SAN DIEGO — Did you know that the coveted Tony award is named for actress-producer Antoinette Perry, and will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year? Each year since 1947 this honor has gone to the actor/actress who has demonstrated excellence in live theater. Thanks to Broadway San Diego, our local aspiring actors and actresses compete for the Jimmy award. Since 2009, this award, named for James Nederlander, has made dreams come true for high schoolers all over the nation.
The Broadway League Foundation was formed when Mr. Nederlander, a New York theater enthusiast, theater owner, and producer, threw his support behind theater arts education. Thanks to his largesse, high schools all over the country instituted regional competitions. Students are encouraged to participate in the local arm and test their mettle. Acting is an incredibly challenging field, and competition is fierce. If this is a sincere lifetime aspiration, kids need to get a leg up! Broadway San Diego, led by Vanessa Davis, is committed to launching students who manifest the right stuff.
Our locally talented musical actors are recommended by their arts/drama teachers at the high school level. Prior to COVID the selections and scoring were done completely in person, however, the pandemic demanded that the students display their skills virtually. Thankfully, this year, a hybrid approach was put in place, and after the adjudicators scored each student, the top thirty students participated in a live discussion with Joey Landwehr. Landwehr is the artistic director and is joined by Nicole Ries to form the Broadway San Diego team. These lucky students are taken into a week-long training camp, where they receive 1:1 sessions with Joey about how to give their best performance. The students also attend master classes taught by performers, previous Jimmy’s awards winners, and touring companies. Opening and closing numbers are chosen by the students from a list compiled by the Broadway League.
The students begin their San Diego rehearsals at the JCC in La Jolla, and move to Balboa Theatre for the final performance, thus giving them a taste of the “real deal.” It is here that the local judges are treated to the top twenty “contrasting pieces” and must make their selections based on the two solo songs that each contestant delivers. Davis told me that each year she is “blown away by the composure, poise and performance level” of these youngsters.
But that’s not all….Following this San Diego camp, the students are winnowed down to one Best Actor and one Best Actress. Lest you think this is the end of the line….guess again. These two will be sent to New York City for a week of “boot camp” at the Minskoff theater. During this rigorous, action-packed week, they will benefit from rehearsals, workshops, lectures, and field trips presented by captains of the industry. This is their “first bite of Broadway,” says Vanessa Davis, General Manager of Broadway San Diego.
This week-long exposure provides the students with some real-life experience about the rigors of a life in the theater, but it also may result in audition opportunities! Right off the bat, the students understand the time commitment and the need to prioritize. The Jimmy’s are held at a challenging time of year for high schoolers. There are proms, graduations, and exams. To this end, students are given the schedule in advance, and they typically work around it, understanding the seriousness of commitment to their craft.
This is a community initiative and Davis wanted to be certain that sponsor San Diego County Credit Union was recognized, as well as DZ Akins for providing sustenance to the contestants. The musical director, Tim McKnight is also acknowledged. She is proud of and grateful to the entire Broadway San Diego team and described them as tireless and passionate about making this program accessible to all students and young adults for those in the audience and on stage.
This year’s event will be held at Balboa Theater on May 29.
Eva Trieger is a Solana Beach-based freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com