The Jimmy Awards recognizes some of the best high school musical theater talent in the country. For over 17 years, the award show has jump started the careers of teenagers who have since grown into notable Broadway and pop stars, including Andrew Barth Feldman, Julia Knitel, and Reneé Rapp. Here’s an updated look, in alphabetical order, at the Jimmy Awards alumni you can currently see on Broadway.
Nicholas Barrón
Nicholas Barrón is currently making his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Ragtime and understudying the role of Mother’s Younger Brother. The 2022 winner performed “This Is Not Over Yet” from Parade for his solo performance.
Bryson Battle
Bryson Battle is currently appearing as Jellylorum in CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway, marking his Broadway debut. The 2021 winner performed “Heaven On Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar during his solo performance.
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Jack Cahill-Lemme
Jack Cahill-Lemme is a swing in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway. The 2016 nominee was featured in the Jimmy Awards character medley section with a song from Big Fish.
John Clay III
John Clay III is currently appearing as Booker T. Washington in Ragtime on Broadway. His previous Broadway credits include originating the role of Jesse Webb in New York, New York and the role of Anthony Justin ‘AJ’ James in Choir Boy. The 2013 nominee was part of the character medley section, where he performed as Jean Valjean from Les Miserables.
Billy Cohen
Billy Cohen is currently in the ensemble of Ragtime on Broadway, where he also understudies the roles of Tateh and Harry Houdini. He previously appeared in Cult of Love on Broadway. He was a 2012 Jimmy Awards nominee, where he performed in the character medley section.
Rodd Cyrus
Rodd Cyrus is currently making his Broadway debut as Harry Houdini in Ragtime. The 2013 nominee appeared in the character medley section as Bobby Strong from Urinetown.
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KC Dela Cruz
KC Dela Cruz is currently a swing in Hadestown. She was a 2010 Jimmy Awards nominee for her performance as the title role in Aida.
Tyler James Eisenreich
Tyler James Eisenreich is in the ensemble of Wicked. He previously performed in the ensemble and played Tommy’s understudy in The Who’s TOMMY on Broadway. He was also in Moulin Rouge! The Musical and West Side Story on Broadway. The 2012 nominee was part of the Jimmy Awards’ character medley section as Jimmy from Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Amina Faye
Amina Faye is currently making her Broadway debut, starring as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds and understudying the role of Eliza Schuyler in Hamilton. Previously, she starred as Jane Seymour in the National Tour of SIX. The 2016 Jimmy Awards winner sang “A New Life” from Jekyll & Hyde for her solo performance.
Miguel Gil
Miguel Gil is starring in The Lost Boys on Broadway as Edgar Frog. Previously, he appeared in Kimberly Akimbo both on Broadway and in the National Tour. The 2021 nominee appeared in the character medley section, where he performed “Don’t Do Sadness” from Spring Awakening.
Jessi Kirtley
Jessi Kirtley is currently making her Broadway debut in Operation Mincemeat, where she stars as Jean Leslie & Others. The 2019 finalist sang “Defying Gravity” during the tribute to Wicked medley. She also sang “The Movie in My Mind” from Miss Saigon during her solo performance.
Julia Knitel
Julia Knitel currently stars in Operation Mincemeat as Ewen Montagu & Others. Her previous Broadway credits include Bye Bye Birdie, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Dead Outlaw, for which she earned a Tony nomination in 2025. She was part of the first Jimmy Awards in 2009, where the nominee performed as Millie Dilmount from Thoroughly Modern Millie during the character medley section.
McKenzie Kurtz
McKenzie Kurtz is currently starring as Betsy in Schmigadoon! on Broadway. She also recently starred as Heather Chandler in Heathers The Musical Off-Broadway. She made her Broadway debut as Anna in Frozen and went on to appear in Wicked as Glinda and Back to the Future as Jennifer. In 2015, the nominee performed as Mary Poppins in the character medley section.
Tony Moreno
Tony Moreno is currently making his Broadway debut as a standby Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon on Broadway. He participated in the Jimmy Awards for two consecutive years. In 2016, the nominee was part of the character medley, singing from The Last Five Years, and was in the same grouping as Jack Cahill-Lemme. In 2017, Moreno, who won alongside Sofia Deler, was part of the character medley group, singing from Man of La Mancha followed by “Disappear” from The Burnt Part Boys.
Ramone Nelson
Ramone Nelson is currently part of the ensemble of Chess on Broadway. Previously, he appeared in MJ on Broadway and its National Tour and in the National Tour of Parade. The 2017 Jimmy Awards nominee appeared in the tribute to James M. Nederlander.
Eva Noblezada
Eva Noblezada is starring as Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby on Broadway, a role that she recently reprised after originating in 2024. She also originated the role of Eurydice in Hadestown. It marked her second Tony Award nomination after earning her first for her role as Kim in the revival of Miss Saigon. Noblezada was a Jimmy Award finalist in 2013. She sang “With You” from Ghost in her solo performance and played Ariel from Footloose during the character medley.
Jake Pedersen
Jake Pedersen is currently part of the ensemble in Ragtime on Broadway. He has previously appeared in the Parade National Tour and in both in the National Tour and Broadway productions of Wicked. The 2017 nominee performed in the character medley section as Joseph from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Preston Perez
Preston Perez is currently a swing in Death Becomes Her on Broadway. He has previously appeared in Frozen on the National Tour and A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway. The 2017 nominee appeared in the character medley section as the Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera.
Josh Strobl
Josh Strobl is understudying Ponyboy and Johnny in The Outsiders on Broadway. He also understudied the roles of Evan, Jared, and Connor in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. In 2016, he won the Jimmy Awards, performing “Maria” from West Side Story as his solo finalist performance. Strobl also portrayed Link Larkin from Hairspray during the character medley section.
Eli Talley
Eli Talley is currently making his Broadway debut as an understudy to the role of Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders on Broadway. The 2022 nominee appeared in the character medley section as Frank Abagnale Jr. from Catch Me if You Can.
Christian Thompson
Christian Thompson is currently a member of the ensemble of Hamilton on Broadway, where he also understudies the roles of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, and King George III. He has previously appeared in Wicked on Broadway and on the National Tour and in Ain’t Too Proud on Broadway. The 2011 nominee appeared in the character medley section as Signor Naccarelli from The Light in the Piazza.
Riley Thad Young
Riley Thad Young is currently in the ensemble of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. The 2018 finalist sang “Memphis Lives in Me” from Memphis during his solo performance.
