Renée Rapp, Ryan McCartan, and Andrew Barth Feldman are just a few of the famous actors who have won a National High School Musical Theater Award—also known as a Jimmy Award. Now PHS students have the opportunity to join them.
Dubbed “The Tonys for teenagers” by The New York Times, the Jimmys recognize talented high school actors nationwide.
Piedmont High School’s cast of Once Upon A Mattress has the opportunity to compete in the Jimmy Awards.
Once Upon A Mattress director, Amy Moorhead, said six PHS students—senior Clare Weiss, senior Danielle Zaroukiani, senior Caitlin Boothby, junior Theo Ferguson, junior Ben Wakefield, and junior Nate McKenzie— have been entered into the Broadway SF High School Musical Theater Awards. The event selects two Bay Area students to advance to the Jimmy Awards, a national competition featuring over 100 high school performers from across the country.
Moorhead said adjudicators attended one of the Once Upon A Mattress performances, held from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, incognito.
“This is an exciting opportunity,” Moorhead said. “Even if none of our students win, or even if our production doesn’t win, it doesn’t mean it’s not deserving.”
According to the Broadway SF website, the two winners selected to compete in the Jimmy Awards in New York will receive training and perform in a final showcase on June 23, 2025.
One male and one female Jimmy Awards winner will each receive $25,000 to further their education while six finalists will each receive $5,000.
Moorhead said she reminded her cast that awards are not the only measure of success.
“They’re all winners,” she said.
