Funding The Future of Theater

From their high school auditoriums to the Music Hall stage and potentially onto THE LION KING stage at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City, Broadway Dallas coaches, adjudicates, and celebrates more than 5,000 students from 80 school productions
across North Texas each year through the High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA). Now in its 13th year, HSMTA is one of the largest programs in the country out of a regional network of 51. School-year-long performances and training
culminate in a Spring celebration – a cross between a pep rally and the Tony Awards® – where everyone walks the red carpet, outstanding awards are presented in 18 categories, and more than $65,000 in college scholarships are awarded through the generosity of our community. Outstanding Performer winners then head to Broadway for a chance to compete on the national Jimmy Awards stage.

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STARS FROM BROADWAY DALLAS’ VERY OWN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS SHINE BRIGHT AT 15TH ANNUAL JIMMY AWARDS

Damson Chola Jr. Recognized as 2024 Jimmy Award Winner for Best Performance by an Actor

The 2024 nominees from Broadway Dallas’ Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards, Damson Chola Jr. of Cleburne High School’s “Little Shop of Horrors” and Fabiola Caraballo Quijada of Tyler Legacy High School’s “Something Rotten,” journeyed to New York City to represent Broadway Dallas at the 15th Annual Jimmy Awards®. Damson and Fabiola both emerged as finalists among 102 participants from 51 cities, proudly representing Broadway Dallas. Damson took home the biggest award of the evening as the recipient of the 2024 Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor. He was selected out of 140,000 nationwide participants.

Hosted by Josh Groban, the 15th annual Jimmy Awards® took place on Monday, June 24, 2024, at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre. The event showcases the finest high school musical theatre talent nationwide, featuring nominees from over 50 regions across the U.S. Over 900 nominees have participated in the program to date.

Damson Chola Jr. was honored with the 2024 Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor, recognizing his achievement in the Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards. Each year, the Jimmy Awards celebrate the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress, chosen from a group of talented student performers sponsored by regional awards programs supported by professional theatres. Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts, with the awards named in honor of James M. Nederlander’s dedication to nurturing young talent. As the recipient of the Best Performance by an Actor, Chola will receive a $25,000 scholarship. Damson will attend Carnegie Mellon University for a BFA in Musical Theatre on a full-ride scholarship this fall.As a finalist, Fabiola Caraballo Quijada received a $5,000 scholarship and the SCAD Achievement Scholarship, a $10,000 annual scholarship to Savannah College of Art & Design, contingent upon acceptance and enrollment.These accomplishments highlight the excellence fostered by Broadway Dallas and celebrate the success of Damson and Fabiola on a national stage.

Spotlight on Haley Dortch: The last time Haley Dortch stepped onto the Music Hall stage, she was a senior at Geyer High School, singing and dancing her way to winning the 2019 and 2020 Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) Outstanding Performer Award. This month, Broadway Dallas proudly welcomes Haley back as she performs the iconic role of Fantine in Les Misérables.

“I am just beyond thrilled to come back and perform on this stage again,” Haley told us. “This is where my love for theater began, it is where I watched my first ever national tour, it is where I was sent to the Jimmy Awards in New York City. I am just so thrilled to come back to this stage.”

Spotlight on Corbin Ross: 2023 HSMTA Outstanding Performer winner Corbin Ross ranked in the Top 10 in the country out of more than 120,000 participating students at the 2023 Jimmy Awards.

Spotlight on Logan Lowery: 2022 Scholarship recipient Logan Lowery writes: “Broadway Dallas gave me a complete, new confidence in my own art. Your energy, love, and passion for kids is what has made the past two years so special and amazing for me and every single person that gets to compete in this amazing program. You created an atmosphere that didn’t feel like a competition but felt like a community. Therefore, even when I didn’t win, I wasn’t devastated. I was so excited for my friend and new family member that I got to know because of you. THANK YOU. I LOVE HSMTA!”