6/26/2025
Education and Outreach
Chris Hayes at the Jimmy Awards®, Photo by Rebecca J Michelson
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and its Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards (NVHSMTA) celebrated multiple achievements at the Minskoff Theater in New York City on June 23.
NVHSMTA’s 2025 Outstanding Lead Actor and recent Las Vegas Academy of the Arts graduate Chris Hayes won his spot at The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® — commonly referred to as the Jimmy Awards® — thanks to a charismatic performance as Gaston from Beauty and the Beast singing “Me” in The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall on May 4. Hayes reprised the role at The Jimmys when chosen for the coveted Character Medley round, thus making him eligible for a finalist spot—which he was selected for and then won as well!
Not only did Hayes wow the audience with his solo rendition of the title song from the musical She Loves Me, but it was also the perfect performance to win over the judges, ultimately earning Hayes the coveted 2025 Best Performance by an Actor trophy and a $25,000 scholarship.
Hayes wasn’t the only one celebrating at the Minskoff Theater Monday night. The Jimmy Awards spotlights two educators each year—and Las Vegas’ own Elena Ferrante-Martin, Director of Performing Arts at Bishop Gorman High School, was honored with a 2025 Inspiring Educator Award (read our interview with Ferrante-Martin on our blog). Not only is she also Hayes’ vocal coach, but her student Marie Muñoz, our NVHSMTA 2024 and 2025 Outstanding Lead Actress, was also chosen to perform in the character medleys at the Jimmys the past two years as well.
With more than 100 competitors from 55 regional programs, Hayes’ win marks the first time a student from Nevada brings home the ultimate prize in the competitive high school musical theater world. Leading up to the big night, students also took part in a week of private coaching, master classes, rehearsals with renowned professionals and numerous distinctly NYC bucket-list experiences.
For more information about the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards and to learn how to participate during the 2025-2026 school year, visit TheSmithCenter.com/education, or call 702-749-2538.