Jimmy Award winners Ekele Ukegbu and Ethan Kelso. (Photo: Henry McGee/NHSMTA)
Wondering where Broadway’s next stars are coming from? The winners of the 11th annual Jimmy Awards were presented last night at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre, showcasing the best high shool talent from around the country. Tony Award winner Ben Platt hosted this life-changing event, which was presented by the Broadway League Foundation.
The coveted Jimmy Awards for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor were presented to Ekele Ukegbu, The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance (New York, NY) and Ethan Kelso, Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards (Logan, UT).
This year, the entire show was streamed live on Facebook and YouTube and was brought to fans by The Broadway League Foundation and 2017 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen. The ceremony is still available for viewing for a limited time.
The Jimmy Awards are named in honor of the late James M. Nederlander, Chairman of Nederlander Producing Company of America. Both winners were presented with a check for $25,000 to further their education. They will also be eligible for a four-year merit and need-based scholarship to attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama, contingent upon acceptance into the program.
Take a look at the two award-winning performances:
