Corbin Bleu announced as 2021 Jimmy Awards host, judges also announced

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Corbin Bleu announced as 2021 Jimmy Awards host

The Jimmy Awards announced that Broadway, film, and television star Corbin Bleu will host the 2021 show.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The Jimmy Awards announced that Broadway, film, and television star Corbin Bleu will host the 2021 show.

The awards show will be presented online on Thursday, July 15th at 7:30 p.m.

The Jimmy Awards will feature an evening of dynamic ensemble and solo performances by the nation's most talented high school musical theatre performers and will culminate with two students presented with a Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor award.

"Corbin Bleu is an awe-inspiring performer who can do it all. There's no doubt that many of our nominees discovered musical theatre through his memorable performance in the High School Musical franchise. We're thrilled that he will be hosting this year's Jimmy Awards show," said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. "After the challenging year that we've faced, arts education is more important than ever and we're proud that The Jimmy Awards can provide an opportunity for these talented future theatre professionals to shine and for fans to discover the stars of the future."

Corbin Bleu most recently appeared on Broadway in the 2019 hit musical revival of Kiss Me, Kate. On Broadway he has also starred in Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical; Godspell; and In the Heights. Other stage highlights include Hairspray and Mamma Mia!, both at The Hollywood Bowl. In 2018, He starred in Singin' in the Rain at the Muny in St. Louis and Anything Goes at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Probably best known for playing Chad Danforth in Disney's Emmy Award-winning High School Musical franchise, his film and television credits include: To Write Love on Her Arms, Nurse 3-D and The Monkey's Paw, "Supergirl," "Franklin & Bash," "Blue Bloods," "Psych," "Castle," "The Fosters," "Chicago Med," and "Dynasty." In 2021, He will reunite with his High School Musical co-star, Monique Coleman in Lifetime's television movie, A Christmas Dance Reunion.

Judges were also announced for the 2021 Jimmys and are comprised of notable theatre professionals including Tony Award-winning producers, award-winning casting experts and industry professionals. Winners, finalists, and semifinalists will be selected by Kent Gash, Montego Glover, Brian Moreland, Alecia Parker, Tara Rubin, Luis Salgado, Nick Scandalios, and Bernie Telsey. Preliminary judges who evaluated and cast nominees included Pun Bandhu, Rashad Chambers, Kristian Charbonier, Stephanie Klapper, Kevin Metzger-Timson, and Thom Sesma.

Additionally, the Inspiring Teacher Award presented by Wells Fargo will be given to Katelin Ruzzamenti Knight, Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, Salt Lake City, Utah and Benjamin Pesenti, Elmont Memorial High School, Elmont, NY. These teachers will be honored for the encouragement and inspiration that led their students to win the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor at the most recent past Jimmy Awards ceremony, in 2019.

In 2021, all coaching, rehearsals, and activities will take place online for the 72 nominees from 36 regions around the US. This year, a total of 20 awards and scholarships are available to participants. The program has been the catalyst for more than $4,000,000 in educational scholarships to date, and several previous student participants have been cast in Broadway, Touring and West End productions.

Student performers qualify for the national program by earning top honors at regional high school musical theatre awards ceremonies presented by Broadway League-member performing arts centers. Each year, more than 100,000 students participate in these events. For more information about this and the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com. Follow the Jimmy Awards on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube!

Founded in 2009 by Nederlander Alliances LLC, Pittsburgh CLO, and Broadway Education Alliance (BEA), the mission of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) is to raise the profile of musical theatre in schools, recognize dedicated teachers, and inspire the next generation of performers and enthusiasts. The Jimmy Awards are presented by the Broadway League Foundation and Pittsburgh CLO in honor of legendary Broadway producer/theatre owner James M. Nederlander, and are supported by many leading theatre industry organizations.

Apples and Oranges Arts is the streaming and video production partner. The official media partner is WABC-TV.

The Broadway League conducts the program through The Broadway League Foundation, which acts as its philanthropic arm. Part of the Foundation's mission is to enlighten and increase the public's knowledge, appreciation and awareness of the theatrical arts, and since its founding in 1993, has supported several projects to help preserve Broadway's heritage and expose new audiences to Broadway theatre. The Foundation is a corporation organized under the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York, the purposes of which are exclusively charitable as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Donations to support the program can be made at JimmyAwards.com.

ALSO READ | Nominees for 2021 Jimmy Awards announced