2017 Jimmy Awards

Sofia Deler

Orlando, FL

The 2017 Jimmy® Award for Best Performance by an Actress was presented to Sofia Deler representing the Applause Awards.

Tony Moreno

Orlando, FL

The 2017 Jimmy® Award for Best Performance by an Actor was presented to Tony Moreno representing the Applause Awards.

View the 2017 Nominees

Download the Playbill

About the Event

The 2017 National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA)/Jimmy Awards® took place on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) hosted.

74 high school students from 37 regional programs across America competed for the Jimmy® for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress at the ninth annual presentation. The talent showcase featured dynamic ensemble and solo performances.

The coveted JimmyAwards for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor were presented to Sofia Deler and Tony Moreno, bothrepresenting the Applause Awards in Orlando, FL.

Six finalists each received a $2,500 scholarship toward their future education from the Barry and Fran Weissler Foundation:

• Antonio Cipriano, Sutton Foster Ovation Awards (East Lansing, MI)
• Maggie Gidden, Spirit of the MACY Awards (La Mirada, CA)
• Nathan Keffer, Spotlight Awards - Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards (Nashville, TN)
• Hatty King, Spotlight Awards - Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards (Nashville, TN)   
• Sam Primack, ASU Gammage High School Musical Theater Awards (Tempe, AZ)
• Jasmine Rogers, Tommy Tune Awards (Houston, TX)

Additional Awards Presented

Best Dancer, presented by The Shubert Organization

• Anna Hertel, The Blumey Awards (Charlotte, NC)                 

Best Performance in an Ensemble, presented by Disney Theatrical Group

• Ian Hayes, The Kenny Awards (Buffalo, NY)    

Rising Star, presented by The John Gore Organization

• Sky Frank, The San Diego Ben Vereen Awards (San Diego, CA)             

Spirit of the Jimmys, presented by Music Theatre International

• Liz Valentin, Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards (Appleton, WI)

Special Recognition Scholarships, presented by Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.

• Seamus Foley, Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (Des Moines, IA)
• Sophia Rose Franklin, The Southern Arizona Ben Vereen Awards (Tucson, AZ)
• Eric Gaydon, The Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors (San Jose, CA)
• Levi Hopkins, Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards (Logan, UT)
• Jessica Lewis, Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards (Logan, UT)
• Liz Valentin, Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards (Appleton, WI)                            

6 Week Pre-College Drama Summer Program Scholarship, presented by Carnegie Mellon University

• Sam Primack, ASU Gammage High School Musical Theater Awards (Tempe, AZ)         

During the ceremony, Brendan Jennings (Burbank, CA) and Larry Robinson (Monroe, NC) received the inaugural Inspiring Teacher Award presented by Wells Fargo for the encouragement and inspiration that led their students to win the 2016 coveted Jimmy Awards for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor.

Director, choreographer, and producer Kenny Ortega also made a special appearance at the ceremony and presented the week in review video.

Winners were selected by a panel of judges comprised of notable theatre professionals including Tony Award-winning producers, award-winning casting experts and industry professionals: Kent Gash, Montego Glover, Rachel Hoffman, Kevin McCollum, Alecia Parker, Tara Rubin, Bernard Telsey, and Charlotte Wilcox. Additional judges during the week were Paul Canaan, Wayne Cilento, Stephanie Klapper, Cesar Rocha, and Tara Rubin.

The production was directed by Van Kaplan and choreographed by Kiesha Lalama, with musical direction and arrangements by Michael Moricz.

Broadway stars Andréa Burns, Randy Graff, Adam Kantor, Michael McElroy, Howard McGillin, and Schele Williams served as coaches for the nominees in preparation for the ceremony.