Broadway or Bust

Our 60 finalists are preparing for the big day. In just six hours the lights will come up, the Minskoff Theatrewill be filled, and with the downbeat of the orchestra leader’s baton, it is show time. This is the moment they have all been waiting for. During the show, the judges will be asked to once again give scores to the leading performers based on the group performances and individual medleys. At intermission, the judges will cut the group to the final six finalists. Then, after a round of solo performances, the winners will be chosen.

Boot camp - there is no other way to describe it. Bam! Hour two picks up where hour one left off, launching headlong into the fire of the rehearsals, coaching and coaxing sessions that take place during one week of intense preparation for the auditions and the awards ceremony, popularly known as The Jimmy Awards. Fighting fatigue, our eager performers quickly see what a learn by immersion experience is really all about—and get an eye-opening look at what life is like on Broadway.

From a nationwide casting call of over 50,000 high school students, participating in 30 regional competitions, just 60 high school musical theater performers earn the right to come together for one week, in New York, to participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards competition.