“Theater is the number one thing that feeds my soul,” says Vera Brown, winner of the Lead Actress at 13th Annual Orpheum High School Musical Theater Awards (HSMTA). “I have never done anything else that fulfills me and gives me a sense of accomplishment and confidence more than theatre has.”
At the 13th Annual Orpheum High School Musical Theater Awards, winners of the lead actor and actress awards, Brima Gassama and Vera Brown, achieved greatness. The recent graduates from Germantown High School and Crosstown High School, respectively, are off to the National High School Musical Theater Awards — the Jimmy Awards — at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway on Monday, June 27, representing Memphis at the national level.
“I feel very honored that I get to do this and represent the Orpheum and represent Memphis, and I'm really just hoping that I am able to show the Jimmys what I have and just do everything to the best of my ability,” says Brima, lead actor winner. “Theater has definitely taught me that the possibilities are endless with everything.”
Going up against other talented nominees from 38 schools across three states, Brima and Vera were not expecting to come out on top in their respective divisions. “I definitely did not process anything at all in that moment,” explains Brima. “All I remember is kinda almost falling to the ground and having to get back up and saying this is legit and get it together.” He continues to talk up the theater community, “I wasn't expecting to get nominated at all, until it happened. And I definitely was not expecting to win because everybody was amazing, and I was just blessed I was around all these amazing, talented people.”
“I don't know, it still feels a bit unreal like it's an incredible honor but it's a bit unreal that I got chosen out of all those people to go to New York, that's crazy,” adds Vera. All the nominees were asked to prepare a brief speech so that they will have something in case they win. Vera explains how she didn’t even prepare a speech, as she was convinced that she was not going to win.
The two humble and excited winners have been an active part of the theater community for quite some time. Brima started at the age of 4, and Vera has been regularly doing theater since the 7th grade. “The Memphis theatre community is so tight-knit and it's full of so many talented people who are so kind,” shares Vera.
Seeing theater as a community seemed to be what made the two winners fall in love with it. In fact, this community is what sparked change and growth within these young actors. Soft skills like self-confidence and self-advocacy emerged from the countless hours on stage. “I’ve become a better people-person. I am more communicative. I am able to advocate for myself in ways I probably wouldn't have been able to if I wasn't constantly given the platform to do that,” Vera explains.
Theater has the ability to give individuals a chance to apply their learnings in a real-life context, and “learning about [those skills] has been super useful even outside of theater as well,” continues Vera. “Having the opportunity to portray so many different roles and doing research on those roles and trying to give them a more genuine performance, it gives me different perspectives that I wouldn't have just by looking at my own personal lens.”
“I tend to sometimes be pretty shy, but being on stage, I can say I am able to express myself and just have fun with whatever role I am playing in,” says Brima. There is no doubt that theater has helped these two young talented individuals express themselves in ways they never thought was possible. “Don't think, just do,” advises Brima to those who are on the fence about trying theater. “It doesn't hurt to try, especially when it comes to theater because theater is like a judgment-free zone … I don't see how anyone wouldn't want to do theater.”
Outside the theater community, Brima and Vera are involved in other activities. Brima is a professional cake decorator and enjoys time with his friends. Vera took up gardening her freshman year in high school and has been in the club at school ever since. “I like to have a lot of alone time. Because I do theater, I feel like I'm with people all the time, so I like things that are exclusive sometimes,” says Vera.
So, with all these hobbies and passions outside of theater, what’s next for these young and talented actors? Brima plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University to get a copilot degree, but also has plans to continue participating in theater. “Those are the two passions that I have — aviation and theater.”
“My hope is that when people ask me what my job is, I want to be able to say that I am an actress,” Vera says about her future. “I am super passionate about it and I would love to make a career out of it.”
The 13th annual Jimmy Awards® is scheduled for Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway — the current home of Disney’s The Lion King. The Orpheum HSMTA, part of the The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (the Jimmy Awards®), is a year-long program that celebrates the Mid-South’s high school musical theater.
A huge congratulations to all the HSTMA winners:
Outstanding Small Ensemble: sponsored by Gould’s Academy
Houston High School - The Bottle Dancers - Fiddler on the Roof
Outstanding Large Ensemble: sponsored by Gould’s Academy
Northpoint Christian School- Oklahoma!
Outstanding Chorus: sponsored by Karen Fields-Isaacman and Ken Isaacman
Cabot High School- Matilda
Outstanding Student Orchestra:
Houston High School- Fiddler on the Roof
Outstanding Dance Execution:
Collierville High School- Something Rotten!
Outstanding Choreography:
Collierville High School- Something Rotten!
Outstanding Playbill: sponsored by Paulsen Printing
New Albany High School- Hello, Dolly!
Outstanding Poster: sponsored by directFX
Collierville High School- Something Rotten!
Outstanding Front of House: sponsored by Friends of the Orpheum (FOTO)
St. Agnes Academy- Descendants
Outstanding Artistic Element:
The Egg and Omelet Costumes- Collierville High School- Something Rotten!
Outstanding Hair and Makeup:
Tipton-Rosemark Academy- Little Shop of Horrors
Outstanding Costumes:
Harding Academy- Little Women the Musical
Outstanding Lighting: sponsored by Dean HD
Germantown High School- Footloose the Musical
Outstanding Set: sponsored by Veronica and Brett Batterson
Cabot High School- Matilda
Outstanding Technical Achievement: sponsored by the staff of the Orpheum Theatre Group in honor of Jim “Revo” Reeves
Germantown High School- Footloose the Musical
Outstanding Student Creative Achievement:
Addie Brady- St. Agnes Academy- Descendants
Outstanding Student Technical Achievement:
James McFarland- Cabot High School- Matilda
Outstanding Student Stage Management Award: sponsored by Jennifer McGrath
Olivia Schinker- Cabot High School- Matilda
The Bravo Award:
Garett Fleming as Fletcher Blake - Jackson Christian School - Disney’s Freaky Friday
Gabby Watson as Olaf - St George’s Independent School - Disney’s Frozen, Jr.,
Rayley Aven as Baby Kangaroo - Madison-Ridgeland Academy - Seussical the Musical
NEW: The Spotlight Award
Jessica Hudgins for her outstanding work in house management - Collierville High School- Something Rotten!
The Inspiring Teacher Award
Cynthia Wieland – Arlington High School
Outstanding Music Direction:
Tammy Holt- Briarcrest Christian School- Little Women the Musical
Outstanding Featured Dancer:
Fifi Younker- St. Mary's Episcopal School- Mary Poppins
Outstanding Featured Actor: sponsored by Keri and Doug Gage
Jaxon Polk as Mr. John Brooke- Briarcrest Christian School- Little Women the Musical
Outstanding Featured Actress: sponsored by Robin and Billy Orgel
Malee Davidson as Amayzing Mayzie- Madison-Ridgeland Academy- Seussical the Musical
The Spirit of the HSMTAs, The “Jalen” Award
Jackson Young – Jackson Christian School
Outstanding Supporting Actor:
Cade Harkness as Audrey 2- Tipton-Rosemark Academy- Little Shop of Horrors
Outstanding Supporting Actress:
Sydney Holladay as JoJo- Madison-Ridgeland Academy- Seussical the Musical
Outstanding Lead Actor: sponsored by Farris Bobango PLC
Brima Gassama as Rev. Shaw More- Germantown High School- Footloose the Musical
Outstanding Lead Actress: sponsored by Cheryl and Bill Stegbauer
Vera Brown as Snoopy- Crosstown High School- You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Outstanding Direction by a Teacher: sponsored by Lura Elliott Turner in honor of her favorite music teacher: her mother, Helen Elliott
Judy DeFrehn- Northpoint Christian School- Oklahoma!
Outstanding Overall Production: sponsored by Patty and George Alvord
Collierville High School- Something Rotten!
For more information, visit, orpheum-memphis.com
For more information on the Jimmy Awards, visit JimmyAwards.com