May. 28, 2025
Two winners qualify for Jimmy Awards in New York City
The Tennessee Theatre celebrated high school musical theater in the region at the second annual Marquee Awards on May 25 hosted by Broadway star and Central High School alum Bailey McCall. In addition, the lead actress and lead actor winners earned a trip to New York City for the prestigious Jimmy Awards in June.
The Marquee Awards are dedicated to supporting the talents, education and opportunities of students to build a strong and inclusive theater community.
“We were thrilled to host another incredible Marquee Awards,” said Becky Hancock, executive director of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation. “This will continue to give our community the chance to recognize the talented young students in East Tennessee and the region, as well as promote theater arts education in schools.”
Annika Kallstrom of South-Doyle High School won the lead actress award as Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES. Eli Solomon of Bearden High School won the lead actor award as Bert in MARY POPPINS.
The Tennessee Theatre’s membership in The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, allows the two winners to attend The Jimmy Awardsâ, which is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theatre. The 2025 awards will be held June 23 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.
“We are so excited to send Eli and Annika to New York to represent the Tennessee Theatre in the Jimmy Awards,” said Mary Adkins, director of education and outreach for the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation. “The Marquee Awards enables the Tennessee Theatre to elevate cultural arts in our area and region, and we know that they will have the experience of a lifetime and be wonderful representatives of East Tennessee high school musical theater at the national level.”
Awards were given in 11 total categories, and finalists from various categories joined together on stage to perform during the ceremony. Below are the categories and other respective winners:
- Outstanding Choreography Execution – Christian Academy of Knoxville – Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA (Broadway Version)
- Outstanding Student Design in Props and Scenery – Gracie Strader and Lucas Jones (South-Doyle High School), ANYTHING GOES (Set design)
- Outstanding Student Design in Costumes – Oak Ridge High School Costume Team, THE ADDAMS FAMILY
- Outstanding Student Design in Choreography – Kaylee Koontz, Elaina Stringfellow and Lily Walsh (Grace Christian Academy), NEWSIES
- Outstanding Ensemble – Karns High School, GUYS AND DOLLS
- Outstanding Featured Actress – Tori Iler (West High School) as Queen Constantine in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA
- Outstanding Featured Actor – Daniel Snoderly (William Blount High School) as Mr. Mushnik in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
- Outstanding Overall Musical (Encore Tier) – Karns High School, GUYS AND DOLLS
- Outstanding Overall Musical (Curtain Call Tier) – Seymour High School, NEWSIES
Each school also had the chance to recognize one student as an All-Star Cast Member and one student as an All-Star Crew Member, and Hannah Berkley from South-Doyle High School was presented with the Inspiring Teacher Award. For the full list of nominees and winners, please visit tennesseetheatre.com/marquee-awards.
The 2025 event featured 21 schools in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina: Asheville High School, Bearden High School, Carter High School, Central High School, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Clayton-Bradley Academy, Concord Christian Academy, Grace Christian Academy, Hardin Valley Academy, Heritage High School, Karns High School, Knoxville Catholic High School, Maryville High School, Northview Academy, Oak Ridge High School, Sevier County High School, Seymour High School, South-Doyle High School, Webb School of Knoxville, West High School, and William Blount High School.
The Marquee Awards is supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission, Arts & Culture Alliance, Knox County, Nancy Sharp Voith and Kenneth Stark Family, Savannah College of Art and Design and the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee.
“After launching the Marquee Awards last year, we have more than doubled the number of participating schools,” Hancock said. “We encourage all high school theater students and teachers to join in on the fun as we continue to grow this exciting and impactful program.”
To learn more, visit tennesseetheatre.com and follow Tennessee Theatre on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
About the Tennessee Theatre
Located in the heart of downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee Theatre opened in 1928 as a movie palace. The Tennessee Theatre is the Official State Theatre of Tennessee and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Tennessee Theatre is the region’s leading performing arts facility with advanced technology, staging and lighting that draws top entertainment to the Knoxville area. The Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation is a nonprofit organization tasked with maintaining and preserving the historic theatre and ensuring diverse arts and cultural entertainment remains in downtown Knoxville. For more information, visit tennesseetheatre.com.
