Broadway Theatre League of Huntsville (BTL) is thrilled to announce Alabama’s first Regional High School Musical Theatre Awards Program, The Tallulah Awards, for the 2025-2026 school year. Two students will be selected to compete at The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®), otherwise known as the Jimmy Awards® in New York City in June 2026.

The Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor is awarded annually to two grand prize winners selected from a group of student performers representing the participating regional awards programs sponsored by professional theatres. Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts. There are currently 55 Regional Awards Programs around the United States. This program impacts approximately 150,000 students from 2,300 high schools. Sponsored annually by presenters of touring Broadway, nominees selected by these regional competitions travel to New York City to participate in the national program, a rigorous theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals, culminating in an extraordinary, one-night-only talent showcase.

“Broadway Theatre League’s Student Outreach Program began in 2005 with free school shows for young school children in the Tennessee Valley,” shares Andrew Willmon, Executive Director of Broadway Theatre League, “in 2016 we began offering musical theatre workshops with national touring Broadway casts, and now, 20 years later after the Student Outreach Program started, we are launching Alabama’s first Regional High School Musical Theatre Awards Program. It is a great honor to bring this to our community.

The Tallulah Awards Program will be available for any public or private school within the following 10 counties: Colbert, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall and Morgan. Schools must produce a full-length musical production from the List of Qualifying Shows. More than 50% of the cast must be made up of students in grades 9-12. The production must take place during the 2025-2026 school year before April 30, 2026. 

Participating productions will be judged by three neutral adjudicators from arts professionals with backgrounds in education, music, theater, dance, production and other related fields. After the adjudication process, Broadway Theatre League will announce the nominees in several categories. All participating schools will be invited to attend and perform in the Tallulah Awards ceremony where winners will be announced, including the two students in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories to represent Alabama at the JIMMY Awards in New York City.  The Tallulah Awards are set to take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall.

“I grew up in Huntsville, but left for over 35 years for a career in touring with various Broadway shows, and moved back in 2023 to be closer to my family,” says Kip Driver, Director of Communications for BTL. “These types of programs were not available to me back then, and I am so excited to introduce these extraordinary opportunities to all of the young and talented musical theatre students in North Alabama.”

The Tallulah Awards are named after Tallulah Bankhead, an actress born in Huntsville, Alabama in the early 1900’s. She is considered one of the great stage actresses of the 20th century and her award-winning career spans Broadway theater, film, radio and television. 

Broadway Theatre League is seeking help from the community to support the Tallulah Awards Program. BTL is collecting information from those interested in being volunteers or adjudicators. Schools interested in participating in this program should contact Kip Driver at Broadway Theatre League. Businesses or Individuals interested in sponsoring or donating to this program should contact Andrew Willmon, Executive Director at Broadway Theatre League. Donations can also be made online.

Participation Guides for Schools and other information will be posted here as they become available.