Rules and Regulations

The Broadway Education Alliance is presenting The Gershwin Awards to enable New York City schools to participate in The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA, www.nhsmta.org), a national celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theater. This event is produced by Camp Broadway, LLC (www.campbroadway.com) in association with CAP21 (www.CAP21.org). For more information, please visit www.gershwinawards.com.

Categories:

  • Best Performance by an Actor
  • Best Performance by an Actress

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Nominees must be enrolled in grades 9-12 in a New York City public or private high school and have performed in a high school affiliated musical theater production during the 2011-2012 academic year.
  • To compete in the Best Performance by an Actor or Best Performance by an Actress categories, a nominee must have played the lead role in a full-length high school musical theater production. A supporting role does not qualify. A comprehensive list of eligible roles can be found at www.nhsmta.com.

Rules:

  • The application must be completed in full and received no later than April 20, 2012 by Camp Broadway, 226 West 47th Street, Suite 900, New York, NY 10036
  • Schools may nominate one student for Best Performance by an Actor and/or one student for Best Performance by an Actress for the role performed in the high school production.
  • Only one lead male and one lead female submission will be accepted per nominating school program.
  • The application must include:
    • (1) at least 3 color photos or a highlight reel (DVD) of the student’s performance in her/his high school musical production.
      • In the event the production has not yet occurred by the application deadline of April 20, comparable video and photos may accompany the application of a similar performance having occurred in the last 12 months may be submitted.
      • Such materials must be accompanied by proof the student applicant has been cast in an eligible role.
      • A DVD and photos of the actual production must be provided prior to the May 19th event.
    • (2) a recent headshot (300 dpi or higher) and resume
    • (3) a program from the school production and
    • (4) a letter of recommendation from a principal, teacher or director of the school production
  • Candidates will be evaluated on Saturday, May 19, 2012 by a panel of qualified adjudicators and judges selected by The Gershwin Awards. The judges’ decision is final.

Judging Guidelines:

  • The nominees will be evaluated through an audition process that includes the live performance of a solo (one up-tempo or one ballad, if applicable) from the lead role he/she played in the musical for which they have been nominated. No substitutions will be considered eligible.

Participation in the National High School Musical Theater Awards/Jimmy Awards:

  • If selected as a Gershwin Award winner, the student must be available and willing to participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards held in New York City beginning Wednesday, June 20 through Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
  • The National High School Musical Theater Awards includes one-on-one coaching, auditions and rehearsal for the Jimmy® Awards presentation. Finalists are selected by a panel of judges made up of Broadway professionals.