3/2/2021
Education and Outreach
Persevering to recognize the achievements of students in Nevada’s high school musical theater programs in spite of the pandemic, The Smith Center will host a limited virtual competition of the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards (NVHSMTA) program in the spring of 2021.
The annual event, now in its eighth year, was created by The Smith Center to foster the next generation of talented performers, as well as highlight the high-quality performing-arts education available in Nevada.
According to Candy Schneider, Vice President of Education and Outreach for The Smith Center, this year’s event will feature a virtual competition for nominated Lead Actor and Actress students from participating high schools.
“The students will submit audition videos based on approved qualifying roles for this year’s Jimmy Awards®,” Schneider says. “These will then be reviewed by a panel of impartial judges comprised of several respected members of the performing arts community in Nevada.”
The Jimmy Awards® is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance and elevating the importance of theater arts education in schools.
The two selected winners of this year’s NVHSMTA will be given the opportunity to participate in a recently announced virtual Jimmy Awards® experience at the end of June 2021.
“We’re committed to keeping the NVHSMTA program going, especially since the Jimmy Awards® has confirmed that it is doing a virtual awards program in place of its traditional live awards ceremony at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway in New York City,” Schneider says.
Schneider adds that unlike other similar awards programs across the country, The Smith Center does not charge a fee for schools and students to participate in the NVHSMTA.
“We want to ensure that it is possible for any student with talent and achievement in high school musical theater in Nevada to be recognized,” Schneider says.
For more information about the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards, please contact The Smith Center's Education and Outreach Department.