Jonesing for the JIMMYS!

 

Hey y’all, I’m back! I took a little vacation time to visit my family just outside of Fairhope and then up to Franklin. But I’ve been very eager to discuss the 15^th annual Jimmy Awards. Did you watch the livestream? Well, I just finished rewatching several video clips from the sold-out show at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre and once again I feel like I’ve been transported back to my 1980’s theatre kid version of Kip Driver! It. Was. Awesome!  

A little background for you as shared by the Broadway League Foundation Inc.: The Jimmy Awards invites two nominees from each local regional ceremony to New York City for a 10-day theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. All their combined efforts will lead to one extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage.

This year the Jimmys took place on June 24, 2024, at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre and welcomed 102 nominees from over 50 regional awards programs across the country. According to Charlotte St. Martin, former President of The Broadway League, “Looking back at the last 15 years, the impact the Jimmys has had on Broadway is undeniable. We have seen 63 Jimmys alumni go on to perform on Broadway and Touring Broadway shows, some making the leap to Hollywood.”

So, here’s my wrap-up of the 2024 Jimmy Awards and in case you didn’t catch it, I’m going to include YouTube links to certain group numbers and solo performances:

Josh Groban was the quintessential host! He had the perfect combination of wit, earnestness and relatability because he has been exactly where these kids are right now: Full of awesome dreams and willing to work their butts off to achieve them. 

I adored his monologue about “Hire a theatre kid.” For any job in any field, just hire a theatre kid. You need someone to work on a deadline… hire a theatre kid. Take over a job in a pinch and act like they have been doing it the whole time… hire a theatre kid.  And on no budget… hire a theatre kid.

If I had to narrow his performance down to one quote of his, this would be it:

“Arts education isn’t just where I learned to be a better performer. It’s where I learned to be a better person.”

The Opening Number features all the 102 nominees from across the country. And it’s absolutely thrilling to witness them and the commitment to their art. Most of these young actors are performing on a Broadway stage for the first time! You can see in each and every face what a huge deal that is for them. Personally, I wish the Opening Number of the Tony Awards this year had this kind of unbridled passion.

The Opening included songs from Hamilton, & Juliet, Once Upon a One More Time, The Great Gatsby, How to Dance in Ohio, Chicago, The Wiz, Water for Elephants, Spamalot, Cabaret, Suffs, The Outsiders, The Notebook, Back To The Future, The Heart of Rock and Roll, Here Lies Love, MJ, Harmony, The Notebook, Merrily We Roll Along, Lempicka, The Who’s Tommy, & Hell’s Kitchen.

Check it out -->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqopnhxrkH8

Next were the five Broadway Group Medley numbers, which featured eight of the nominees in each number. They were in costume and character, playing the role from the musical they were nominated for this year. From what I could gather, this was the Top 40. They were all fantastic, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite in each group below:

Broadway Medley #1:

Victoria Martinez (San Antonio, TX) as Penelope Pennywise singing “Privilege to Pee” from Urinetown. Her upper range belt voice is incredible! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fksi_pTCnmU

Broadway Medley #2:

Gretchen Shope (East Lansing, MI) as Alice singing “I’ve Shrunk Enough” from Alice By Heart. What a great role for her talents! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf6U56p775k

Broadway Medley #3:

George Eastman (Orlando, FL) as Anatole singing “The Abduction” from Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. He was perfectly over-the-top in this one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dZSrXEJL4s

Broadway Medley #4:

Marie Munoz (Las Vegas, NV) as Eponine singing “On My Own” from Les Misérables. I thought Marie was phenomenal as Eponine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddwdqpb1Y04

Broadway Medley #5:

Catherine Dosier (La Mirada, CA) as Lily Craven singing “How Could I Ever Know” from The Secret Garden. Such a wonderful actress and gorgeous voice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t01PoTXpsJ8

 

Next there was another fantastic group number which featured the other 62 nominees. I loved the choreography, orchestrations and the intense energy every one of these performers brought to the stage. Just wonderful!

“A Celebration of Dreamers and Dreams” 

This dynamic number featured songs from Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, Wicked, Frozen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, & Les Misérables.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBaWSMktkGU&list=PL6LkzOSrb0sB7dkMwGhKeVwHxVNA_v4N0&index=7

 

And then there were eight! The finalists each had the opportunity to perform the song of their choice. I will say that I disagreed with Marie Munoz from Las Vegas, NOT being one of the finalists. I know I’m partial to Les Misérables BUT I really thought her performance as Eponine should have secured her a spot. Here are the Top Eight Solo Performances:

James Thibault (New Haven, CT) performs “Tonight at Eight” from She Loves Me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGwkBFfqzVc

 

Peter Dessert (Kansas City, MO) performs “I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BFFFQ_aURw

 

Catherine Dosier (La Mirada, CA) performs “Almost Real” from The Bridges of Madison County.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcvHLBJimiE

 

Luke Martin (Las Vegas, NV) sings “At the Fountain” from Sweet Smell of Success.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ETFwU_xAFw

 

Samia Posadas (Tucson, AZ) sings “I’d Give My Life for You” from Miss Saigon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ16rRLmIR4

 

Fabiola Caraballo Quijada (Dallas, TX) performs “I’m Here” from The Color Purple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCw_V5Vs6xo

 

Damson Chola Jr. (Dallas, TX) performs “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dQXpAioXHw

Gretchen Shope (East Lansing, MI) performs “The Music That Makes Me Dance” from Funny Girl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF1Z5c9ZtJk

 

AND THE WINNERS ARE …

Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor go to Gretchen Shope, Sutton Foster Awards (East Lansing, MI) and Damson Chola Jr., Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards (Dallas, TX). Both winners were each presented with a check for $25,000 to further their education, presented by the Nederlander Organization.

I ADORED both of these performances and believe they both absolutely deserved these wins. But I will also say that Fabiola Caraballo Quijada's performance of "I'm Here" from The Color Purple (as seen above in Solo Performances) was also phenomenal. Every single acting beat and her vocal prowess was undeniably impressive. We will be seeing a lot of her on Broadway in years to come.

And just like that, we're back to the full company of 102 nominees for The Closing Number!

Filled with songs from Back To The Future: The Musical, Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen, and Mean Girls, and with lovely performances from past Jimmys alumni Casey Likes, Andrew Barth Goldman, Kendall Becerra and Lauren Marchand.

Let's take one last look -->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu_etuDW6W0&list=PL6LkzOSrb0sB7dkMwGhKeVwHxVNA_v4N0&index=16

For a further breakdown of additional awards and winners for the 2024 Jimmy Awards -->

https://www.jimmyawards.com/winners-and-nominees/2024-jimmy-awards/

Do you think ALABAMA needs a regional awards program so our high school theatre kids have a chance at The Jimmy Awards??

Hmmmmmm...