CT Theater Organizations Announce Stephen Sondheim Awards For High School Musical Theater

Broadway Method Academy, a non-profit musical theater-training program, today announced that they would be producing a new high school musical theater awards program, the Stephen Sondheim Awards, presented in part by Westport Country Playhouse and the Shubert Theatre of New Haven.

Executive Director, Connor Deane said that the awards will be fashioned after Broadway's Tony Awards and will celebrate excellence in Connecticut high school musical theater. Professionals from the industry will adjudicate the high school performances and subsequently nominate deserving participants. Nominees in the Leading Actor and Leading Actress categories will advance to a 4-day intensive with Broadway professionals held at Broadway Method Academy leading up to the black-tie gala. The winners of Best Leading Actor and Actress will travel to New York in June to compete in the Jimmy® Awards/National High School Musical Theatre Awards™.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Choreographer, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, and Best Musical. The design categories are only eligible for a nomination with a student designer or student assistant designer. Those categories are: Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Scenic Design.

The gala will feature performances from the Leading Actor and Actress nominees, as well as Best Musical nominees.

"We're thrilled to partner with Westport Country Playhouse and the Shubert Theatre to present these awards," said Broadway Method Academy Executive Director Connor Deane. "BMA is dedicated to raising awareness to arts education and celebrating excellence in high school musical theater and we're excited to have such monumental theatrical organizations behind us on our endeavor."

The program is named after musical theater legend, Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim served as an intern at Westport Country Playhouse prior to becoming the Tony Award winning composer/lyricist. "We're honored that Stephen has given us his blessing. He believes in arts education and the value the arts hold in our communities," said Deane.

Broadway Method Academy, Westport Country Playhouse and the Shubert Theatre will utilize #SondheimAwards on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to release upcoming giveaways and future announcements regarding the Stephen Sondheim Awards.

The black-tie gala will be held at the Shubert Theatre of New Haven on Monday, June 4, 2018. Registration will open on October 15. Educators can find more information on the Stephen Sondheim Awards and registration on Broadway Method Academy's website at broadwaymethodacademy.org

More on The Jimmy Awards:

The Jimmy® Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards™

(NHSMTA) impacts more than 80,000 students who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of Touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. A Best Actress and Best Actor winner from each of these competitions is sent to New York for a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on

Broadway, where a panel of judges crowns the nation's top performers. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $1,000,000 in educational scholarships. In 2012, the program inspired preeminent broadcaster WGBH Boston to produce a 3-part documentary series called "Broadway or Bust," which follows students on a journey from their hometown competitions to their debut on Broadway. The series and more information can be found on JimmyAwards.com.