Overture celebrates excellence in high school musical theater with the 2024 Jerry Awards

MADISON — The 2023-24 Jerry Awards program will culminate in a show honoring student and school achievements, including performances by the Outstanding Award recipients, at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 9 in Overture Hall. Two outstanding lead performers were to be selected this week to represent the program at The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (Jimmy Awards) competition in New York City.

Jerry Awards tickets went on sale Friday, May 24 at overture.org. Tickets for program will also be available for the livestream.

This year, the program features more than 500 award recipients from 111 productions in 100 communities across the state. These productions were at schools of varying sizes with varying budgets.

Participation statistics for the 2023-24 season:

● 111 productions

● 100 schools/community theater organizations

● 43 schools are represented in the 56 Outstanding Lead Performance Award recipients

● 31 counties

● 65 reviewers (three reviewers attended each production)

● 300-plus Awards Presented

● 111,000 people involved in the Jerry Awards through engagement with their local high school musical

The Jerry Awards is a high school musical awards program that encourages, recognizes and honors excellence in high school musical theater. The program began in the 2009-10 school year with 23 productions within 45 miles of Madison and has since expanded across the state through partnerships with Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and The Grand Theater.

Educators and industry professionals review productions at Wisconsin high schools and/or community theater organizations and provide valuable feedback to students. In its first decade, the Jerry Awards engaged more than 700,000 students, teachers, theater professionals and community members.

To be eligible for the Jerry Awards, high schools apply in the fall or spring to have their musical reviewed by the program. Three adjudicators (industry professionals and educators) are assigned to see the show and write a critique evaluating it in various categories such as performance, design and direction. Critiques are compiled and sent to each school with nominations. In addition to the critique and being recognized at the awards show, participating students are eligible to audition for the Jerry Ensemble, become a student social influencer and receive special ticket offers to performances at Overture Center, Marcus Performing Arts Center and The Grand Theater.

The Jimmy Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) program impacts approximately 130,000 students who participate in 51 regional high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $6,000,000 in educational scholarships since its launch in 2009.

Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, Inc., the NHSMTA invites two nominees from each local regional ceremony to New York City for a rigorous theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. Nominees will spend 10 days in New York City (June 14-25), and their efforts throughout the week will lead to one extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. The 15th annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 24, at the Minskoff Theatre. For more information, visit www.JimmyAwards.com.

Local Jerry Award Recipients

Monroe High School

Outstanding Lead Performer

● Lilly Cherney, Morticia (The Addams Family)

● Hayden Jackson, Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family)

Spirit Award

● Hudson Davis (The Addams Family)

Outstanding Scenic Design

● Brenda Davis and Jenny Bochar (The Addams Family)

Outstanding Costume Design

● Jenny Bochar (The Addams Family)

New Glarus High School