15th Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA) at Broadway Playhouse

The 15th Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA), sponsored by NBC 5 and hosted by NBC 5's Matt Rodrigues, celebrates excellence in high school theatre across Illinois and serves as the state's regional program feeding into the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, known as The Jimmy Awards. This year's 24 nominees were selected from a record-breaking 348 applicants representing 95 schools statewide, competing in categories including Best Performer in an Actor Role, Best Performer in an Actress Role, and the newly added Backstage Champion Award, presented by Banner Kitchen & Bath Showroom. During the ceremony, nominees will perform a musical number from Les Misérables, with the performance shaped by a workshop led by Les Misérables company member Lamont J. Whitaker. The two Illinois recipients of Best Performer awards will travel to New York City to represent the state at The Jimmy Awards, participating in a 10-day theatre intensive culminating in a showcase on a Broadway stage.