I Watched Every Jimmy Awards Finalist Solo Performance and All I Got Was a Headache and a Crush on Casey Likes

Jason Robert Brown your days are numbered.

I saw BOOP! yesterday! … I’ll leave it at that.

Jasmine Amy Rogers’ talent, charisma, and star power, however, are undeniable. I consider her and Rachel Zegler to be the most promising crossover stars from the stage, the Gen Z response to Liza Minnelli or… Lea Michele. Though this is her Broadway debut, some of us have known Jasmine for almost a decade now, since she was just Jasmine Rogers and delivered the fiercest minute of “Last Midnight” you’ve ever seen. And she was in high school!

Of course I’m talking about the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, or the Jimmy Awards, which held its 16th ceremony last month. The Jimmys have given us movie stars like Andrew Barth Feldman, pop stars like Reneé Rapp, and Tony nominees like Eva Noblezada, Justin Cooley, and, yes, Jasmine! That’s to say nothing of the other bona fide Broadway stars like Kyle Selig, Ryan McCartan, and Casey Likes. And THAT’S just the ones who made the finals! Every year, about 100 kids are nominated for roles they played in their respective high school musicals, they perform in a medley of those roles (or, if they’re unlucky, in a group number about, like, Disney or something), and are narrowed down to eight (formerly anywhere between five and eight) to then sing a solo number that they’ve rehearsed with a coach. If you are white, the song was written by Jason Robert Brown. If you are a black girl, the song is “I’m Here”. Those are the rules!

A coworker suggested I write about the Jimmys and another coworker said she wanted an exposé on who dated who. Well, I did write about the Jimmys, but nothing fun like their personal lives! Instead, in my never-ending quest to bring you hard-hitting journalism that no one else is doing, I have watched all* of the Jimmy Awards finalist solos, and am ranking them each year. I do this because I love you and because I hate myself.

*- for some reason, the following performances are not available:

• Joseph Pudetti, 2009 Finalist

• Grace Hardin, 2009 Finalist

• John Jorge, 2010 Finalist

• Stephanie Styles, 2010 Finalist (aw man)

Without further ado, my raw, unfiltered thoughts:

1st Jimmy Awards, 2009

1. Stephen Mark, 2009 Winner - “Run Away with Me” from The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown: I love this song, I sang it for my Footloose audition sophomore year of college. He’s a perfectly serviceable singer and storyteller and not very showy. It seems there’s no place for that kind of performer in the Jimmys in 2025. High notes a bit rough, and he’s not really doing anything special. In a conversation with coworkers about the Jimmys, I said that in recent years, they come off as full-fledged performers where they used to come off as talented high schoolers. This boy surely comes off as a high schooler.

2. Kian McCollum, 2009 Finalist - “Grow Old with You” from The Wedding Singer: He’s wearing the tacky shiny jacket and he’s got his guitar. This is a sweet, unassuming song, but it’s also… the role he was nominated for? I think his voice is sweeter than Stephen’s but still. These early Jimmy performances are fascinating because these new kids would squash these guys like grapes. No shade!

3. Jenny Wine, 2009 Winner - “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables: Girl REALLY??? Fuck ass bob, not selling the song, started on “he slept a summer by my side”… What in the hell is going on here…

2nd Jimmy Awards, 2010

1. Kyle Selig, 2010 Winner - “The Streets of Dublin” from A Man of No Importance: Lovely deep cut song choice, simply the cutest boy to ever live, vocally impressive, light accent work. It’s a toot! As an aside I got to meet him for work and he is unforch SO charming.

2. Matt Hill, 2010 Finalist - “Who I’d Be” from Shrek the Musical: Perfectly lovely and I believe this was still before Shrek had its cultural reappraisal. Had Kyle Selig not been there, this would be a winning performance to me.

3. Alexandria Payne, 2010 Winner - “Your Daddy’s Son” from Ragtime: NGL chat, this one started a bit rough but by the end she was feasting! The thing that I unfortunately know well is that the Jimmys love when a Black Girl sings a Black Girl Song… I will not elaborate. Mothered majorly!

4. Alex Field, 2010 Finalist - “Slide Some Oil to Me” from The Wiz: I’m laughing at this white boy doing the robot. Feels completely inauthentic but love a little choreo. Or a LOT of choreo. I like when they have fun! No one wants to have FUN anymore. Another instance of doing the role he was nominated for, this I believe is no longer allowed.

5. Katie Sapper, 2010 Finalist - “Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors: Sadly this is a song that it’s hard for a high schooler to sing and not sound like a high schooler. Severely 2010 side bang happening. Really good for a high school recital. 7/10.

3rd Jimmy Awards, 2011

1. Seth Jones, 2011 Finalist - “Last One Picked” from Whoop-Dee-Doo!: Okay I’m hooting and hollering that they picked a song from HOWARD CRABTREE’s Whoop-Dee-Doo!. Crabtree was known for producing gay-themed revues off-Broadway in the ‘90s (I’m more familiar with When Pigs Fly), and this song is, according to Wikipedia, about “gay schooldays”. These coaches were ON one!!! I actually think this was a great pick and this boy is a cutie and super talented. Ryan McCartan, you will pay in the next life for your crimes in this one.

2. Ryan McCartan, 2011 Winner - “Someone to Fall Back On” by Jason Robert Brown: God he looks so 2011. Here begins the love affair Jimmys finalists have with JRB. Ryan is obviously good but I wish he had sung something from… a musical? He has one impressive high note and the rest is totally MT boy. I see why he won, I wish it was Seth. JRB Counter: 1

3. Shauni Ruetz, 2011 Winner - “Breathe” from In the Heights: I know this is one that Kendall Becerra sings ten years later to ALSO win, but Shauni is bodying it. Her “I am the one who made it out” placement is really nice, and she gives the song nice emotion. A liiittle screechy on the “I’m coming back home”… I’m on my Randy Jackson bullshit, sorry dawg. This was good!

4. Kirsten Hoover, 2011 Finalist - “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” from Avenue Q: God I love this song. This is an adequate rendition. There’s a musical theatre face that is the equivalent of Maddie Ziegler’s dance face and Kirsten has perfected it. Platonic ideal of a finalist performance and not a winner performance.

5. Mackenzie Orr, 2011 Finalist - “Rumble, Rumble, Rumble” from The Perils of Pauline (1947 film): Man, let’s not be silly. A Frank Loesser deep deep DEEP cut, and not a particularly great one. 2011 coaches absolutely HATED these kids. He’s fine enough despite the song he was given.

6. Breyannah Tillman, 2011 Finalist - “Lot’s Wife” from Caroline, or Change: A song so difficult that Tonya Pinkins famously couldn’t get it right and she originated the role! Giving it to a high schooler, that’s sabotage mama!!! And a cut of less than 90 seconds!!! What the hell??? Clearly a talent but this is a bit of a mess.

4th Jimmy Awards, 2012

1. Nicolette Burton, 2012 Finalist - “Maybe I Like It This Way” from The Wild Party: She can sing the hell out of it and her dynamics are impressive for a high schooler, but I think the acting choices are a bit juvenile. But I like when I am reminded that they’re children! I think this was a good choice. Could’ve held out the big note right before the end for a bit longer. Fierce half-up hairstyle going on.

2. Erica Durham, 2012 Finalist - “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” from The Book of Mormon: I can tell with like another two or three years her voice would be SO rich and full, but as it is, she’s fine! She gets some laughs that are more earned than Evan’s. Also, her cut is like twice as long as his? Who makes these decisions?

3. Elizabeth Romero, 2012 Winner - “Disneyland” from Smile: Song engineered to win a Jimmy Award for its performer but I kind of think Nicolette buried her. IDK why but sometimes I develop an adversarial relationship toward high schoolers who want it too badly (The Rachel Berry Effect) but I was clearly that high schooler too.

4. Drew Shafranek, 2012 Finalist - “Before the Summer Ends” from Dracula, the Musical: I think the Jimmys success that JRB has SHOULD be enjoyed by Frank Wildhorn, whose stuff is SO much more fun for a high schooler to sing. When my high school did Jekyll & Hyde everyone LOVED that music. This is a great song choice! He could be a little better at it, but that’s a different story.

5. Joshua Grosso, 2012 Winner - “Il Mondo Era Vuoto” from The Light in the Piazza: Simply not connecting with this guy! It’s good… I’ve seen better.

6. Evan Greenberg, 2012 Finalist - “Master of the House” from Les Misérables: British accent for a French character I’m obsessed. He gets laughs! I fear they are the “aw he’s cute” kind. D-tier. Nominated for Barfee in Spelling Bee, makes sense.

5th Jimmy Awards, 2013

1. Eva Noblezada, 2013 Finalist - “With You” from Ghost: I mean obviously one of the best of all time. Not easy to go toe-to-toe with Caissie Levy but Eva has had the juice since birth it seems. One of the strangest key changes also, and the placement is great and she wasn’t thrown by the premature applause because these uncultured SWINE in the audience thought the song was over. Class act. Marry me.

2. Austin Crute, 2013 Finalist - “Hold Me in Your Heart” from Kinky Boots: Oh bodied that.

3. Taylor Varga, 2013 Winner - “Santa Fe” from Newsies: Another song I sang for a college audition (before it became a punchline). Why he singin’ the movie lyrics??? He’s quite good and a cutie, and I’m not AS pissed about him beating Austin… Actually I’m not pissed at all. Earned!

4. Sarah Lynn Marion, 2013 Winner - “Raunchy” from 110 in the Shade: Ugh this choreo to me is tewww muuuch. I can’t lie, she sells it, but obviously I’m riding for Eva. Great song though. Love Jones and Schmidt.

5. Michael Burrell, 2013 Finalist - “This Is Not Over Yet” from Parade: Oh god what a scourge this song is on the Jimmys. On principle, I feel like I can’t support this, but he’s honestly fine. JRB Counter: 2

6. Martha Hellerman, 2013 Finalist - “A Part of That” from The Last Five Years: Fine song choice but she simply doesn’t have It. JRB Counter: 3

7. Jillian Caillouette, 2013 Finalist - “Finding Wonderland” from Wonderland: Okay when I said Wildhorn this wasn’t what I meant, especially when “Once More I Can See” is from the same show. A generic contemporary MT ballad meant to show off the screlting and poor Jillian screlts wayyy too hard at the end. It’s a no from me, dawg.

6th Jimmy Awards, 2014

1. Jai’Len Josey, 2014 Winner - “Raise the Roof” from The Wild Party: Oozes star quality, it’s bonkers. I saw her in SpongeBob, a natural performer. Her “welcome!” is delicious. It’s also… effortless. Like, this is her side job. Obvious winner.

2. Jonah Rawitz, 2014 Winner - “If I Didn’t Believe in You” from The Last Five Years: He gets to do the whole damn song??? Whatever, I’m not mad. He’s not overselling it, and it allows him to build in the way he needs to. I’m kind of sold. What’s this guy up to now? Any information on Jonah Rawitz would be greatly appreciated. JRB Counter: 4

3. Brooke Solan, 2014 Finalist - “Will He Like Me?” from She Loves Me: Oh she’s just the cutest, and this song is one of my favorites. Adorable. Big finalist energy.

4. Sophia Tzougros, 2014 Finalist - “Fly into the Future” from Vanities: An amazing song choice and I have to say that all three of these 2014 girls BROUGHT it. Not perfectly sung but she’s so charming. 7.5/10.

5. Mekhai Lee, 2014 Finalist - “Goodbye” from Catch Me If You Can: Not my fave. Sorry bud.

6. Matthew Richards, 2014 Finalist - “She Cries” from Songs for a New World: The boys in 2014 are simply not bringing it! I think we’re hitting a spot of uninspired song choices and homogenous acting “choices”. Also, Matthew Richards? Come on, let’s get a better stage name. I blame the parents. With a last name like Richards, get adventurous! Aloysius, or Jethro, or… Kenickie. IDK, just some ideas. Play around with it. God, as I’m typing, he’s still singing, and it’s not getting much better. JRB Counter: 5

7th Jimmy Awards, 2015

1. Drayton Maclean Mayers, 2015 Finalist - “Beautiful City” from Godspell: This was really… so beautiful? I do love Godspell and also I do empathize with the plight of a fat kid in high school theatre… It’s tough to get roles! Ummm love this guy.

2. Anthony Skillman, 2015 Winner - “It Don’t Make Sense” from Parade: This was maybe the first year I watched live because I remember this guy’s face. He has a nice clear tenor and this song allows for a nice range of emotion. One of the better JRB picks and one of the better male performances. JRB Counter: 6

3. Morgan Higgins, 2015 Finalist - “Woman” from The Pirate Queen: Another Jimmy alum I’ve seen live in her Broadway debut in Bad Cinderella. I actually think this is another good song choice, and her voice is a little screechy but in a way that doesn’t bother me, and a way that tracks for playing one of Cinderella’s stepsisters.

4. Alec Michael Ryan, 2015 Finalist - “Who I’d Be” from Shrek the Musical: The first repeat song, how exciting! Quite solid but he’s making weird weird faces while singing so I’m giving the edge to Matt Hill from 2010.

5. Marla Louissaint, 2015 Winner - “I’m Here” from The Color Purple: The damage this performance did to Jimmy finalists’ song choices is irreparable. I already talked about the way the judges love the Black Girl Song, and this is THE Black Girl Song at this point, though “Easy As Life” from Aida is getting up there. The truth is, this performance is pretty good and Marla displays a self-assuredness and confidence on the stage similar to Jai’Len Josey BUT the high notes are not what they need to be.

6. Marnie Quick, 2015 Finalist - “With You” from Ghost: Another repeat and I’m telling you right now she’s not touching Eva. I also know in advance that Marnie becomes the first double finalist when she comes back in 2016 and loses AGAIN (I can make fun of these high schoolers they’re adults now). Overacting like only a high schooler can. Sung well though. Morgan Higgins should have taken the win.

8th Jimmy Awards, 2016

1. Amina Faye, 2016 Winner - “A New Life” from Jekyll & Hyde: WILDHORN!!! “One sweet chance” hit like crack. Her voice has a little bit of rasp and strain from the bootcamp week that is Jimmys rehearsal but I think it works so well here. Shows off her voice beautifully, she’s confident, she’s acting. Condragulations, you’re a winnah, baby.

2. Josh Strobl, 2016 Winner - “Maria” from West Side Story: Age appropriate song choice everyone cheered! The buildup is great vocally, wonderful control of the dynamics, looovely high note, charming cute boy… Correct winners this year!

3. Kailey Boyle, 2016 Finalist - “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me” from Bullets Over Broadway: This song feels like it should be more fun than Kailey is making it, though I feel she’s singing it… flawlessly? There’s like a little yodel moment that is simply so good but here’s an instance where a liiittle choreo could help? I’m actually totally nitpicking. This is quite good.

4. Cameron Chang, 2016 Finalist - “Disneyland” from Smile: A repeat song but this time by a BOY!!! Color me intrigued. The black button down and black pants are so high school choir concert. The song is not a bad choice and he’s quite good in the higher register but the lower stuff at the beginning coupled with the, again, weird faces, is making me just the slightest bit uncomfy.

5. Lauren Johnson, 2016 Finalist - “Still Hurting” from The Last Five Years: Oh god I’m already dreading this. This song could be so boring and when given to a high schooler… Woof. She’s standing there and singing it, and then there’s a piano interlude, and she’s just standing there, and it’s tough because this song doesn’t want to be overacted but my god do SOMETHING. It’s pretty. That’s it, unforch. JRB Counter: 7

6. John Frederickson, 2016 Finalist - “Run Away with Me” from The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown: Two “Run Away with Me”s and NO “Say the Word”s??? Someone failed. Not loving this rendition, and another boring white boy with a boring white boy name. This song is deceptively hard to sing with the casual abandon that it warrants.

7. Devin Moore, 2016 Finalist - “She Cries” from Songs for a New World: I’m actually incapable of watching a man perform this song and feeling anything. High note was rough. Moratorium on JRB is now. JRB Counter: 8

8. Marnie Quick, 2016 Finalist - “Safer” from First Date: Maybe I’m just fatigued or maybe I just don’t vibe with Marnie Quick or maybe I hate this song but something’s pissing me off. The little bow at the end didn’t help.

9th Jimmy Awards, 2017

1. Jasmine Rogers, 2017 Finalist - “Easy As Life” from Aida: Another gold standard Jimmys performance, and I remember watching the medley live, seeing her Witch, and knowing this was a star. Given I’ve already spoken about her, I’m going to say that this video has transcended Jimmys lore and entered Gay Guy Music Video Night territory. She’s kind of… the greatest star, and this to me is a major milestone in the narrative shift from Jimmy nominees as high schoolers who will EVENTUALLY be stars to Jimmy nominees as stars who happen to be in high school. The vocal control, the way she sells it in her face… Like, call her Bristol Palin because she is a teen mother.

2. Hatty King, 2017 Finalist - “Meadowlark” from The Baker’s Wife: Oh I just know all the girls at school hated Hatty. She’s gorgeous, she can sing AND sell a song, like this is really exquisite. And what a name! I think still time for her to be a star.

3. Antonio Cipriano, 2017 Finalist - “Lost in the Wilderness” from Children of Eden: Okay so Antonio is famously Reneé Rapp’s ex-boyfriend but also I remember watching the Jimmys this year and having suuuch a crush on him from his medley when he comes out in his little newsboy cap and sings “One of These Days”. I love this song and it fits Antonio like a glove. He’s someone else who looks so at ease on stage and makes the singing look effortless (except at about 1:25). Weird eyebrows on the last note.

4. Nathan Keffer, 2017 Finalist - “If I Didn’t Believe in You” from The Last Five Years: I actually think he’s bringing something really good and interesting to this, especially at about halfway through. Nathan Keffer you were made to play Seymour Krelborn. I just wrote that and then checked the Wikipedia page and confirmed that was the role he was nominated for. See I’m telling you I have the mind of a master, master, I have the mind of a mastermind, what’s that? I don’t know but I’m so creative like that! JRB Counter: 9

5. Maggie Gidden, 2017 Finalist - “Lost in the Brass” from Band Geeks: Everyone getting lost!!! Get it… Wilderness, Brass… Moving on. Maggie’s “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” in her medley became gospel for me when I was in Footloose in 2018, and her solo is also solid! This is, unfortunately, maybe the stiffest Jimmys competition for women in a single year. But she totally holds her own!

6. Sofia Deler, 2017 Winner - “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress: Okay we’ve got some accent work here! I guess I shouldn’t be shocked that the first girl to get her paws on this song for her solo would win, and she can sing it well and act it well, but Jasmine… I mean, Jasmine’s having the last laugh. Sofia did however feature in The Prom (2020), which I don’t like but have seen four times, all voluntarily.

7. Sam Primack, 2017 Finalist - “When She Smiles” from Lysistrata Jones: Not to jump the gun but I think it’s fun that he and Andrew Barth Feldman (henceforth referred to as ABF) were both nominated for playing Frank Abagnale, Jr. in Catch Me If You Can and Sam went on to understudy ABF in We Had a World off-Broadway this spring. He’s so boyish and cute, and the song is fun enough and different enough. Nice!

8. Tony Moreno, 2017 Winner - “Disappear” from The Burnt Part Boys: To me, this is a fine performance but, in what I consider the strongest crop of finalists overall, unexceptional. The song is so forgettable to me, and Tony is fine but doesn’t have the confidence of Antonio, the character of Nathan, or the charm of Sam… Sorry to this man.

10th Jimmy Awards, 2018

1. Andrew Barth Feldman, 2018 Winner - “I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas: This is the gold standard for the boys, and as much as I love the number 2 of this year, it would only be contrarian to not put this at number one. Wonderful choices, pitch perfect, sooo confident it’s crazy. I know last summer a boy did this song again but ABF sort of owns this song now. Like, took it from Rob McClure owns it. No notes. Also ABF is Long Island’s Golden Boy, I had seen him in productions when he was in middle and high school (he performed “Michael in the Bathroom” from Be More Chill at a holiday concert called Musicals and Mistletoe and it was the first time I had heard of that show and frankly no one has sung it better) and he has always been the most talented and humble and he deserves all the good that has come his way. JRB Counter: 10

2. Emily Escobar, 2018 Finalist - “Gorgeous” from The Apple Tree: This was another girly that I remember watching live, she had been nominated for playing Toffee in Zombie Prom and she was just so, as the song says, beautiful, glamorous, radiant, ravishing. I thought this song choice was stellar, acted well, sung BEAUTIFULLY, she really had it all. I would say this is up there with Eva and Jasmine for performances I’ve watched the most. Simply obsessed. We need you BACK girl!!!

3. Darian Goulding, 2018 Finalist - “Proud of Your Boy” from Aladdin: God I love this song. This boy’s a cutie and he’s doing one of the more beautiful renditions of it that I’ve heard. Little finger point at 1:44 is maybe too literal but whateva. He’s doing theatre in Chicago now! Good.

4. Reneé Rapp, 2018 Winner - “All Falls Down” from Chaplin: Obviously one of the most consequential Jimmys winners of all time, and she has star power out the wazoo, but it’s also sort of giving unrefined… And not that she as a person has really refined herself (famously rejects media training much to all of our delight) but she has refined her instrument. She’s throwing it all at the wall here and most of it sticks. Impressive but not as clean as my girl Emily Escobar.

5. Marisa Moenho, 2018 Finalist - “No One Else” from Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812: Hard song! And she did it!

6. Sabrina Astle, 2018 Finalist - “The Life I Never Led” from Sister Act: Sabrina became legend when she flubbed so majorly in her group performance (saying George Clooney wrote Mary Poppins) and then still made it to the finals, it actually forced the Jimmys judges to clarify what all goes into the decision (the whole rehearsal week prior). This was sort of one of the first Jimmys moments to break into even the general theatre news cycle, as before this it was still really quite niche. Sabrina to me always had nothing going on behind the eyes but she’s an icon and this performance is competent. Learned from her LinkedIn that she is Mormon and it all clicked for me.

7. Riley Thad Young, 2018 Finalist - “Memphis Lives in Me” from Memphis: Boring song choice but it works for the little runs he likes to do. Ending really rough though. He’s also sort of giving Mormon…

8. J.R. Heckman, 2018 Finalist - “Seven Wonders” from Catch Me If You Can: Andrew JUST sang “Goodbye” in his medley… What a shame…

11th Jimmy Awards, 2019

1. Lexie Love, 2019 Finalist - “I Know the Truth” from Aida: LOVE her tone. As this went on I found myself getting more and more into it… Kind of a hall of famer for me??? Gonna be rewatching for days I think.

2. Jessi Kirtley, 2019 Finalist - “The Movie in My Mind” from Miss Saigon: Okay white girl! Go the fuck off!!! I’m sort of in awe at how good this is??? Inappropriately so.

3. Marisa Moenho, 2019 Finalist - “Way Back to Paradise” from Marie Christine: LaChiusaheads let me hear y’all make some noise!!! Marisa’s back, much improved, with a song even MORE ambitious than “No One Else”, and she’s really intense but in a way that I don’t bristle from like I do with Marnie Quick (sorry girl you’re catching strays). A couple cracks and warbles. Sucks the women were so good this year.

4. Casey Likes, 2019 Finalist - “Santa Fe” from Newsies: My man my man my mannn. <3 First person to go up on their words but he gets back on course!!! Really really great otherwise but I’m sure whatever criteria the judges have did account for that… But then again, SABRINA ASTLE. Whatever, Casey should’ve won for the boys but he’s not crying about it. Or maybe he is!

5. Ekele Ukegbu, 2019 Winner - “I’m Here” from The Color Purple: The second person to sing this for a solo and the second winner. Retire it! Cynthia Erivo and Fantasia and LaChanze have made it so that I can’t really get the emotional response from this song from just ANY singer, and Ekele is fine, I would say shakier than Marisa, but I am not blown away in a way beyond the song itself blowing me away… Like, SHE didn’t do that, ya know?

6. Colin Miller, 2019 Finalist - “I Am Aldolpho” from The Drowsy Chaperone: Writing in 2025, let me say I never want to hear this song again. The coaches have caught onto it being the showiest, rangiest, and funniest number for a high school boy, PLUS accent. Colin is the first to do it for his solo, and he does it well. Audience laughs but he’s hamming a bit too much for me, and the accent is totally inconsistent but I guess who gives a fuck but me, right?

7. Ethan Kelso, 2019 Winner - “Wondering” from The Bridges of Madison County: This was the year that The JRB Bubble burst because there’s no reason for this many high school boys to be singing songs from The Bridges of Madison County. He does a fine job and kind of beats the other guy to a pulp but like… I’d rather hear, like, “People Will Say We’re in Love” or something. JRB Counter: 11

8. Christian Spaay, 2019 Finalist - “It All Fades Away” from The Bridges of Madison County: When a high school boy puts on that sort of booming bass that Steven Pasquale does, I get uncomfy. This vocalizing run that happens halfway through the song and lasts for a thousand years was really bad. JRB Counter: 12

In 2020, obviously, there were no Jimmy Awards. In 2021, they were held on Zoom. I watched them live and had the worst time of my life. Here are some Snapchats I sent to friends:

12th Jimmy Awards, 2021

1. Bryson Battle, 2021 Winner - “Heaven on Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar: Simply leaps and bounds above the others. Really good.

2. Mateo Lizcano, 2021 Finalist - “I’m Alive” from Next to Normal: Shocked this is the first N2N solo considering how fun it is from a kid to sing. Really nicely done and actually… maybe a worthy challenger for Bryson.

3. Elena Holder, 2021 Winner - “Last Midnight” from Into the Woods: Zeglerian quality in her voice and her poise. I remember watching live and feeling she was the only choice for the girls and I still feel that way. Loving her throwing the fake beans. All time “boom, crunch”.

4. Victoria Evans, 2021 Finalist - “With You” from Ghost: Actually pretty nice. Not Eva, but nice!

5. Justin Cooley, 2021 Finalist - “Time” from Tuck Everlasting: This COVID year is hard for me because they’re singing to their computer cameras and it’s so emptyyy… Like I know Justin is better than this, and the song choice is fine, but I’m not obsessed.

6. Ava Wolesky, 2021 Finalist - “The Life I Never Led” from The Color Purple: I don’t love this song and I felt like she shrank her performance to a screen (another symptom of the COVID year). Last note was nice.

7. Kuper Walker, 2021 Finalist - “I’m Here” from The Color Purple: Enough.

8. Benjamin Brown, 2021 Finalist - “It All Fades Away” from The Bridges of Madison County: KILL ME. JRB Counter: 13

13th Jimmy Awards, 2022

1. Sophie Pollono, 2022 Finalist - “The Music That Makes Me Dance” from Funny Girl: Did you know this girl was the TITULAR ROLE on a DISNEY CHANNEL SHOW called Fast Layne for a couple years before this??? I didn’t. And I had seen Fast Layne as a recommendation on my Disney+ homepage (never watched because it appears to be sporty and that’s not my truth). That explains… sort of everything happening here. Another example of someone who appears to be fully-developed star stuck in high school. Another level.

2. Kendall Becerra, 2022 Winner - “Breathe” from In the Heights: Facial acting on Meryl. Another gorgeous girl with a great smile and beautiful voice and great choices, Hatty King and Emily Escobar level diva.

3. Nicholas Barrón, 2022 Winner - “This Is Not Over Yet” from Parade: I described this song as a scourge, and sure, he’s really good, but my statement still stands. Not much to critique unfortunately; critiquing is my favorite thing to do. JRB Counter: 14

4. Symoné Spencer, 2022 Finalist - “You Don’t Know This Man” from Parade: Okay another song from Parade! She’s quite good, especially with the acting. Surely that’ll be it for Parade, right? JRB Counter: 15

5. Dakota Lee Renteria, 2022 Finalist - “Donny Novitski” from Bandstand: This song is really not good but he’s doing enough with it. Big WWII soldier energy (compliment). Interesting ending.

6. Anna Zavelson, 2022 Finalist - “Higher” from Allegiance: When I watched this year’s Jimmys live I just could not get past her bangs. If you know me, you know I HATE bangs. Now watching, I can see that this performance is solid. Not the best I’ve seen.

7. Joshua Thompson, 2022 Finalist - “It’s Hard to Speak My Heart” from Parade: Jeeesus Christ. JRB Counter: 16

8. Thomas Beeker, 2022 Finalist - “Wondering” from The Bridges of Madison County: I’m gonna have an aneurysm. JRB Counter: 17

14th Jimmy Awards, 2023

1. Corbin Drew Ross, 2023 Finalist - “Stranger” from Big Fish: One of my favorite showtunes of the 21st century and this little cutie does it justice. Verging on overacted but I’ll allow it. Ate up the end with that rasp of a week of overuse that Amina Faye had in 2016.

2. Christian Strong, 2023 Finalist - “When Words Fail” from Shrek the Musical: The superior Shrek solo if you ask me, and he’s got the sweetest voice.

3. Maya Sharma, 2023 Finalist - “In My Dreams” from Anastasia: Now we’re approaching the point where some of these performers are in fact, in 2025, still children, and not that anyone reads this, but that means I should be kind! I love this song. That’s kind! Nah, real talk, she started rough but ended strong. This was totally fine.

4. Anna Wright, 2023 Finalist - “I Cain’t Say No” from Oklahoma!: This was a great song choice, he says not knowing what’s to come in 2025. She looks psychotic (compliment), and only part of that is because of this bizarre hairstyle. Vocally it’s like a 7.5/10. But she’s so fun!

5. Langston Lee, 2023 Winner - “Wondering” from The Bridges of Madison County: Hey so what if I set myself on fire outside the Minskoff Theatre in protest. My hatred is clouding my ability to see this as an adept performance. JRB Counter: 18

6. Lauren A. Marchand, 2023 Winner - “With You” from Ghost: This girl is almost TOO poised for her age, and for this to now be the fourth time I’ve heard this song in my research, I’m gonna need something to set it apart. It’s pretty, and she deviates on some notes to… varying effect, but it’s not the best sung or the best acted. Plus she was Elsa in the medley, so it’s just too much Caissie Levy, and Caissie she is not. Sry xoxo.

7. Omar Andre Real, 2023 Finalist - “I’m Alive” from Next to Normal: Fine. Last time for this song please. And any Catch Me If You Can while I’m at it. No one is Aaron Tveit.

8. Samia Posadas, 2023 Finalist - “Stupid with Love” from Mean Girls: Samia, a two-time finalist zero-time winner, was widely beloved from her Elle Woods in her medley. I remember being on one of Tyler Joseph Ellis’ TikTok Lives at the time because I was in love with him (tells you the time) and Samia was on it and he was hyping her up and she was commenting nice things. Anyway, this solo is a fun choice but I fear she’s pushing a little too hard. Deceptively hard song, Erika Henningsen perhaps does not get her due. But she DID get Kyle Selig, and that’s perhaps better.

15th Jimmy Awards, 2024

1. Damson Chola Jr., 2024 Winner - “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime:

2. James Thibault, 2024 Finalist - “Tonight at Eight” from She Loves Me: Close enough welcome back ABF. The natural evolution, very comfortable on stage, funny, the vocals are unimpeachable… It’s a toot.

3. Luke Martin, 2024 Finalist - “At the Fountain” from Sweet Smell of Success: Refreshing song choice! Great high note at the end! Yay Luke! :)

4. Samia Posadas, 2024 Finalist - “I’d Give My Life for You” from Miss Saigon: Imagine my delight, y’all know I looove Miss Saigon. And Samia is back to win it!!! Right? Really different from “Stupid with Love”. This is mostly quite good, a vast improvement, but some of her vowel sounds are still too big, too much. But I would not have been mad if she pulled out the win here.

5. Fabiola Caraballo Quijada, 2024 Finalist - “I’m Here” from The Color Purple: My body is rejecting this song. I’m burping uncontrollably and I fear soon food will rise up. My head is spinning and I have the chills. Convulsing. Fabiola is one of the better renditions I’ve heard here, and in this famous year of Samia-Fabiola overlap, it’s clear that a new supreme has risen. Nearly overpoised nearly overacted… the girl’s on thin ice but I know she comes back in 2025 perhaps more poised and more acted and wins anyway so! She’s here!

6. Peter Dessert, 2024 Finalist - “I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas: It is really unfortunate that no one is allowed to do this song anymore. Because this is fine! It’s simply not Andrew. Take notes from James Thibault. <3 JRB Counter: 19

7. Gretchen Shope, 2024 Winner - “The Music That Makes Me Dance” from Funny Girl: Sophie Pollono outsold. Ending too screechy for me.

8. Catherine Dosier, 2024 Finalist - “Almost Real” from The Bridges of Madison County: 20 Jason Robert Brown songs and none from 13… I have to laugh! I’m so bored! She’s fine… maybe good. Why has no one sung anything from Nine yet? I want to hear her sing “Unusual Way”. JRB Counter: 20

16th Jimmy Awards, 2025

1. Seger Ott-Rudolph, 2025 Finalist - “If I Loved You” from Carousel: Positively CRYING thank GOD I love Carousel. This guy will book. Beautiful.

2. Chris Hayes, 2025 Winner - “She Loves Me” from She Loves Me: Really good all around. Not one note. This was the last performance I watched and please note that 2025 was the first year since 2012 with no Jason Robert Brown solos.

3. Fabiola Caraballo Quijada, 2025 Winner - “Astonishing” from Little Women: Wild that this is the first time this song has been performed by a Jimmys finalist when it’s in every soprano belter’s book. Everything I said about Fabiola in 2024 stands, PLUS some strange vowel sounds, but I also feel the emotion is so much stronger here that I kind of stopped caring, and the vocals are stronger. She is an unstoppable force, I am an immovable object.

4. JJ Korkin, 2025 Finalist - “Jenny’s Blues” from It Shoulda Been You: “I’m gonna get me a little somethen sometheeen” fix your vowels oh my goood. Surprisingly unscreechy though. Just remembered I was trying to be nicer to these high schoolers. Dial it back, Gabe. Weird sex joke toward the end. Well actually I guess this whole song is about sex. Vocally this was actually really solid.

5. Kayla Rae, 2025 Finalist - “I’m Breaking Down” from Falsettos: Another great choice 2025 coaches stepped their pussies up!!! Ending lost a little steam but be proud miss Kayla Rae!!!

6. Adam Bouchachia, 2025 Finalist - “Thin Air” from Amélie: One time I hooked up (sorry Mom) with a guy who said this was one of his favorite musicals. Truly bonkers pick. This kid is pretty fine but the song does nothing for him.

7. Dawson Fullingim, 2025 Finalist - “I Am Aldolpho” from The Drowsy Chaperone: 2025 happened to be a year where we had several Aldolphos in the medleys too, so not only am I tired of the song now after watching all of these finalists, I was tired of the song at the end of the live broadcast! As I’m sure the audience and judges were too! His “I can sing it high, Aldolpho” was really good, but I can’t bring myself to care. While “Show Off” is the obvious number in Droswy for showing off, this song is stealthily more shameless!

8. Kinsley Stephens, 2025 Finalist - “I Cain’t Say No” from Oklahoma!: She’s got the character down, but she simply could not sustain. Her Eurydice in her medley, though, was sooo Eva.

Oh my god I’m done. What did I learn?

• 20 out of 111 songs were composed by Jason Robert Brown. That’s 18%, nearly one in five songs.

• “With You” from Ghost and “I’m Here” from The Color Purple are the most popular song choices, each sung four times, and neither show had any other songs selected. For men, it’s “Wondering” from The Bridges of Madison County.

• I didn’t favor the girls as heavily as I thought I would.

• 16 ceremonies, and no one has sung “Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. How come, Chief Willoughby?

• The Mount Rushmore of Jimmys performances is Eva Noblezada, Jasmine Rogers, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Sophie Pollono. Only one of them actually won.

• Most underrated: Seth Jones, Hatty King, Emily Escobar, Lexie Love, Jessi Kirtley, Mateo Lizcano, James Thibault.

• While 2018 was the most influential year, 2017 was the overall most talented crop of finalists.

• As I’m writing this, this year’s medleys are autoplaying and Hannah Schnorr as Carrie White was severely robbed.

Okay this is far too long. Earnestly, high school theatre programs are the backbone of this country’s arts scene! All of these kids are more talented than I am! Well, maybe not all.