Triple Threat on Hennepin and The Jimmy Awards®

Triple Threat on Hennepin

Junior and senior students with interest or experience in singing, acting, dancing and leadership are invited to apply for Triple Threat on Hennepin. Select students will be invited to the live audition where a panel of theater professionals will determine 24 Triple Threat students, who will participate in an intensive coaching, rehearsal and performance process for Spotlight Showcase presented by PNC in downtown Minneapolis. The 24 Triple Threats have the option to be considered for the Triple Threat New York Experience or to become a Minnesota Nominee for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®).

Triple Threat New York Experience

The Triple Threat New York Experience is an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, where young artists attend Broadway shows, meet with industry professionals and participate in workshops. After rehearsals, coaching sessions and performing at Spotlight Showcase, four (4) of the 24 Triple Threat students are awarded the Triple Threat New York Experience, fueled by Sun Country Airlines.

National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®)

Spotlight Education is proud to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) program. Triple Threat students who received an Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role are eligible to audition to be one of two nominees sent to New York City for nationals. The all-expenses paid, ten-day experience includes rehearsals, masterclasses, private coaching and interviews with theater professionals leading up to the live awards show on a Broadway stage. Minnesota Jimmy Award® Nominees are sponsored by United Properties.

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (the Jimmy Awards®) are a national celebration of outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performance and elevating the importance of theatre arts education in schools. The Jimmy Awards are presented by The Broadway League Foundation. Find qualifying roles at JimmyAwards.com.

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®), otherwise known as the Jimmy Awards®, was established in 2009 by Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances, a division of The Nederlander Organization, to elevate the importance of theatre arts education in schools and reward excellence in student performance. The program impacts approximately 100,000 students annually who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by over forty professional theatres throughout the US.

The 16th annual Jimmy Awards® will take place on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 7:30pm at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre. The ceremony highlights the best of high school musical theatre talent and features nominees from over 50 regions across the U.S. To date, more than 1,000 student nominees have participated in the program.

Since its inception, NHSMTA has been the catalyst for more than $6,000,000 in educational scholarships awarded to deserving young performers. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, this year-round program is administered by The Broadway League Foundation Inc.

Thanks to the support of its participating professional regional theatres and donors, NHSMTA continues to grow. In 2012 the program inspired PBS to produce a 3-part documentary series called “Broadway or Bust,” which followed students on a journey from their hometown competitions to their debut on a Broadway stage at the Minskoff Theatre. The series, which premiered in September 2012, was showcased in 100% of PBS's Top 50 strategic markets.

The depth, scope, and education-centric mission of NHSMTA coupled with its extensive television and media exposure has made participating in the program an aspiration for a growing number of high schools. Based on feedback from participating theatres, school administrators are now directing both human and financial resources to improve the quality of theatre arts education in their districts. This renewed enthusiasm for the performing arts in schools is already helping to invigorate local theatres and the communities they serve.

For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.