By Grace Niesel
Twenty teens representing seven counties had the chance to show off their talent shown at the Triangle Rising Stars showcase. They were competing for a chance to go to New York City to compete in The Jimmy Awards, the National High Musical Theatre Award program. The Jimmy Awards host many alumni, like the current Broadway Evan Hansen, teenage Andrew Barth Feldman, last year’s Best Actor winner.
Taking home the top awards Thursday night were Haven Bowers for Best Actress for her role as Katherine Pulitzer in Heritage High School’s production of Newsies, and sophomore Ben Eble for Best Actor as Seymour Krelborn in Chapel Hill High School’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors. Eble also made a small bit of history, becoming the youngest winner in Triangle Rising Star’s history. Heritage also won Best Ensemble for Newsies, Athens Drive High School got Best Show for their production of All Shook Up, and Jaydon Smith of Clayton High School took home the inaugural Best Dancer award.
This year’s Jimmy Awards will be hosted by Tony Award Winner Ben Platt, who recently released his debut album Sing To Me Instead.
Here’s what Haven and Ben had to say to me after finding out they had won.
For more information on The Triangle Rising Stars program visit:
https://www.dpacnc.com/community/triangle-rising-stars.
For more information on The Jimmy Awards visit:
https://www.jimmyawards.com/.