Jonesing for the JIMMYS: Part 2!

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One week ago today, Lisa Bollinger and I were sitting in the live audience cheering on the 16th 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 awards program 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 Monday, June 23, 2025, at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre and welcomed 110 nominees from 55 regional awards programs across the country. Since 2009, there have been over 70 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 2025 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 (once again) 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. 

The Opening Number features all the 110 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. And I loved the video in the first minute a la Sunset Boulevard! So creative and fun.

Check it out: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbYnE9IsrcE&list=RDBbYnE9IsrcE&start_radio=1


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. I'm fairly certain 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:

JJ Korkin (West Palm Beach, FL) as the Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone. She just nailed this character with her acting choices and vocals!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUmLkYdl2cs&list=RDbUmLkYdl2cs&start_radio=1


Broadway Medley #2:

Kaydence Arora (Nashville, TN) as the Witch from Into the Woods. She really understood the physicality of this role and her voice was perfect to execute it. Beautiful job!                                              

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxF7VzhTJ7A&list=RDBxF7VzhTJ7A&start_radio=1


Broadway Medley #3:

Kinsley Stephens (Atlanta, GA) as Eurydice from Hadestown. She was quirky, great tone to her voice and believable!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPeNVHRKyLQ&list=RDBxF7VzhTJ7A&index=2


Broadway Medley #4:

Haley Rose Ciaramella (Charlotte, NC) as Eponine singing “On My Own” from Les Misérables. Haley basically sang "On My Own" as a duet with another Eponine, Bella McKivigan (Midland, PA). It was extremely moving and powerful. I just have to give Haley a slight edge for her passion.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIxO_IctUbs&list=RDJIxO_IctUbs&start_radio=1


Broadway Medley #5:

Kayla Rae (Palm Springs, CA) as Cassie from A Chorus Line. I could just 100 percent see Kayla  playing this role! I bought what she was selling.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2ne8U75z78&list=RDE2ne8U75z78&start_radio=1

 

Next there was another fantastic group number which featured the other 70 nominees. I loved the choreography, orchestrations and the intense energy every one of these performers brought to the stage. Just wonderful!

“Ready to Rise” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCUexxNQr70&list=RDKCUexxNQr70&start_radio=1

 

And then there were eight! The finalists each had the opportunity to perform the song of their choice. There were definitely some of my favorites who didn't make this cut, but hey, that's show business!  Here are the Top Eight Solo Performances:

JJ Korkin (West Palm Beach, FL) performs "Jenny's Blues" from It Shoulda Been You.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNkTGzsXpx8&list=RDHNkTGzsXpx8&start_radio=1

 

Adam Bouchachia (Orlando, FL) performs “Thin Air” from Amelie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQn6lfE-U3g&list=RDsQn6lfE-U3g&start_radio=1

 

Kinsley Stephens (Atlanta, GA) performs “I Cain't Say No” from Oklahoma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFq4w5YeCiE&list=RDIFq4w5YeCiE&start_radio=1

 

Seger Ott-Rudolph (Washington, D.C.) sings “If I Loved You” from Carousel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FcQ9max7j0&list=RD6FcQ9max7j0&start_radio=1

 

Dawson Fullingim (Tulsa, OK) sings “I Am Adolpho” from The Drowsy Chaperone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY5zI7cPJEk&list=RDIY5zI7cPJEk&start_radio=1

 

Kayla Rae (Palm Springs, CA) performs “I'm Breaking Down” from Falsettos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs0-raKxWkQ&list=RDrs0-raKxWkQ&start_radio=1


Chris Hayes (Las Vegas, Nevada) performs “She Loves Me” from She Loves Me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtHfxyvhC30&list=RDrs0-raKxWkQ&index=2

 

Fabiola Caraballo Quijada (Dallas, TX) performs “Astonishing” from Little Women.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDnru1gwMXc&list=RDwDnru1gwMXc&start_radio=1



AND THE WINNERS ARE …

Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor go to Fabiola Caraballo Quijada, Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards (Dallas, TX) & Chris Hayes, Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards (Las Vegas, NV). Both winners were each presented with a check for $25,000 to further their education, presented by the Nederlander Organization.



Last year, Fabiola Caraballo Quijada also made it to the Final Eight and her performance of "I'm Here" from The Color Purple was absolutely phenomenal. Every single acting beat and her vocal prowess was undeniably impressive. So she had a lot to live up to this year. And she KILLED IT with "Astonishing!" 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 110 nominees for The Closing Number! Featuring former Jimmys Alumni Riley Thad Young, Jasmine Amy Rogers and Amina Faye.

Let's take one last look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHKwowoCcCk&list=RDOHKwowoCcCk&start_radio=1


For full song credits from the Opening, Featured & Closing Numbers:

https://www.jimmyawards.com/credits/2025/


For a further breakdown of additional awards and winners for the 2025 Jimmy Awards -->

https://www.jimmyawards.com/winners-and-nominees/2025-jimmy-awards/





I will leave you all with this last thought: The entire time I was in that audience at the Minskoff Theatre watching the 2025 Jimmy Awards unfold, all I kept thinking about is how ALABAMA will be represented there next year. For the first time! And how excited this Theatre Kid right here is about this life-changing news. I cannot wait to be cheering on our two nominees next year! Let's do this thing!!



High School Theatre Kids (Kip Driver & Angela Jenkins) in A Chorus Line circa 1986 (?) 
with Huntsville Community Chorus - We would have LOVED a shot at The Jimmys!






You might have seen me as Enjolras in Les Misérables, Munkustrap in Cats or the Prince in Cinderella. I used to perform in many Broadway Tours all across the country. Now I report on them and give you an insider's view into this unique little world. So, let's talk about all things Broadway!

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