Applications for Broadway In Chicago's 2015 Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards Now Available

Broadway In Chicago has announced the fourth annual Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards held at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 East Chestnut Place) on Monday, June 1, 2015. Schools and students from the state of Illinois are invited to submit and 24 finalists (12 actors & 12 actresses) will be invited to participate in the program. Sponsored by Grosh Backdrops & Drapery and The Mash, the newly-established Illinois chapter of the National High School Musical Theater Awards serves as an annual national celebration of outstanding achievement in musical theater performance by high school students.

The finalists will receive tickets to see PIPPIN in Chicago (playing the Cadillac Palace Theatre July 29 through August 9) and will do a workshop with a cast member from PIPPIN. Finalists will perform for a panel of casting agents and theater professionals on stage at the Broadway Playhouse on June 1, 2015. The top two Illinois performers (one actor and one actress) will be invited to attend the National High School Musical Theater Awards with an all-expense paid trip to New York City.

To Be Considered: Student performers must play the leading male or female role in the full-length school musical (presented during the 2014-2015 academic year). Note: Nominee must have played the lead role in a full-length high school musical theater production. A supporting role does not qualify. A comprehensive list of eligible roles can be found at www.nhsmta.com.

The Grosh Scenic Design Award will also be presented to a participating school for achievement in outstanding scenic design.

For more information on both awards, complete rules and regulations, or to download an application, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/about/IHSMTA/. For more information on The National High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as The Jimmy Awards, visit NHSMTA.com.

Applications for the 2015 Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards are now available.

Important Dates
Applications Due Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 5:00pm
Applicants Notified by Friday, May 8, 2015
IHSMTA Program Monday, June 1, 2015
NHSMTA Program June 24 - June 30, 2015
NHSMTA Performance Monday, June 29, 2015

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) was established in 2009 to elevate the importance of theater arts education in schools and reward excellence in student performance. The program impacts more than 50,000 students annually who participate in high school musical theater competitions sponsored by top professional theaters throughout the United States. Each year, winners of these competitions are flown to New York City to compete at Nationals.

The seventh annual National High School Musical Theater Awards will take place on Monday, June 29, 2015 when students will give it their all at The Jimmy Awards showcase at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. During this one-of-a-kind event, a panel of judges will choose two students for the coveted awards of Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress. The Jimmy Award is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theater owner and producer. Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts.

Rehearsals for the National High School Musical Theater Awards will take place Wednesday, June 24, through Tuesday, June 30, 2015. The week's rigorous schedule will include group rehearsals and individual vocal and acting coaching by Broadway industry professionals, visits from special guests and discussions with working actors, and a night out in Times Square for dinner and a Broadway show.

The Broadway League will conduct the program through The Broadway League Foundation, which acts as its philanthropic arm. Part of the Foundation's mission is to enlighten and increase the public's knowledge, appreciation and awareness of the theatrical arts, and since its founding in 1993 has supported a number of projects to help preserve Broadway's heritage and expose new audiences to Broadway theatre. For more information, please visit www.nhsmta.com.

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