We’re proud to participate in the Broadway League’s National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, also known as the Jimmy Awards®. Each year, two outstanding student performers (one lead actor and one lead actress) are nominated to join top students from across the country for a week of private coaching with university faculty, master classes with Broadway professionals, and rehearsals in preparation for a special performance. All travel, accommodation, and food costs will be paid for by O-pa. National nominees are determined through an audition process.
This year, we will be providing more opportunities for students to receive feedback from industry professionals including Broadway Artists and Casting Directors. After students submit their video auditions, a limited number of students will be invited to attend a live callback audition at the Tenaska Center. The callback audition panel will select two students (one actor and one actress) to represent Nebraska at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City. More detailed information will be available early this spring!
eligibility
Nebraska Theater Academy students in grades 9-12 playing qualifying lead roles in their school musicals are eligible to apply. Qualified lead roles are determined by the Broadway League.
application
Applications will open Monday, January 25, 2027. Eligible students should submit an online application by Monday, March 15, 2027. To complete the application, please be prepared to submit the following items:
- One-page résumé
- Headshot photo
- Audition video 1: Perform a solo (32-bar cut) from the qualified lead role you played in your adjudicated high school musical
- Audition video 2: Perform a solo (32-bar cut) of a musical theater ballad OR musical theater up-tempo piece of your choice
- Music: Attach the piano/vocal score for the full song (not just the 32-bar cut) featured in both videos. If the qualifying lead role you played performs more than one solo in the musical, please attach all other piano/vocal scores for those songs. If you are invited to the live callback audition, please be prepared to sing one or both songs submitted.
Please note: Videos should showcase your audition abilities. Do NOT submit video from a fully staged or costumed production.
callback audition
Jimmy Awards® applicants will be considered for the Nationals Callback Auditions at the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement on Sunday, April 18, 2027. The callback will include vocal auditions and a dance call where students will learn a short piece of choreography to perform. O-pa will hire a professional pianist – please bring hardcopies of your sheet music with cuts clearly marked.
Callbacks and other details will be announced in early April 2027.
Questions?
Contact Taylor Wyatt, Senior Manager of Education, at twyatt@o-pa.org or 402.661.8559.
