The Broadway Education Alliance Inc. has just announced that the judges for the 16th annual Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance will be performer/director/educator for Disney Theatricals Kiara Brown-Clark, New York City Center VP and Artistic Director of Musical Theater Jenny Gersten, Tony Award-winning performer J. Harrison Ghee, acclaimed composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa, Tony Award-winning producer Michael Shulman, renown casting director/author Merri Sugarman, and & Juliet star Rachel Webb.
This esteem panel of Broadway pros will select two Roger Rees Award Outstanding Performers in a high school musical who will represent the Greater New York region at The Broadway League Foundation’s The Jimmy Awards® (also known as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards®) on Mon., June 22, 2026, at the Minskoff Theatre.
The Roger Rees Awards recognize the importance of theatre arts education and celebrate the exceptional life and career-long artistic excellence of Broadway’s beloved actor/director, Roger Rees.
This annual talent showcase is sponsored by the Broadway production of & Juliet and will be hosted by Broadway actor, writer, director and author, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, best known for originating the role of Crutchie in Newsies. Tickets are available at The Roger Rees Awards | Symphony Space.
For more information about the program, visit www.rogerreesawards.com.
Photo Credit: Rebecca J. Michelson
2026 Theater Fans’ Choice Awards – Live Stats
Best Direction of a Musical – Top 3
1.
Michael Arden – The Lost Boys
33.1% of votes
2.
Tim Jackson – Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
15.5% of votes
3.
Lear deBessonet – Ragtime
10.6% of votes
