The National High School Musical Theater Awards

The National High School Musical Theater Awards is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theater featuring the “Best Actress” and “Best Actor” winners from regional awards programs including the Gene Kelly Awards.  This year, 60 student performers representing 30 professional theater organizations from across the country traveled to New York City to participate in the fourth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards.  During that time, the program provided the opportunity for these talented student actors and actresses to spend a week in the life of a theater professional - participating in rehearsals, master classes and other activities with industry experts.

The program culminated on Monday, June 25, 2012, when the finalists took the stage at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway to participate in the fourth annual Jimmy™ Awards, named in honor of legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander.  In addition to the presentation of the national awards for "Best Performance by an Actor" and "Best Performance by an Actress," the ceremony showcased all participating students through medleys and other performances perfected during their week at the NHS Musical Theater Awards™.

The program was founded and produced by Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances, LLC.  Please visit www.nhsmta.com for more information.

About "Broadway or Bust"

This year, PBS joined the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York to film a three-hour primetime documentary series on the program.

Part competition, part performance, and part non-fiction drama, the series starts in regional competitions, where judges select the best performers in the country. The 60 finalists then descend on Broadway, where they plunge into the eye of the theatrical storm for one intense week of rehearsals, coaching, mentoring, performance and competition.

For more information on "Broadway or Bust" click here.