Awards Showcase

2022/2023 AWARD WINNERS

Outstanding Musical Theater Production

Bellevue West High School – Legally Blonde The Musical

Concordia High School – Hello, Dolly!

Grand Island Northwest High School – Tarzan

Grand Island Senior High School – Big Fish

Lincoln Southeast High School – Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

Lincoln Southwest High School – Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Omaha Burke High School – Urinetown

Papillion-La Vista Senior High School – Big Fish

Papillion-La Vista South High School – Catch Me If You Can

Westside High School – Shrek the Musical

Columbus Middle School – Disney’s The Lion King JR.

Millard North Middle School – Disney’s High School Musical JR.

Outstanding Ensemble

Bellevue West High School – Legally Blonde The Musical

Grand Island Northwest High School – Tarzan

Grand Island Senior High School – Big Fish

Gretna High School – Disney’s Newsies

Lincoln Southeast High School – Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

Lincoln Southwest High School – Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Millard South High School – The Wizard of Oz

Omaha Burke High School – Urinetown

Papillion-La Vista Senior High School – Big Fish

Westside High School – Shrek the Musical

Columbus Middle School – Disney’s The Lion King JR.

Gretna Middle School – Disney’s Frozen JR.

National Jimmy Awards Finalists

Addisyn Stueve, Bellevue West High School

Anna Metzger, Lincoln North Star High School

Carly Purdy, North Platte High School

Cooper Strickland, Omaha Burke High School

Derek Penner, Blair High School

Henry Stelling, Kearney High School

James Rasser, Papillion-La Vista Senior High School

Jocelyn Tisdale, Lincoln High School

Jordan Head, Hastings St. Cecilia High School

Olivia Nelson, Lincoln Southeast High School

Reese Schultz, Grand Island Northwest High School

Sahara Pandit, Papillion-La Vista Senior High School

Steven Dao, Lincoln Southwest High School

Tyler Kalinowski, Bellevue West High School

Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role

Addison Stelzer, Lincoln Southwest High School – Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Alex Cook, Norfolk Senior High School – Robbie Hart from The Wedding Singer

Caden Keller, Grand Island Northwest High School – Tarzan from Tarzan

Cooper Strickland, Omaha Burke High School – Bobby Strong from Urinetown

Drew Cota, Westside High School – Donkey from Shrek the Musical

Greta Hegarty, Concordia High School – Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi from Hello, Dolly!

Imari Harris, Lincoln Northwest High School – Alice Beineke from The Addams Family

Isabella Rivera, Grand Island Northwest High School – Kala from Tarzan

Jacee Bates, Chadron High School – Donna Sheridan from Mamma Mia!

Jaci Foster, Fremont High School – Rusty from Footloose

James Rasser, Papillion-La Vista Senior High School – Edward Bloom from Big Fish

Josiah Hydeen, Gretna High School – Crutchie from Disney's Newsies

Kate Anderson, Omaha Burke High School – Hope Cladwell from Urinetown

Mariana Hernandez-Moreno, Omaha South High School – Ella from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

Marisol Marquez, Wahoo High School – Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Mekhi Payne, Omaha South High School – Topher from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

Stella Clark Kaczmarek, Omaha Burke High School – Officer Lockstock from Urinetown

Steven Dao, Lincoln Southwest High School – Beast from Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Tyler Kalinowski, Bellevue West High School – Emmett Forrest from Legally Blonde The Musical

Zhenja Wallin, Bellevue West High School – Paulette from Legally Blonde The Musical

Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role

Anna Simpson, Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School – Lorraine from All Shook Up

Ava Albracht, Papillion-La Vista South High School – Carol Strong from Catch Me If You Can

Ava Held, Elkhorn South High School – Madame from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

Ava Woods, Fremont High School – Wendy Jo from Footloose

Avari Geppert, Millard South High School – Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch from The Wizard of Oz

Bailey Domann, Blair High School – Jenny Hill from Big Fish

Benjamin Michael, Waverly High School – Rooster from Annie

Brekkin Yates, Bellevue West High School – Aaron Schultz from Legally Blonde The Musical

Colton Knott, Gretna High School – Les from Disney's Newsies

Diego Martinez Gutierrez, Omaha South High School – Jean-Michel from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

Hannah Hobza, Lincoln Southwest High School – Babette from Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Henry Cline, North Platte High School – Michael Banks from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins

Jack Wyllie, Bishop Neumann Catholic High School – The Mock Turtle from Alice in Wonderland

Jake Braun, Hastings High School – Uzo from Godspell

Jaylynn Taylor, Grand Island Northwest High School – Leopard from Tarzan

Jordan Thomas, Gretna High School – Race from Disney's Newsies

Levi Baker, Lincoln Southeast High School – Bruce from Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

Marc Kersten, Millard West High School – Dewey/Nikos Argitakos/Law Registrar from Legally Blonde The Musical

Marisa Pfeifer, North Platte High School – Jane Banks from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins

Phoenix Nehls, Millard South High School – Glinda/Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz

Backstage Excellence Award

Millard South High School

Columbus Middle School

Outstanding Educator Award

Kristen Friesen, Waverly High School

Lori Brown, Millard North Middle School

Lifetime Achievement in Education Award

Bob Henrichs, Lincoln Southwest High School

Senior of the Year

Pretzel Urwin, Omaha Central High School

Outstanding Achievement in Design

Aiden Carman, Westside High School – Scenic Design

Devin Hoshaw, Millard West High School – Sound Design

Ella Seitner, Millard West High School – Costume Design

Katie Picard, Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School – Lighting Design

Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management

Jagger Methe, Kearney High School

Leah Hurley, Bishop Neumann Catholic High School

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTION

Up to 10 high school musical theater productions and up to 2 middle school musical theater productions will be recognized in this award category. Winners will be determined by a formal adjudication process. High schools receiving awards for Outstanding Musical Theater Production will be invited to perform up to a 5-minute number from their award-winning musical at the Showcase.

Schools will need to submit the piano/vocal scores of their top 3 song choices to potentially perform at the Showcase.

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

Up to 10 high school musical theater ensembles and up to 2 middle school musical theater ensembles will be recognized as winners in this award category. Winners will be determined by a formal adjudication process.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A LEAD ROLE

Up to 20 high school students (10 actors and 10 actresses) will be recognized as winners in this award category. Winners will be determined by a formal adjudication process. Student winners in this category are invited to perform in a special musical number at the showcase. 

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Up to 20 high school students (10 actors and 10 actresses) will be recognized as winners in this award category. Winners will be determined by a formal adjudication process.

BACKSTAGE EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Backstage Excellence Award honors one group of students for demonstrating teamwork, professionalism and a commitment to excellence behind-the-scenes. Student run crews, costume crews, set construction crews, stagehands or any group of students in grades 7-12 who have dedicated time in a backstage capacity are eligible. Teachers are responsible for nominating students for the Backstage Excellence Award. 

Apply Now!

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN STAGE MANAGEMENT

The award for Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management honors students who demonstrate professionalism, leadership and commitment to excellence in stage management. Student stage managers or assistant stage managers in grades 7-12 are eligible to apply.

Apply Now!

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DESIGN

The award for Outstanding Achievement in Design honors students in grades 7-12 who demonstrate artistry, skill and a commitment to excellence in costume, hair/makeup, props, scenic, sound or lighting design. Winners will be determined through an application process. Students in grades 7-12 may submit multiple applications in different design categories (e.g. one application for a costume design and another application for a scenic design). Each application should focus on one design project or concept.

Apply Now!

OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD

The Outstanding Educator Award honors teachers for their outstanding achievements in performing arts education. The awards will recognize middle school and high school educators who embody the highest standards in performing arts education and demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of students. Current or past students, fellow educators, school administrators, parents, or community members may nominate teachers for this award. 

Apply Now!

This year, the Broadway Teachers Workshop would like to award the winner(s) a scholarship to a one-day intensive directing workshop in NYC (travel expenses not included) or a virtual three-day course.

SENIOR OF THE YEAR

The senior of the Year Award honors one senior for their outstanding achievements in performing arts throughout high school.  The award will recognize a student who embodies the highest standards of leadership within their school and demonstrates a positive impact on the lives of their fellow peers and teachers.  Educators, fellow students, school administrators, parents or community members may nominate students for this award. 

Apply Now!

JIMMY AWARDS NATIONAL FINALISTS AND NOMINEES

Each year, the Nebraska High School Theater Academy nominates 2 high school students (1 actor and 1 actress) to compete with other top musical theatre students from across the nation at the 2023 National High School Musical Theatre Awards in NYC. Students are selected through an online application and audition process. Up to 16 students (8 actors and 8 actresses) will be selected as National Finalists – this group of top students will be invited to perform a solo from their lead role in a special medley at the NHSTA Showcase. The 2 national nominees will be announced live onstage at the showcase. 

Click here for more information.

JIMMY AWARDS STUDENT REPORTER

This award honors top high school student journalists. Winners will be selected through a video application process - more information below. 

Winners will be expected to shadow performers as they cover the NHSTA Showcase rehearsal week on social media and have the chance to receive national recognition at the Jimmy Awards in NYC.

Each year, the Jimmy Awards invites select Student Reporters from participating Regional Awards Programs to cover Jimmy Awards events through social media on both the official Jimmy Awards channels and the student’s personal channels. Student Reporters work directly with the Jimmy Awards Digital team which allows them to receive an insider look at the digital marketing strategy of Jimmy Awards coverage while gaining insight into the field as a whole. 

HOW TO APPLY: Create a 60-second video showing or describing how you would uniquely cover the Jimmy Awards on social media, as well as promoting tuning into a live stream performance or attending in-person. The video should be minimally edited and should include at least one unedited segment of at least 20-seconds in length with the applicant speaking directly to the camera. The videos must not include any performance footage.

We want to see your personality shine in this video! Think of it as hosting a version of "MTV Cribs" or an audition video to be on a non-performance reality show. 

Apply Now!

The winner will be notified in early-May 2023. Want an example of a great application video? Check out award-winning student reporter, Hannah Kate-Kinney’s video here!

NHSTA SPIRIT AWARD

Each year 1 student from the Showcase Ensemble will receive this special award for demonstrating professionalism, teamwork and going above and beyond during the NHSTA Showcase rehearsal process.