Qualifying Shows and Roles

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA)/The Jimmy Awards® has reviewed the professional standards for identifying the definition of an Approved Musical and a Qualifying Role in an Approved Musical for the purposes of our program. These standards serve as a guide to create a minimum standard and criteria for what defines a Qualifying Role in the category of Best Actor / Actress in an amateur production of an Approved Musical.

1. Definition of an Approved Musical

For the purposes of NHSMTA, an Approved Musical is one that:

• Held performances in a major New York City/Broadway theatre, professional regional, or touring theatre outside of New York City prior to being made available for licensing to the regional, amateur, or school theatre /circuit.
• Was originally conceived and produced for a core audience over eight years of age.
• Is officially available for a performance license by a high school from the licensing entity that manages such licenses on behalf of the rights holder for such musical.
• Is officially licensed from the licensing entity that manages such licenses on behalf of the rights holder for such musical.
• Is the standard or school edition/version; The following editions/versions are not eligible: 101 Collection (Middle School Editions), Broadway Junior, G2K (Getting to Know Series), Young Performers Edition, and Young@Part. Concert versions are not permitted.

2. Definition of a Qualifying Role

For the purposes of NHSMTA, a Qualifying Role in an Approved Musical is a role in which the character has a name, provides a vehicle for the actor or actress to demonstrate the ability to deliver the exceptional performance of a solo song and the ability to interact with other leading and featured performers in scenes and / or songs.

Unless identified as an “Ensemble Cast Musical,” an Approved Musical may have not more than six (6) Qualifying Roles. Such roles do not have to be evenly divided between genders.

For Approved Musicals with both a book and libretto, a Qualifying Role must, at minimum, include:

• At least one solo, featured song
• Appearances in more than one scene with spoken dialogue with other leading or featured performers
• Appearances in both or all acts

For Approved Musicals with a libretto only, a Qualifying Role must, at minimum, include:

• At least one solo, featured song
• At least one song featuring solo lines or dialogue with other leading or featured performers in the same song
• Appearances in both or all acts

3. For the purposes of the NHSMTA program, students are adjudicated in the category corresponding to their gender identification, not the gender of the role that they played. Students identifying as non-binary or gender-fluid may choose to either select the category in which they wish to be adjudicated (regardless of the gender of the role) OR they may be adjudicated based on the gender of the role they played. All casting or script change requests for performances in the NHSMTA program must be approved beforehand. The regional awards program should be prepared to submit proof of approval from the show’s licensing organization.

Updates to the list of Approved Musicals and Qualifying Roles

Each year, in consultation with the major licensing houses, NHSMTA updates the list of Qualifying Roles and Approved Musical titles made available for high school licensing. As of September 1 each year, no roles will be removed from the Qualifying Roles List for the upcoming program year. However, because appeals are made and approved throughout the year, the list of Qualifying Roles continues to be updated with additions. Your RAP representative should consult this list periodically to ensure that you have the most current list, which will be fully updated for the year by May 1. There is an internal process by which Regional Awards Programs may submit an appeal for a show or a role to be added to the list. Contact your local Regional Awards Program for more information. 

Get the list of the Qualifying Roles for the 2025 Jimmy Awards. Updated 12/20/2024

Get the list of shows and roles that are currently ineligible for the 2025 Jimmy Awards. Please do not submit appeals for roles listed here. Updated 12/20/2024

This information is intended as a reference for our Regional Awards Programs. Students, parents and teachers with questions regarding role eligibility should contact their local program directly.