Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that applications are now being accepted for participation in the 12th Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. IHSMTA celebrates excellence in high school theatre throughout the State of Illinois. In a commitment to reaching communities with schools that do not have the resources to produce full musicals, IHSMTA will be the first Jimmy Awards® Regional Awards Program (RAP) to pilot a hybrid model to offer talented students the opportunity to experience IHSMTA and potentially The Jimmy Awards®.
Broadway In Chicago encourages all Illinois Public and Private High Schools to apply. The deadline to submit School Applications for the 2023 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards is Tuesday, September 14, 2022. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Application and details can be found at www.BroadwayInChicago.com/IHSMTA.
PARTICIPATION CRITERIA
Eligible high schools must be located in the State of Illinois; Musical productions must take place between September 29, 2022 and April 23, 2023 to be considered; a musical production qualifies only if it is a full-length musical listed on The Jimmy Awards® (National High School Musical Theatre Awards®) Qualifying Show List.
For more information on our Hybrid Model, please click here.
This year’s categories include Best Performance in an Actor Role, Best Performance in an Actress Role, Best Production, Best Direction, and Best Ensemble. The twenty-four nominees in the Best Performance categories will each receive tickets to a Broadway In Chicago show, perform on stage at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) and compete in front of Chicago casting agents and theater professionals.
From the twenty-four nominees, two Illinois award recipients will travel to New York City on an all-expense paid trip where they will represent the State of Illinois at The Jimmy Awards® and participate in a week-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 will crown 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 to join the network of theatres across the country participating in The Jimmy Awards®.
Important Program Dates
School Applications Due: Tuesday, September 14, 2022, at 11:59 PM (CT)
Tentative IHSMTA Program Date: Monday, May 22, 2023
The Jimmy Awards®: Summer 2023 (exact date to be announced)
The 2022 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards recipients were Joseph Kotze of Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, IL (Best Actor) and Regan Wright of York Community High School in Elmhurst, IL (Best Actress).
