Jacob Solomon and Emerson Hunt have been named the winners of Outstanding Performance in a Musical at the Roger Rees Awards. The ceremony, held at Symphony Space, was hosted by Andrew Keenan-Bolger and celebrated the region’s top young theatrical talent.
A Wide Reach Across Greater New York
The 2026 awards cycle featured 50 nominees selected by The Broadway Education Alliance Inc. These students performed in qualifying roles within officially licensed high school productions during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The competition spanned a vast geographic area, representing 104 high schools across 13 counties. These included the Bronx, Dutchess, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, New York (Manhattan), Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rockland, Suffolk, Ulster, and Westchester.
Expert Adjudication and Recognition
The winners were selected by a panel of Broadway professionals. The judging team included Tony Award-winning performer J. Harrison Ghee, Tony Award-winning producer Michael Shulman, and acclaimed composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa.
Additional judges included Disney Theatricals’ Kiara Brown-Clark, New York City Center VP and Artistic Director of Musical Theater Jenny Gersten, casting director Merri Sugarman, and Rachel Webb of & Juliet.
While Solomon and Hunt took the top honors, the event also recognized Emerging Artist winners Gloria Manning and William Herbert. Other finalists included Leonidas Tirella, Molly Lyons, Maxwell Vegliando, Tosia Sliwski, Donovan Russell, Tatianna Krummenacker, Jack Chambers, and Lily Giese.
The Path to the National Stage
The victory for Solomon and Hunt serves as a qualifier for national competition. Having been selected by the panel of experts, the two students will now represent the Greater New York region.
They are likely to compete at The Broadway League Foundation’s The Jimmy Awards, also known as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. This event is scheduled for Monday, June 22, at the Minskoff Theatre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the award for Outstanding Performance in a Musical?
Jacob Solomon and Emerson Hunt were the winners of the award.
How many schools were represented in the nominations?
Nominees represented 104 high schools across 13 counties in the Greater New York area.
What is the significance of the Jimmy Awards for the winners?
The winners will represent the Greater New York region at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards on June 22 at the Minskoff Theatre.
How do you think regional competitions like the Roger Rees Awards impact the future of musical theatre?
