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
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
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Spirit Award
Romario Ortega (Guys and Dolls, 2026) Tisha Campos Pena (Guys and Dolls, 2026) Ezra Thao (High School Musical, 2025) Jaela Bustos (Cinderella, 2025) Joelle Smith (The Drowsy Chaperone, 2024) Morgan Kibler (The Drowsy Chaperone, 2024) Madalaine Brown (Legally Blonde the Musical, 2023) Zachary Martinez (Legally Blonde the Musical, 2023) Joe Kleszczynski (Little Shop of Horrors, 2022) Jos Olson (The Addams Family, 2021) *non-Jerry Award Savannah Konrad (The Addams Family, 2021) *non-Jerry Award Antonio Parra (Guys and Dolls, 2020) Starlyn Howard (Beauty and the Beast, 2019) Emily Szymanski (Nunsense, 2017) |
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Savannah Konrad (Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde the Musical, 2023) Charles Folker (Kyle the UPS Man in Legally Blonde the Musical, 2023) Elizabeth Butargabe (Orin Scrivello in Little Shop of Horrors, 2022) Grace Kozelek (Voice of the Plant in Little Shop of Horrors, 2022) Samuel Behling (Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, 2019) |
2026: Guys and Dolls
Award RecipientsTo Be Announced May 2026
Spirit Award Tisha Campos Pena Romario Ortega |
NominationsOutstanding Lead Performance
Tisha Campos Pena (Miss Adelaide) Kianiz Torres (Sarah Brown) Jack Dey (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) Rudolf Schiermeister (Arvide Abernathy) Outstanding Supporting Performance Jose Cruz (Benny Southstreet) Brayden Noe (Big Jule) Outstanding Dance Performance Jose Cruz Production Team Nominations Outstanding Scenic Design = Jonas Harrison Outstanding Costume Design - Emily Mertens |
2025: High School Musical
Award RecipientsTo Be Announced May 2026
Spirit Award Ezra Thao |
NominationsOutstanding Lead Performance
Jack Dey (Troy Bolton) Madalyn Sims (Gabriella Montez) Kianiz Torres (Sharpay Evans) Outstanding Supporting Performance Romario Ortega (Ryan Evans) Tisha Campos Pena (Taylor McKessie) Olivia Kull (Kelsi Neilson) Rudolf Schiermeister (Zeke Baylor) Talia Uecker (Ms. Darbus) Outstanding Dance Performance Jose Cruz |
2025: Cinderella
Award RecipientsSpirit Award
Jaela Bustos |
NominationsOutstanding Lead Performance
Madalyn Sims (Cinderella) Romario Ortega (Prince Christopher) Outstanding Supporting Performance Sophia Kapusta (Joy) Jaela Bustos (Grace) Production Team Nominations Outstanding Musical Outstanding Orchestra Outstanding Costume Design - Kate Vannoy Outstanding Overall Design Outstanding Musical Direction - Marissa Narlock Outstanding Direction - Kelsy Brookins |
2024: The Drowsy Chaperone
Award RecipientsSpirit Award
Joelle Smith Morgan Kibler |
NominationsOutstanding Lead Performance
Jaela Bustos (Man in Chair) Tavian Hernandez (Aldolpho) Romario Ortega (Robert Martin) Allison Abbott (Janet Van De Graaff) Outstanding Supporting Performance Sophia Kapusta (Trix) Evangeline Tremarello (Mrs. Toddendale) Production Team Nominations Outstanding Ensemble Outstanding Orchestra Outstanding Stage Crew Outstanding Scenic Design - Steve Tonar Outstanding Lighting Design - Steve Tonar |
2023: Legally Blonde the Musical
Award Recipients |
Nominations |
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Outstanding Supporting Performance
Savannah Konrad (Brooke Wyndham) Charles Folker (Kyle the UPS Guy) Spirit Award Madalaine Brown Zachary Martinez |
Outstanding Lead Performance
Madalaine Brown (Elle Woods) Zachary Martinez (Emmett Forrest) Outstanding Supporting Performance Savannah Konrad (Brooke Wyndham) Charles Folker (Kyle the UPS Guy) Production Team Nominations Outstanding Stage Crew |
2022: Little Shop of Horrors
Award Recipients |
Nominations |
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Outstanding Supporting Performance
Elizabeth Butargabe (Orin Scrivello) Grace Kozelek (Voice of the Plant) Spirit Award Joe Kleszczynski |
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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.
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 |
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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 RecipientsSpirit Award
Jacob Herr |
Nominations
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2016: Nunsense the Musical
Award Recipients |
Nominations |
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Spirit Award
Emily Szymanski |
No information left by previous director.
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