With another glittering year of our Dazzle Awards program ahead, we wanted to sit down with our Dazzle Awards Best Actress and Actor Winners, Lindsey Ross and Kyle Mcfalls, to hear about their experiences at the Jimmy Awards in New York City.
Each year the Jimmy Awards invites students representing approximately 1,800 schools around the nation to participate in workshops and performances that culminate into a full-scale Broadway production modeled after the Tony Awards. Lindsey and Kyle competed and performed at the historic Minskoff Theatre, and we couldn't wait to hear about their experiences.
Tell us about the Jimmy Awards rehearsals! What was your favorite part of that collaborative process?
Lindsey: Jimmy Awards rehearsals were genuinely so much fun! Rehearsals got pretty tough sometimes, but knowing we were going to be producing a full Broadway production kept pushing us to do the best we could. My favorite part was getting to work with so many other talented high schoolers who were all there because they love musical theater!
Kyle: I left my room at around 7:30 a.m. and usually didn’t get back until closer to 10 p.m. That was a rough adjustment, but it was obviously worth it to be able to put on such an amazing production. Most days I didn’t even feel tired with all the energy from everyone. My favorite part had to have been working with everyone. I’ve been around talented peers my whole life but being around 100 talented people my age was incredible.
What was it like performing on a Broadway stage for the first time?
Lindsey: Performing on a Broadway stage for the first time was such an eye-opening experience. Rehearsing during the day with no one in the audience was crazy, but then getting to put on a show for a full audience was an experience like no other.
Kyle: Being able to perform on the Minskoff Theatre’s stage was such a dream come true. Standing on that stage, feeding off the energy of that audience. Everyone on stage is thinking the exact same thing– “holy crap.”
You also got to go to the Tony Awards rehearsal and the actual ceremony. What was that like?
Lindsey: Going to the rehearsal and the actual Tony Award ceremony was INCREDIBLE. Seeing the Tonys live is not something a lot of people who love musical theater get to say, so I am so grateful that we were able to go to both the rehearsal and the actual show. Something I took away is that even professionals make mistakes. I love live theater because nothing will ever be perfect, so watching professionals make their speeches and fumble words was really comforting in a way!
Kyle: Going to the Tonys may be my biggest flex. Breathing the same air as so many Broadway legends and seeing them perform miracles on stage is insane. When I saw Alicia Keys and Jay-Z at the rehearsal I literally almost peed my pants.
What was the most valuable/impactful piece of advice you received from your Broadway mentor?
Lindsey: The most impactful piece of advice I received from my mentor Telly Leung was to take a minute to step back from the real world and immerse yourself in your character’s world. This did wonders on my performance I believe. Just fully digging myself into the world of The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods really helped get me into character.
What advice can you give to future Dazzle Award & Jimmy Award nominees?
Lindsey: Advice I would give to future Dazzle Award and Jimmy Award nominees would be to BREATHE and just have fun! Everyone there in the room with you for an audition or even just in a rehearsal is rooting for you! No one wants to see you fail so just go out and do your absolute best– that’s enough to take you far in life!!
Kyle: Advice I would give to future nominees would be to just relax, be your character and let your work speak for itself. I’m sure winning feels great, but it’s all really about the experience and the process it took to get there.
What about this experience will you be taking with you into the future?
Lindsey: From this experience I learned how to take notes and apply them more effectively in my performances for sure.
Kyle: I will be taking every part I can scrape out of my memory. Every lesson I had with the coaches, every conversion with the director. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.
We could not be prouder of Lindsey and Kyle and can't wait to see what they both do next! To learn more about the Dazzle Awards visit playhousesquare.org/dazzleawards and follow us on Instagram at @dazzleawards. Here's to another DAZZLING year of high school musical theater!