The Orpheum Theatre Group announced its award recipients of the 16th annual Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) — the only regional program in the country that encompasses four states, including 48 participating schools across Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.
The annual event is a culmination of a year-long program bringing students from all over the Mid-South together for an intensive week of team building, collaboration, and celebration of musical theatre.
The Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards is an official partner of The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Awards), which includes 55 programs from across the country. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the program invites two nominees from each of these competitions to New York City for a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway.
The 16th annual Jimmy Awards took place on June 23, at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway — current home of Disney’s The Lion King — and was represented by Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards recipients Bradley Bolden (White Station High School) and Alyssa McNinch (Bartlett High School).
Courtesy of The Orpheum Theatre Group
Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards
(far left/right) 2025 Award Recipients: Lead Actor - Bradley Bolden (White Station High School) | Lead Actress: Alyssa McNinch (Bartlett High School)
Recipients of the 2025 Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards
The Jalen Award (Spirit of the HSMTAs): Jayden Haynes, White Station High School
Outstanding Small Ensemble: The Fates, Evangelical Christian School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Large Ensemble: Evangelical Christian School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Chorus: Collierville High School - Legally Blonde
Outstanding Student Orchestra: Collierville High School - Legally Blonde
Outstanding Dance Execution: New Albany High School - Crazy For You
Outstanding Choreography: St. Benedict at Auburndale - Godspell
Outstanding Playbill: New Albany High School - Crazy For You
Outstanding Poster: Houston High School - Mean Girls High School Version
Outstanding Front of House: Corinth High School - Chicago: Teen Edition
Outstanding Artistic Element: The Pharisee Monsta - St. Benedict at Auburndale - Godspell
Outstanding Hair and Makeup: Desoto Central High School - Tarzan
Outstanding Costumes: The Academies at Jonesboro High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Lighting: Evangelical Christian School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Sound Design & Execution: The Academies at Jonesboro High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Set: Evangelical Christian School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Technical Achievement: Evangelical Christian School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Student Creative Achievement: Coro Holt, Southaven High School - The Addams Family
Outstanding Student Technical Achievement: Truman Heames, Lakeland Preparatory School - Disney's Descendants: The Musical
Outstanding Student Stage Management Achievement: JaLeaha Sage, Cabot High School - Mary Poppins
The Bravo Award:
- Maliah Johnson as Baker, First Assembly Christian School - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- Wesley Dickens as Michael Banks, Cabot High School - Mary Poppins
- Wallis Drake as Young Tarzan, Desoto Central High School - Tarzan
- Denver Atkinson as Michael Banks, South Gibson County High School - Mary Poppins
The Inspiring Teacher Award: Courtney Shepard, Cabot High School
Outstanding Music Direction: Patti House and Emily Hale, Evangelical Christian School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Featured Dancer: Lilian Brock, Bartlett High School - Curtains
Outstanding Featured Actor: David Kennard as Lurch, Munford High School - The Addams Family
Outstanding Featured Actress: Harmony McKee as Miss Andrew, South Gibson County High School - Mary Poppins
Outstanding Supporting Actor: Kadarius Williams as Hermes, The Academies at Jonesboro High School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Supporting Actress: Sydney Granger as Apostle, St. Benedict at Auburndale - Godspell
Outstanding Lead Actor: Bradley Bolden as Aldolpho, Representing St. Mary's Episcopal School - The Drowsy Chaperone
Outstanding Lead Actress: Alyssa McNinch as Carmen Bernstein, Bartlett High School - Curtains
Outstanding Direction by a Teacher: Lynden Jones, Evangelical Christian School- Hadestown: Teen Edition
Outstanding Overall Production: Evangelical Christian School - Hadestown: Teen Edition
Courtesy of The Orpheum Theatre Group
Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards
The Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards supports, promotes, and celebrates high school musical theatre throughout the Mid-South, and aims to provide access to arts education, create opportunities for self-expression, develop relationships between schools and the Orpheum, encourage collaboration, enhance excellence, build community, and instill a lifelong passion for the arts.
To learn more about performing arts opportunities at the Orpheum Theatre Group, visit orpheum-memphis.com.