The National High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards, have announced the two student reporters selected for the 2026 Jimmy Awards Student Reporter Initiative in partnership with Broadway News. George McCallum from the Stephen Sondheim Awards in New Haven, Connecticut, and Autumn Grace Tabb from the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards in Las Vegas were chosen after a nationwide submissions process.
Fifty high schoolers applied for the chance to be a student reporter covering the Jimmys throughout the 10-day intensive and culminating June 22 awards ceremony in New York City. Ten finalists were selected, and McCallum and Tabb were ultimately chosen. Coverage by McCallum and Tabb will be released via social media, on the Jimmy Awards official accounts and on Broadway News’ Instagram account.
McCallum and Tabb will also conduct exclusive interviews with the winners of the 2026 Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress Awards following the Jimmys ceremony. As part of the experience, they will be granted a special visit to the WABC studios to observe the behind-the-scenes production of an upcoming news segment. They’ll also receive mentorship from Broadway News executive editor Ruthie Fierberg.
In his application, McCallum reflected on the unique ability of theater to spark connection. “After last year’s award show for my regional program (The Stephen Sondheim Awards), I was showing a friend of mine, who plays lacrosse, photos from the night, and she was genuinely shocked that my camera roll was filled with selfies alongside students from other schools I had never met before,” McCallum wrote. “In her experience with sports, rival schools never connect that easily. But in theater, the atmosphere is completely different. There’s an immediate sense of support and shared understanding, and that openness is something I want to help highlight as a student reporter for the Jimmys. At the end of the day, the show is less about the awards themselves and more about a celebration of this art form and the community and connections it creates.”
Tabb wrote in her application: “I view social media as a space to inspire others. I love to help my peers shine and grow! Being selected as the student reporter for the 2026 Jimmy Awards would allow me an incredible opportunity to shine a spotlight on the talent and personalities of the amazing 2026 Jimmy Awards nominees as well as guest artists and the creative team.”
Stay tuned for their coverage.
In addition to these student reporters, the Jimmys have also announced the 116 nominees from 58 regional programs who will participate in the 17th annual Jimmys. See that list here.
The 2026 Jimmys ceremony will take place at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre, hosted by five-time Emmy Award nominee Bowen Yang. It will also stream for free beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on June 22. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided during the Jimmys. For those interested in ASL interpretation, they can watch a live interpreter via an alternate YouTube stream. Live closed captions will be available through the “CC” feature on the primary YouTube stream. Links will be available closer to the ceremony.
Founded in 2009 by Nederlander Alliance LLC, Pittsburgh CLO and Broadway Education Alliance, the Jimmys are presented by the Broadway League Foundation, the philanthropic division of the Broadway League.
