Broadway In Chicago Announces winners of the 2024 Musical Theatre Awards

CHICAGO (May 14, 2024) – The award recipients of Broadway In Chicago’s 13th Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA) were announced and presented, in an award ceremony sponsored by NBC 5, celebrating outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre performances at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse on Monday May 13.

This year’s BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTOR ROLE is George Spiegel of Maine South High School (Park Ridge, IL) for their portrayal of “Pippin” in PIPPIN. Jazmin Rhodes of Homewood-Flossmoor High School (Flossmoor, IL), for her portrayal of “Hope Cladwell” in URINETOWN, is the BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTRESS ROLE. George and Jazmin will represent the State of Illinois on an all-expense paid trip to New York City to participate in The Jimmy Awards® (also known as The National High School Musical Theatre Awards®). The Jimmy Awards® are named for legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander. The trip to The Jimmy Awards® will consist of 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 on June 24, 2024.

Broadway In Chicago also announced BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTOR ROLE RUNNER-UP, Ethan Wankel of Bartlett High School (Bartlett, IL) and BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTRESS ROLE RUNNER-UP, Mary Kate Schoessling of St. Charles East High School (St. Charles, IL) should either of the BEST PERFORMERS be unable to represent IHSMTA at the Jimmy Awards®.

Additional awards included Best Direction Award to Aileen O’Carroll for Nazareth Academy’s production of FREAKY FRIDAY; Best Ensemble Award to Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School for SWEENEY TODD; and Best Production to Homewood-Flossmoor High School for URINETOWN.

The nominees performed a musical number from MAMMA MIA! during the award ceremony, taught by Danny Lopez-Alicea, Swing/Dance Captain in the 25th Anniversary North American Tour of MAMMA MIA! In addition Danny led a special Q&A, and an audition workshop, and sat on the panel of judges with fellow industry professionals from the City of Chicago who selected the award recipients. MAMMA MIA! is playing at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through this Sunday, May 19, 2024.

The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards have proven to be a steppingstone for young performers, with several appearing in Broadway & National Touring productions:

Other Illinois winners have also been successful at The Jimmy Awards®:

The 80 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 and DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS 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.

For more information on the awards and complete rules and regulations, visit www.IHSMTA.com

For more information on The Jimmy Awards®, also known as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) program impacts approximately 130,000 students who participate in 51 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 $6,000,000 in educational scholarships since its launch in 2009. 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 from Friday, June 14, 2024, through Tuesday, June 25, 2024, and their efforts throughout the week will lead to one extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. The fifteenth annual The Jimmy Awards® will take place on Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Minskoff Theatre.

Since premiering in London in 1999 and on Broadway in 2001, the irresistible musical has captured the hearts of millions around the globe. The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island paradise, all unfolding to the storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs, has now been seen live on stage by 65 million people across the world and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.

MAMMA MIA! is now on stage at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through May 19, 2024.

Click here for tickets.

Groups 10+ can be purchased by calling 312.977.1710.

NBCUniversal Local Chicago, a division of NBCUniversal, is the home of NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV), Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV) and NBC Sports Chicago. Together, the triopoly serves incredibly diverse English- and Spanish-speaking audiences in the third largest U.S. television market. The NBC and Telemundo owned stations deliver the latest local news, consumer and investigative reports across multiple linear, streaming and digital platforms; Chicago’s most accurate forecast; a range of original documentaries and series; and lifestyle content on “Chicago Today.” NBC Sports Chicago, in partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago White Sox (MLB) and the NBC Sports Group, covers more than 275 live pro games each year with extensive pre/post-game coverage. All original content is available on-air, across streaming platforms, on NBCChicago.com, TelemundoChicago.com and NBCSportsChicago.com, on each station’s mobile app, as well as our streaming station, NBC Chicago News, on Peacock, Roku and Samsung TV, as well as free apps on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

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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. https://www.jenniferheimheadshots.com/

Downstage Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young artists through quality performing arts education and mentorship. Our mission is to inspire creativity, foster talent, and provide opportunities for artistic expression and growth. Through The Teen Cohort Program, high school juniors and seniors are mentored and coached through college application and audition process. We cultivate a supportive and inclusive community for students to develop their skills and explore their passion for the arts, develop their skills, and pursue their dreams. For more information, visit Downstagearts.org.

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and, over the past 24 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 Theatre.

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For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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