2024 Jimmy Awards field report
Hi!
The National High School Musical Theatre Awards, better known as the Jimmy Awards, took place last week at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City. Despite living in California and not knowing any of the teens competing, I was in the audience for the fourth time. What can I say? It’s the best night of my year every year. A presenter spoke to how I feel with a Stella Adler quote: “Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.” I go to the Jimmys to recharge my fucking soul, and it works: I stumble out of that theatre convinced that my dreams are worth dreaming, the children are the future, and hearing a live snippet of “Moments in the Woods” once a year will keep me alive forever. Who knew the fountain of youth was in Times Square?
Tickets to the Jimmys typically go on sale in April, but they didn’t this year until two weeks before the show. My theory is that since most nominees don’t know they’ve won their regional competition until May or June, tickets were reserved so their families and friends would get priority over unaffiliated freaks like me. Fair enough! When tickets finally went on sale to the general public, less than 100 were available and the show sold out in 5 minutes. I managed to snag the tickets I needed for my group, but I’m gatekeeping my tips and tricks because I don’t want you to get a seat over me in the future. ❤️
Unless they move to a bigger venue (Madison Square Garden?), I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m shut out next year. The Jimmys’ niche status gets chipped away every year by a combination of viral TikToks, famous alum, and Reneé Rapp, who gets her own specification outside of “famous alum.” As its reputation grows, so does its class size: 102, a whopping 70-kid increase since 2009. If I were musical directing a Jimmys medley about this, I’d have the boys sing, “Changing, it keeps changing” from Sunday in the Park With George, then have the girls come in with, “Everything’s changing and my heart’s at the wheel now” from Waitress… but that’s just me.
Ordinarily, the nominees are divided into four character medleys and two tribute numbers; the character medleys are iconic and spots in them are coveted, but finalists and winners emerge from the tributes as well – or used to. Our host for the evening Josh Groban explained that upon arriving in New York, the nominees auditioned for preliminary judges and were then divided into five character medleys and one tribute number, with only the character medleys eligible to advance to the finals. TL;DR: at the top of rehearsal week, 60% of the kids found out they couldn’t win. Cue “Pandemonium.”
Nearly every presenter stressed that the Jimmys aren’t just about who wins, and I agree… but what a bummer to step on that stage without a shot! What a fundamentally different experience. If that’s what it takes at this size to keep the wheels on then so be it, but if I were musical directing a Jimmys medley about this, I’d have the girls sing, “Throw me a rope to grab onto, help me to prove that I’m strong” from A Chorus Line, then have the boys come in with, “Powerless, we are powerless” from In The Heights, then have the non-binary kids hit a Wicked “Unliiimited” for good measure.
I have more to say on the tribute situation, but let’s start my notes at the very beginning (a very good place to start).
THE OPENING NUMBER
From the last row of the balcony, I couldn’t make out the first few songs of the medley over the cheering crowd. That’s a noise to bottle and sell; that’s a noise to get on a tape recorder to document a hit Merrily-style.
The Minskoff stage accommodates The Lion King’s safari herd eight shows a week, but at this point, it’s almost at max capacity for the Jimmys. Without much room to spare, the choreography in this number was a lot of shuffling blobs and in-place movement. They did manage to clear a path for a girl to flip five times from wing to wing, followed by… a boy flipping a measly two times? Forget about the boy!
At dinner before the show, my friends and I predict what current Broadway shows will land songs in the opening medley. Emily made a perfect call: what could close the number other than Hell’s Kitchen’s “Empire State of Mind”?
No, Stereophonic did not qualify for this.
CHARACTER MEDLEYS 1, 2, AND 3
Whoever writes the show (not me for some reason, weird) minted a formula last year for introducing the character medleys that we got again this year: “A [character description 1], a [character description 2], and a [character description 3]. It’s [joke thing that fits the theme] or it’s our next medley!” Basically musical theatre Connections. Here, let me prove I have what it takes to write these: “A witch, a beggar woman, and a beast. It’s either my ex-wife or it’s our next medley!” Wait, let me do another: “An ogre, a drowsy alcoholic, and a prostitute. It’s either my ex-wife or it’s our next medley!” Did I book?
MEDLEY 1: “We have an astrologer, a lady about to get married, and someone who won’t shut up about bathrooms. It’s either the latest episode of Property Brothers or it’s tonight’s first medley.”
Because of the new selection process, the medleys were arranged this year in under 48 hours. That time crunch explains the two Urinetown Pennys and two Something Rotten! Shakespeares in this medley, as well as the uptick in double character across the board: much easier to have someone continue a song than start a new one. Double characters are tricky when one is leagues better than the other, but these duos held their own; it helped that their arrangements let them sing with each other rather than one following the other.
When I tried to narrow down this medley to only my absolute favorites, I could only narrow it down from 8 to 5. Gun to my head: the first Shakespeare.
MEDLEY 2: “A mathlete, a cry baby, and a guy who just really wants to kiss a girl… It’s my entire 9th grade year, or it’s our next medley.”
This year’s “They Must Be An Underclassman” Award for Tiny Teen goes to Medley 2’s Cady from Mean Girls — representing for 3 other nominees who played the role, plus a Janis and Regina.
Pair #3 of the night: two Cornelius (Corneli?) from Hello, Dolly!
Say what you will about Mean Girls: The Musical, but whenever they sing “I’d Rather Be Me” at the Jimmys, it makes me cry.
Gun To My Head Favorite: Alice from Alice by Heart.
MEDLEY 3: “A monster, a con artist, a father, and a guy obsessed with the news. It’s either the Succession reboot we’ve all been waiting for, or it’s our next medley.” (Not to be a bitch, but kind of lazy to have a second “it’s like this TV show” joke.)
Including a Jack Kelly in a medley immediately kneecaps whichever boy(s) wanted to sing “Santa Fe” as their finalist solo.
Grateful to finally have a year off from any Beasts singing “If I Can’t Love Her” — would MUCH rather have a Shrek check the box for Make That Boy Look Busted costume.
This Donkey is from a high school down the street from me in Burbank! John Burroughs High School — how fitting.
G2MH Fave: Pamela from Head Over Heels.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Stalwart Jimmys presenter Andrew Barth Feldman introduced the annual video package recapping the week of rehearsal and New York excursions. ABF is currently starring in Little Shop off-Broadway and got a big laugh for saying, “Listen, I know there have been a lot of tweets and think pieces written about casting Seymours that are too hot to play the role, and I came here to say: stay mad.”
Andrew rattled off fun facts about the nominees, highlighting that among them were several with perfect pitch (annoying), a few experts in drag makeup (if you say so), a perfect ACT score (work!), and a valedictorian (okay, Elle Woods!). Then he rattled off the annual “first” stats: first time seeing a Broadway show (24 kids), first visit to New York (19), and first time getting on a plane to come here (3). The plane thing makes me bawl every year. What is more evocative than getting on your first plane to chase your dreams in New York?!
Video package was same old, same old: yadda yadda rehearsal, yadda yadda Sardi’s, yadda yadda “I’m used to cornfields, not skyscrapers,” yadda yadda MJ: The Musical. One cool thing is that they surprised the kids with tickets to the Tonys — lots of shrieking and Stanley-clutching in reaction to the announcement.
CHARACTER MEDLEYS 4 AND 5
MEDLEY 4: “A guy who sells pies, a woman who married a baker, and a man who stole a loaf of bread. It’s a carb overload, or it’s our next medley.” (Now THAT’S how you do it!)
Kudos to the Sweeney Todd holding it down in front of Josh Groban, Broadway’s recent demon barber.
I’m going to attempt a sports analogy: when an Eponine steps up to bat at the Jimmys, don’t even bother running for the outfield. That ball’s going over the fence!
MT Babe Ruth This Eponine was no exception, but more importantly, Emily later discovered on Instagram that she and the Jean Valjean who followed her are from the same high school and they. Are. DATING!!!!!!
Pair #4: double SpongeBobs.
G2MH Fave: Eponine.
MEDLEY 5: “A Jet, a woman begging for attention, and a socially awkward man who can’t stop talking about his plants. It’s my flight to Newark last night, or it’s our next medley.”
This was my favorite of the medleys, so if you’re only going to click one of my hyperlinks, let it be that one. ^
Seriously, click that link to watch a gender-bent Tony melt your heart with “Maria”!
This medley had my favorite performance of the entire night: Alyssa Dorsey singing “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard. Sorry, but the YouTube video can’t convey the stillness of the room or the shimmer of her dress as she nailed a song everyone knows and loves. I had both hands pressed to my heart. And in a classic Jimmys juxtaposition, this breathtaking performance rolled right into Oklahoma!
America’s sweethearts Victoria Clarke and Justin Cooley introduced the tribute: “A Celebration of Dreamers and Dreams.” I thought the name was self-explanatory and we’d get a bunch of “I wish” songs, but it was actually songs from Broadway and national tours with multiple Jimmys alum in the casts. So dreamers = Evan Hansens, got it. I thought last year’s “A Tribute to the Road” would be about tours, but that was about American geography… I’m noticing a pattern, so I guess we’ll hear “I Dreamed A Dream” next year.
The lights went up and I went, “What in the Glee are they wearing?” It seems like everyone had to choose a white accessory: a scarf, a skirt, a vest, or a cap. It’s like… these girls already can’t win. Don’t kick a diva while she’s down!
“Dancing Through Life” as the one Wicked song… Hmmmmmmmmm…………
Graphics team went off this year — look at those Wicked gears icing over for Frozen.
My dream job is to be the one boy belting “Let It Go” alongside four girls.
Okay, I think I’ve figured out my stance on Mean Girls. It’s perfect in Jimmys-sized bites, like this “Apex Predator” moment that had me shaking my ass in my seat.
This year’s award for Queer Kid Whose Confidence, Talent, and Stage Presence I Envy is a tie and goes to the boys tangoing together in the Moulin Rouge! portion.
Sure, I envoke Glee a lot, but what’s more Glee-coded than those outfits + “Chandelier” by Sia + guest star Josh Groban hosting?
The tribute was several minutes shorter than the character medleys despite most of the kids performing in this one number. The Jimmys creative team usually finds a moment for everyone to shine, but I did not get that this year. And while it did seem like the cream of the crop (really the cream of the cream) made it into the medleys, I still thought the tribute kids slayed.
Where can I buy a replica of the Jimmy Awards flag hoisted in the air over their Les Mis barricade? And can I buy in bulk?
THE FINALISTS
I hit a wall writing about the finalists because who am I to judge? Especially when the actual judges include Bernie Telsey and Alan Menken. But to touch on them briefly…
Three of the four Best Actor finalists chose what I’d describe as goofy, classically-MT songs from musicals I don’t know or care about:
James Thibault — “Tonight at Eight” from She Loves Me.
Peter Dessert (great name) — “I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas. Same song Andrew Barth Feldman sang in 2018.
Luke Martin — “At the Fountain” from Sweet Smell of Success. I looked up this musical and learned
All three were performances to be proud of, but then Damson Chola Jr. sang “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime, and it was over for the others within the first few notes. That VOICE! Lush, loud, and so unexpected from a teenager. Damson played Seymour in his medley, so this choice gave us range and had us on our feet for a standing ovation before he even finished. A park and bark for the ages.
I could’ve seen any of the girls win Best Actress:
Fabiola Caraballo Quijada — “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. This is the second time I’ve been at the Jimmys, this song’s announced, and the audience gasps.
Samia Posadas — “I’d Give My Life for You” from Miss Saigon. Someone fact-check me, but I believe Samia is the only person to ever make it to the Jimmys finals back-to-back years, and as a sophomore. [Edit: within minutes of sending this out, Raina texted me that this comment is Marisa Ines Moenho erasure — one of the best to ever do it.] This girl still has two more shots to win!
Catherine Dosier — “Almost Real” from The Bridges of Madison County. Bridges of Madison County, you will always be famous at the Jimmys!!!
Gretchen Slope — “The Music That Makes Me Dance” from Funny Girl. Loved it! Our 2024 winner. In her acceptance speech, she thanked the stranger on TikTok who said she looked like Chappell Roan, which felt a bit like that Love Is Blind Megan Fox debacle. Anyway, congrats to Chappell Roan for her first name-check at the Jimmys!
I’ll say it: huge misfire to have four Jimmys alum sing the solos in the closing number. Teeing up their inclusion, Josh Groban said, “See if you can spot them” – uh, yeah, I think I can. They’re the ones in the spotlight center stage with hand mics!
IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THE CHILDRENNNNN.
Anyway, another phenomenal year at the Jimmy Awards. I lost track, but I think I cried five separate times.
STRAY THOUGHTS
The AC was NOT working in the balcony.
Surprised Merrily We Roll Along only got six seconds in the opening number.
My prediction for the tribute number was “Election Year” with songs from 1776, Suffs, and Hamilton — glad we were spared.
When you think about it, James Nederlander was like the Lisa Vanderpump of New York theaters, right? RIP to a legend.
MAC Cosmetics sponsored the show and did a special makeup tutorial with the tribute number group because I guess they had time to kill.
Random Josh Groban line that made me laugh: “I’m rooting for the best actress nominee whose bat mitzvah theme was Lempicka”
Josh Groban teared up repeatedly, which is my sniff test for a good host. Come back any time, king.
Song credits were listed in a special insert to the Playbill this year and they even made a point of noting that — behind the scenes drama, perhaps?
It’s 2024. There are 51 participating regional awards. Why are there still no kids from New Jersey??? The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards are right there, you guys!!!
Soooooo hyped for the Betty Boop musical on Broadway next year starring 2017 finalist Jasmine Rogers.
I thought the sun was still up at the end of the show, but it was just a massive Final Fantasy billboard.
Until next year!
Wow! So much fun to read this - I felt like I scored a ticket. Thanks (I think) for suggesting the links; now I’m crying at the airport 🥹