BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTOR ROLE: JAMAUR HOUSTON
THE CHICAGO ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS (CHICAGO, IL)
BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTRESS ROLE: SOPHIA LEVERETT
PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC High School (NEW LENNOX, IL)
Best Performer in an Actor and Actress Role Award Recipients to represent Illinois at
“The Jimmy Awards®,” The National High School Musical Theatre Awards®,
named after James M. Nederlander
BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTOR ROLE RUNNER-UP: TOMMY GRANT
LOYOLA ACADEMY (WILMETTE, IL)
BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTRESS ROLE RUNNER-UP: MOLLY CZECHANSKI
LINCOLN-WAY EAST High School (FRANKFORT, IL)
BEST DIRECTION: JAMES REINBACHER (REED-CUSTER High School, BRAIDWOOD, IL)
BEST ENSEMBLE: CRYSTAL LAKE CENTRAL High School (CRYSTAL LAKE, IL)
BEST PRODUCTION: LINCOLN-WAY EAST High School (FRANKFORT, IL)
The award recipients of Broadway In Chicago’s 14th 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 at Water Tower Place on Monday, May 12.
This year’s BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTOR ROLE is Jamaur Houston of The Chicago Academy For The Arts (Chicago, IL) for his portrayal of Jack in INTO THE WOODS. Sophia Leverett of Providence Catholic High School (New Lennox, IL) for her portrayal of Ursula in DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID, is the BEST PERFORMER IN AN ACTRESS ROLE. Jamaur and Sophia will represent the State of Illinois on an all-expense paid trip to New York City to participate in The Jimmy Awards® (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 23, 2025.
Additional awards included Best Direction Award to James Reinbacher for Reed-Custer High School’s production of PIPPIN; Best Ensemble Award to Crystal Lake Central High School for The Music Man; and Best Production to Lincoln-Way East High School for HADESTOWN (TEEN EDITION).
The 2025 Broadway In Chicago Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards E-Press Kit is available HERE.
The nominees performed a musical number from TITANIQUE during the award ceremony, taught by TITANIQUE Choreographer Kasey Alfonso (Chicago Premiere of TITANIQUE, a Porchlight Music Theatre production) with assistance from Jordan Douglas Ellis (understudy for Jack, Cal, Victor Garber, Ruth and Background Vocalist). In addition, Alfonso led a special Q&A and served on the panel of judges alongside fellow industry professionals who selected the award recipients. TITANIQUE is currently playing at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place through July 13, 2025.
The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards have proven to be a steppingstone for young performers, with several appearing in Broadway & National Touring productions:
- Nathan Salstone (2012 IHSMTA Best Actor) made his professional Broadway debut in HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD, appeared in the National Tour of HADESTOWN, and was most recently seen in the 2023 revival of SWEENEY TODD on Broadway.
- Kyrie Courter (2012 IHSMTA Nominee) made her Broadway debut in the 2023 revival of SWEENEY TODD.
- John Clay III (2013 IHSMTA Best Actor) made his professional Broadway debut in CHOIR BOY and originated the role of Jesse Webb in the original Broadway cast of NEW YORK, NEW YORK in 2023.
- Reagan Pender (2013 IHSMTA Nominee) made his Broadway debut in the 2024 revival cast of THE WHO’S TOMMY.
- Kaitlin Feely (2014 & 2016 IHSMTA Nominee) is currently appearing in Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre's Chicago Premiere of TITANIQUE as understudy for Céline Dion, Molly Brown, Rose, and Background Vocalist.
- Jack Cahill-Lemme (2016 IHSMTA Best Actor) launched the first North American tour of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL, which premiered in Chicago in 2022, and made his professional Broadway debut in the Broadway production in Summer 2023, where he is still performing.
- Cecilia Trippiedi (2016 IHSMTA Best Actress) joined the national tour of HADESTOWN in 2022.
- Clare Kennedy McLaughlin (2016 IHSMTA Nominee) is currently starring in Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre's Chicago Premiere of TITANIQUE as Céline Dion.
- Haley Gustafson (2016 & 2017 IHSMTA Nominee) made their Broadway debut in the 2024 revival cast of THE WHO’S TOMMY.
- Wren Rivera (2017 IHSMTA Nominee) made their Broadway debut in JAGGED LITTLE PILL in 2021.
- Joy Woods (2018 IHSMTA Finalist) made her Broadway debut in March 2022, joining the Broadway cast of SIX. She originated the role of Middle Allie in the original Broadway cast of THE NOTEBOOK: THE MUSICAL in 2024, and is playing Louise in the current Broadway revival of GYPSY, for which she is nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical .
- Andrew Tufano (2018 IHSMTA Nominee) made his Broadway debut in the 2024 revival cast of THE WHO’S TOMMY.
- Justin O’Brien (2018 IHSMTA Nominee) joined the National Tour of MEAN GIRLS in 2023.
- Mike Bindeman (2019 IHSMTA Nominee) launched the First National Tour of THE CHER SHOW as Gregg Allman/John Southall. In December 2023. He joined the first National Tour of BACK TO THE FUTURE as George McFly in December 2024.
- Sierra Fermin (2019 IHSMTA Finalist) made her Broadway debut in December 2023, joining the Broadway cast of SIX.
- Jacob Simon (2019 IHSMTA Best Actor) joined the National Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in 2022.
- Jason Schmidt (2019 IHSMTA Finalist) made his Broadway debut in April 2024, originating the role of Sodapop Curtis in the original Broadway cast THE OUTSIDERS, currently running on Broadway.
Other Illinois winners and students have also been successful at The Jimmy Awards®:
- Jonah Rawitz (2014 IHSMTA Best Actor) was awarded the 2014 Jimmy Award® for Best Performance by an Actor.
- Cecilia Trippiedi (2016 IHSMTA Best Actress) was awarded the 2016 Jimmy Award® for Best Dancer.
- Nate Garner (2017 IHSMTA Student Reporter) was selected in 2017 as one of the first ever Jimmy Awards® Student Reporters.
- Darian Goulding (2018 IHSMTA Best Actor) was a 2018 Jimmy Award® finalist.
- Jacob Simon (2019 IHSMTA Best Actor) was the recipient of the 2019 Rising Star Award from The Jimmy Awards®.
- Nicole Scimeca (2024 IHSMTA Student Reporter) was selected as one of The 2024 Jimmy Awards® Student Reporters.
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, DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, and HADESTOWN 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 both awards and complete rules and regulations, visit www.IHSMTA.com
ABOUT THE JIMMY AWARDS®
The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) program impacts approximately 150,000 students who participate in 55 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 13, 2025, through Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and their experience will culminate in an extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. The sixteenth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 23, 2025, at the Minskoff Theatre.
For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
About TITANIQUE
Porchlight Music Theatre’s Chicago Premiere of the splash-hit TITANIQUE, featuring an all-Chicago company, is an irresistibly funny and gloriously irreverent reimagining of the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster Titanic . When Céline Dion hijacks one of the greatest love stories of all time to belt out her own version of events, the result is a wildly hilarious, campy musical fantasia powered by her iconic hits, powerhouse vocals, show-stopping performances, and a full live band. After earning rave reviews off-Broadway and winning seven major awards—including the Lucille Lortel and Off-Broadway Alliance Awards for Best New Musical—TITANIQUE has become a global phenomenon, with productions playing in London, Sydney, Montreal, Toronto, and Paris. The London production was recently honored with the 2025 Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy, and Chicago’s own run has been extended by popular demand. Notably, two cast members—Clare McLaughlin Kennedy (Céline Dion, Barrington High School) and Kaitlin Feely (understudy Céline Dion, Molly Brown, Rose, and Background Vocalist; Adlai E. Stevenson High School)—are proud alums of the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards, each recognized as Best Actress nominees. It’s the epic romance you know... turned up, twisted, and totally Céline.
TITANIQUE is now playing at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place through July 13.
Click here for tickets. EPK can be found here.
Groups 10+ can be purchased by calling 312.977.1710.
About NBC 5 Chicago
NBCUniversal Local Chicago, a division of NBCUniversal, is the home of NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) and Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV). Together, the duopoly serves 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, along with Chicago's most accurate forecast, extensive local sports coverage, a range of original documentaries and series and entertainment/lifestyle content on "Chicago Today." All original content is available on-air, digitally via NBCChicago.com, TelemundoChicago.com and on the stations’ mobile apps, as well as the NBC 5 Chicago News 24/7 live streaming channel, which is available for viewing on Peacock, Roku and Samsung TV and numerous streaming platforms, as well as free apps available on Roku and Amazon Fire TV
About Sound, Production & Lighting (SPL)
SPL is a full-service event production and system installation company. We provide production services for corporate meetings, galas and fundraising parties, marketing activations, and anything between – we’re always up for a challenge. We offer permanent installation services for a variety of venues in fields such as live performance, education, worship, and hospitality. Our goal for any project is to provide an unparalleled experience and service. www.splchicago.com
About Jennifer Heim Photography
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.
About Downstage Arts
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.
About Butterfly Productions
Founded in 2017, Butterfly Productions is a boutique, full-service creative photo and video production agency based in Chicago, IL. We specialize in crafting visually compelling content that tells powerful stories and elevates brands. Over the years, we’ve grown from a small production team into a dynamic creative partner, offering a wide range of production services, including commercial shoots, branded content, documentaries, aerial drone visuals, corporate projects and social media campaigns. Our capabilities go beyond the lens- with in-house talent in original music composition, scriptwriting, storyboarding, and concept development, we bring a holistic approach to every project. Whether you’re a brand, non-profit, agency, or individual creator, we work closely with you to turn your vision into high-impact visuals that resonate.
To learn more, visit butterflyproductions.com.
About Lou Malnati’s
No true Chicago experience is complete without a visit to one of the oldest names in Deep Dish Pizza: Lou Malnati’s. Located throughout Chicagoland, enjoy Legendary Chicago Deep Dish and thin crust at the place that’s been perfecting it for 50+ years. Whether you’ve been out shopping, sightseeing or in going to a show at the theatre, Lou Malnati’s is the perfect spot to satiate your deep dish cravings. Find your location at loumalnatis.com
For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
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