The Jerry Awards

The Jerry Awards, one of Wisconsin’s High School Musical Awards Programs, encourages, recognizes and honors excellence in high school musical theater. The program began in the 2009/10 school year as the Tommy Awards, and was renamed in 2017/18 season to The Jerry Awards after philanthropist and arts supporter W. Jerome Frautschi. Educators and industry professionals review productions at more than 85 high schools in 30 counties around the state providing valuable feedback. The program elevates the importance of musical theater within high schools.
​
School and student achievements are honored and featured in an awards show held at Overture Center in June and two outstanding performers are selected to represent the program at The National High School Musical Theater Awards (The Jimmys) competition in New York City.

More Information: https://www.overture.org/programs/jerry-awards

Award Recipients

Spirit Award
Emily Szymanski (Nunsense, 2017)
Starlyn Howard (Beauty and the Beast, 2019)
Antonio Parra (Guys and Dolls, 2020)
Jos Olson (The Addams Family, 2021) *non-Jerry Award
Savannah Konrad (The Addams Family, 2021) *non-Jerry Award
Joe Kleszczynski (Little Shop of Horrors, 2022)

Outstanding Supporting Performance
Samuel Behling (Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, 2019)
​Elizabeth Butargabe (Orin Scrivello in Little Shop of Horrors, 2022)
​Grace Kozelek (Voice of the Plant in Little Shop of Horrors, 2022)

---

2022: ​Little Shop of Horrors

Award Recipients

Nominations

Outstanding Supporting Performance
Elizabeth Butargabe (Orin Scrivello)
​Grace Kozelek (Voice of the Plant)

Spirit Award
Joe Kleszczynski

Outstanding Lead Performance
Antonio Parra (Seymour Krelborn)
Jenna Kornwolf (Audrey)

​Outstanding Supporting Performance
Elizabeth Butargabe (Orin Scrivello)
Emmalee Kraimer (Mr. Mushnik)
Madalaine Brown (Crystal)
Mya Migacz (Ronnette)
Avria Smudde (Chiffon) 
Grace Kozelek (Voice of the Plant) 
Elaina Chilson (The Plant, Audrey II, Puppeteer) 
Zachary Martinez (The Plant, Audrey II, Puppeteer) 

Outstanding Lighting Design
Steve Tonar

​Outstanding Scenic Design
Skylight Music Theatre

---

2020: ​Guys and Dolls

Award Recipients

Spirit Award
Antonio Parra
Due to the State-wide school shut down, we were not able to perform this show for the Jerry Award Judges, so no additional nominations or awards were received.

---

2019: ​Beauty and the Beast

Award Recipients

Nominations

Outstanding Supporting Performance
Sam Behling (Cogsworth)

Spirit Award
Starlyn Howard

Outstanding Lead Performance
Jacob Herr (Beast)
Jenna Bednar (Belle)
Lauren Beaudot (Lumiere)
Mitch Filber (Gaston)
Catherine Cha (Mrs. Potts)

​Outstanding Supporting Performance
Sam Behling (Cogsworth)
Ethan Scholz (LeFou)
Eric Effinger (Mr. D'Arque)
Ava Prochaska (Babette)
Joey Karcher (Maurice)

Outstanding Lighting Design
Delaney Fielders and Ryan Barry

​Outstanding Stage Management
Starlyn Howard & Haille Holliday

---

2018: ​Mary Poppins

Award Recipients

Spirit Award
Jacob Herr

Nominations

Outstanding Lead Performance
Emily Duernberger (Mary Poppins)
​Corbin Heisel (George Banks)

Outstanding Supporting Performance
Danielle Hoffman (Jane Banks)
​Carley Haakenson (Mrs. Corry)

Outstanding Youth Performance
Theo Karcher (Michael Banks)

Outstanding Lighting Design
Ryan Barry

Outstanding Scenic Design
Lynn Ludwig-Franitza

Outstanding Costume Design
Samantha Fink

---

2016: ​Nunsense the Musical

Award Recipients

Spirit Award
Emily Szymanski