High school finalists named for musical theater award

Broadway in Chicago on Thursday announced 24 finalists for this year's Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards. The 12 actors and 12 actresses will participate in a daylong program Friday, April 25, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago.

The day of workshops and auditions will conclude with judges selecting one male and one female to represent Illinois at the National High School Musical Theater Awards to be held June 30 in New York City.

Named after Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, "The Jimmy" awards were established in 2009 to recognize talented high school students. Since then the NHSMTA has awarded scholarships totaling more than $1 million to young performers.

Suburban nominees include: Adlai E. Stevenson High School students Kaitlin Feely and Jonah Rawitz, of Buffalo Grove; Barrington High School student JT Snyder, of Barrington; Benet Academy's Alexandra Oechsel, of Naperville; Glenbard West High School students Zachary Palmisano, of Wheaton, and Molly Hernandez, of Glen Ellyn; Harry D. Jacobs High School student Colin Bokowy, of Algonquin; Libertyville High School's Christian Klepac, of Libertyville; William Fremd High School's Alec Stadler, of Palatine; and Vernon Hills High School's Stephen Steinheiser, of Vernon Hills.