Photo Flash: 2017 Shuler Hensley Award Winners Announced; Parker Jennings & Ramone Nelson Heading to Nationals!

The 9th Annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards - Shuler Hensley Awards - were held in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on April 20. Scroll down for photos from the ceremony!

Two of the evening's award winners, Parker Jennings and Ramone Nelson, will go on to compete with young performers from across the country for the coveted Jimmy Award as well as scholarships and professional opportunities. They are heading to New York to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, taking place at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway, on June 26, 2017.

Parker Jennings won the 2017 Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress for her role as Dorothy Brock in the Greater Atlanta Christian School production of 42nd Street.

An Atlanta, GA native, Parker is excited to be making her Broadway debut at the 2017 JimmyTM Awards! She is a rising senior at Greater Atlanta Christian School where she was most recently seen as Laurey in Oklahoma! Other favorite roles include Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, for which she won the 2016 Best Performance by A Supporting Actress Shuler Award, Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, and Rebekah Muldoon in Anatomy of Gray. Parker has wanted a career in musical theatre for as long as she can remember, taking dance and vocal lessons since she was six years old. She plans to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Ramone Nelson won the 2017 Shuler Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor for his role as Jean Valjean in the Heritage High School production of Les Misérables.

Ramone is a Conyers, GA native. He is thrilled to represent the state of Georgia at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. In addition to Les Misérables, other recent roles include: The Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera, Seaweed J. Stubbs in Hairspray, Cogsworth in Beauty and The Beast, Troy Maxson in Fences and Gator in Memphis: The Musical at The Georgia Thespians All-State Show. Ramone hopes this is just the beginning of his long career on a Broadway stage, and is forever grateful for the opportunity to perform on Broadway at this time in his life. Next year Ramone will attend Florida State University to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Parker and Ramone will spend a whirlwind week in New York getting ready for the JimmyTM Awards. Upon arrival, they will find out whether they will be performing a solo medley, or a group number, at the awards show. Highlights of the trip will include auditioning for New York based producers, directors and casting directors, and rehearsals with a top-notch production team and choreographer. During the week, they'll also attend a Broadway show and have dinner at the world famous Sardi's Restaurant. The grand finale of the trip will be their performance on Broadway at the JimmyTM Awards.

The 2017 National High School Musical Theatre Awards - Jimmy Awards - will be hosted by Ben Platt. Over 1,000 high schools and 50,000 students participate in these annual events. Since its inception in 2009, the NHSMTA has enabled over $1,000,000 in university and conservatory scholarships to be awarded to talented students at the national and local level-several of whom have already been cast in Broadway, Touring and West End productions. For more information, visit JimmyAwards.com.

The Shuler Awards, fashioned after Broadway's Tony Awards, celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre. The awards show is produced and presented each year by ArtsBridge Foundation.

Photo Credit: Ben Rose

Wesley Forlines, Best Lighting Design
Sim Jones, Best Scenic Design
Shuler Awards presenter Kenny Leon interviewed by Beth Keener
Shuler Hensley with co-host Beth Keener
Shuler Hensley and Shuler Ensemble in opening number
Shuler Hensley (center) performing with Shuler Ensemble
Shuler Ensemble in closing number at 2017 Shuler Awards
Shannon O'Dowd, Best Music Direction
Ramone Nelson performing at the 2017 Shuler Awards
Ramone Nelson arrives at the Shuler Awards
Ramone Nelson and the cast of LES MISERABLES
Ramone Nelson, Best Leading Actor
Parker Jennings performs with the cast of 42nd STREET
Parker Jennings performing at 2017 Shuler Awards
Parker Jennings, Best Leading Actress
Mike Earnest, Richard Bristol and Dr. Kim Watters, Best Direction
Michelle Thorne from Heritage High, Best Overall Production
Matthew Schwartz, Best Supporting Actor
Kellen Blotner, Best Sound
Johns Creek High School performs a scene from CINDERELLA
Jelani Winston, Best Featured Performer
Heritage High School performs 'One Day More' from LES MISERABLES
Gordon Central High School performs 'Come Alive Again' from SPITFIRE GRILL
Emma Grace Crumbley, Best Supporting Actress
David Hopkins receives the Showstopper Award from Shuler Hensley
Carlyann Berg, Best Choreography
Calhoun High School performs 'Nothin Up' from ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
Brennan Blotner, Best Orchestra
Anna Bragg, Best Costumes
Abby Yake, Best Technical Execution
2017 Shuler Awards Finale