to submit School Applications for the 2027 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards is Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Eligible schools must adhere to the following in order to qualify as a participating high school:

• The High School must be located in the State of Illinois
• Musical productions must take place between September 24, 2026 and April 18, 2027 to be adjudicated
• The musical production must be a full-length musical listed on The Jimmy Awards® (also known as The National High School Musical Theatre Awards®) Qualifying Show List in order to be eligible

Important Dates
School Applications Available: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 10AM
School Applications Due: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 11:59PM
IHSMTA Ceremony Date: May 17, 2027
The Jimmy Awards®: Summer 2027

This year’s categories include Best Performer in an Actor Role, Best Performer in Actress Role, Best Production, Best Direction, Best Ensemble, and Backstage Champion. 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 a panel of industry 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 10-day long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on a Broadway stage, where a panel of judges selects 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®

The 2026 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Award recipients were Logan Arroyo of Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, IL (Best Performer in an Actor Role), Jane Nuich of Maine South High School in Park Ridge, IL (Best Performer in an Actress Role), Coal City High School for their production of DISNEY’S FROZEN (Best Production), Dunlap High School for their production of GUYS AND DOLLS (Best Ensemble), Rob Boncosky for his direction of Cary-Grove High School’s production of URINETOWN (Best Direction), and Navion Curry of Belvidere North High School for his achievement in the field of Stage Management (Backstage Champion).

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 professional Broadway debut in HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD, appeared in the National Tour of HADESTOWN, and was most recently seen in the 2023 revival of SWEENEY TODD on Broadway.
• Kyrie Courter (2012 IHSMTA Nominee) made her Broadway debut in the 2023 revival of SWEENEY TODD.
• Christopher Kelly (2012 & 2013 IHSMTA Nominee) made his Broadway debut in February 2026, joining the Broadway cast of CHICAGO.
• John Clay III (2013 IHSMTA Best Actor) made his professional Broadway debut in CHOIR BOY and originated the role of Jesse Webb in the original Broadway cast of NEW YORK, NEW YORK in 2023. He was last seen as Booker T. Washington in the Broadway revival of RAGTIME.
• Reagan Pender (2013 IHSMTA Nominee) made his Broadway debut in the 2024 revival cast of THE WHO’S TOMMY.
• Kaitlin Feely (2014 & 2016 IHSMTA Nominee) appeared in Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre's Chicago Premiere of TITANIQUE as understudy for Céline Dion, Molly Brown, Rose, and Background Vocalist in 2025. In 2026, she joined the national tour of BEETLEJUICE as Barbara Maitland where she is currently touring.
• Jack Cahill-Lemme (2016 IHSMTA Best Actor) launched the first North American tour of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL, which premiered in Chicago in 2022, and made his professional Broadway debut in the Broadway production in Summer 2023, through the show’s closing in August 2026.
• Cecilia Trippiedi (2016 IHSMTA Best Actress) appeared in the national tour of HADESTOWN in 2022 & 2023.
• Clare Kennedy McLaughlin (2016 IHSMTA Nominee) starred in Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre's Chicago Premiere of TITANIQUE as Céline Dion in 2025.
• Haley Gustafson (2016 & 2017 IHSMTA Nominee) made their Broadway debut in the 2024 revival cast of THE WHO’S TOMMY.
• Zachary Keller (2016 IHSMTA nominee) launched the first North American tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS as Jacob Jankowski in 2026, where he is currently touring.
• 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. She originated the role of Middle Allie in the original Broadway cast of THE NOTEBOOK: THE MUSICAL in 2024, and appeared as Louise in the 2025 Broadway revival of GYPSY, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical.
• Andrew Tufano (2018 IHSMTA Nominee) made his Broadway debut in the 2024 revival cast of THE WHO’S TOMMY.
• Justin O’Brien (2018 IHSMTA Nominee) appeared in the National Tour of MEAN GIRLS in 2023. He made his Broadway debut in October 2025, joining the cast of DEATH BECOMES HER.
• Mike Bindeman (2019 IHSMTA Nominee) launched the First National Tour of THE CHER SHOW as Gregg Allman/John Southall. In December 2023. He joined the first National Tour of BACK TO THE FUTURE as George McFly in December 2024.
• Sierra Fermin (2019 IHSMTA Finalist) made her Broadway debut in December 2023, joining the Broadway cast of SIX where she is still performing.
• Jacob Simon (2019 IHSMTA Best Actor) joined the National Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in 2022.
• Jason Schmidt (2019 IHSMTA Finalist) made his Broadway debut in April 2024, originating the role of Sodapop Curtis in the original Broadway cast THE OUTSIDERS.
• Josh Fermin (2022 IHSMTA Best Performer in An Actor Role Runner-Up) joined the first National Tour of & JULIET in 2025.

Other Illinois winners and students 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.
• Nate Garner (2017 IHSMTA Student Reporter) was selected in 2017 as one of the first ever Jimmy Awards® Student Reporters.
• 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®.  
• Nicole Scimeca (2024 IHSMTA Student Reporter) was selected as one of The 2024 Jimmy Awards® Student Reporters.
• Jamaur Houston (2025 IHSMTA Best Performer in an Actor Role) was awarded the 2025 Jimmy Award® for Best Dancer.

The participating high schools involved in the program are given opportunities to see Broadway In Chicago shows and receive invitations to special events throughout the year. In years past, students have performed with the casts of DEAR EVAN HANSEN, HAMILTON, DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, HADESTOWN, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE OUTSIDERS and SUFFS at Broadway In Chicago’s Summer Concert at Millennium Park, and performed with HAMILTON Chicago Company’s Miguel Cervantes (Alexander Hamilton) at the Illinois Bicentennial Birthday Party at Navy Pier. Nominees also performed at the first Sundays On State, the Chicago Loop Alliance activation inviting people back to the Loop after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021.

The Broadway In Chicago Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards E-Press Kit is available HERE.
For more information on the awards and complete rules and regulations, visit www.IHSMTA.com

ABOUT THE JIMMY AWARDS®
The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) is a celebration of student achievement in high school musical theatre across the country, spotlighting the next generation of Broadway talent. The program impacts over 180,000 students who participate in 58 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 $9,000,000 in educational scholarships since its launch in 2009, and over 90 alumni have performed on Broadway and in National Tours. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, Inc., the NHSMTA invites two nominees from each local regional ceremony to New York City for a rigorous theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. Nominees will spend ten days in New York City in June of 2027, and their experience will culminate in an extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

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Banner Kitchen & Bath Showroom
Banner Kitchen & Bath Showroom has been Chicagoland's trusted destination for kitchen and bath design for over 80 years. Located in Buffalo Grove, our 15,000 square foot showroom features hands-on displays of faucets, tubs, showers, vanities, cabinetry, and more — all guided by a team of designers with decades of experience. Whether you're planning a full remodel or a simple refresh, Banner Kitchen & Bath Showroom's knowledgeable staff helps homeowners and professionals find the perfect products for every space and budget. Learn More at bannerplumbing.com/showroom/. Remodel Like You Mean It.

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

Downstage Arts
Downstage Arts is a Chicago nonprofit dedicated to empowering the next generation of performers through high quality, accessible arts training and mentorship. Our flagship program, The Teen Cohort, provides high school junior and seniors with free mentorship and professional coaching through the college audition and application process. From school research to decision day, students receive individualized guidance, artistic training, and a supportive community. We are proud to have 100% college placement. Learn more at Downstagearts.org.

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Founded in 2017, Butterfly Productions is a boutique, full-service creative photo and video production agency based in Chicago, IL. We specialize in crafting visually compelling content that tells powerful stories and elevates brands. Over the years, we’ve grown from a small production team into a dynamic creative partner, offering a wide range of production services, including commercial shoots, branded content, documentaries, aerial drone visuals, corporate projects and social media campaigns. Our capabilities go beyond the lens- with in-house talent in original music composition, scriptwriting, storyboarding, and concept development, we bring a holistic approach to every project. Whether you’re a brand, non-profit, agency, or individual creator, we work closely with you to turn your vision into high-impact visuals that resonate. To learn more, visit butterflyproductions.com.

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Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 26 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, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium™.
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