Weeks of audition preparation, hours of rehearsals and four shows: all of the hard work that goes into the production of a musical. However, for the cast of Santa Fe’s spring musical, “Matilda,” the work didn’t stop there.
What are the Kelli’s?
Since 2019, the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma has hosted the Kelli O’Hara Awards, a regional competition for high school musicals. The ceremony, nicknamed “The Kelli’s,” was named after Oklahoma’s eight-time Tony award nominee Kelli O’Hara.
The Kelli’s are one of the Regional Award Programs for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards: the Jimmy Awards. The best actress and actor from each Regional Award Program around the country go on to compete at the Jimmy Awards. The Jimmy Awards provide scholarships for top performing actors and actresses from all over the country. Jimmy Award nominees and winners often go on to become Broadway actors.
The rehearsals
In the week leading up to the Kelli’s award ceremony, all participants spend each day at the Civic Center rehearsing. The actors practiced their individual performances, opening number, closing number and the group medleys while the technical theatre students learned more about the stage.
“For example, [we] learned about the fly rail system, the mechanism that work[s] the pit, the importance of a cyc, and the electrical system,” junior and stage manager for “Matilda” Alayna Hoggatt said. “I learned that the show cannot go on without the help of the technical theater crew.”
Santa Fe’s awards
At the Kelli’s, “Matilda” was nominated for Outstanding Musical Performance in the Platinum category, as well as multiple individual award nominations. Unfortunately, “Matilda” as a whole did not take home the win; however, there were three wins for the individual awards.
Junior Shelby Gomes won a spotlight actor award. This award is given to various students who stood out in their role, whether it was through strong character choices, execution of choreography or vocals. Gomes played the role of librarian Mrs. Phelps in “Matilda.”
Next up, Hoggatt won the Stagecraft Award of Excellence. This award is given to students who display a passion for the behind-the-scenes aspect of theatre while also lending a helping hand to those around them.
“When Colton, [the] Head Carpenter for the Civic Center, was talking on stage about [the] week, I remember so distinctly right before he called the winner that my heart was pounding with anticipation, and I could feel the blood rushing in my ears,” Hoggatt said.
“I was so nervous and my stomach had a pit in it. When I heard my name, I was like, ‘did I hear that right? Was my name just called?’ I was ecstatic. Colton kept saying to me: ‘you deserved it.’ I was almost on the verge of tears. I will never forget this award and I will treasure it forever. The people I met while I was there now hold a special place in my heart and that week changed my life forever.”
Finally, senior Reese Hollingsworth, who played Mrs. Wormwood in “Matilda,” won the award for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress. This award is given to the best of the best; this means that Hollingsworth gets to attend the Jimmy Awards.
“Winning felt so unreal, yet so wonderful,” Hollingsworth said. “Just being a finalist for the Kelli’s has been a dream of mine for a while, so I was honored and grateful to receive [this award]. This experience confirmed that I was making the right choice for a career in theatre. I was able [to] work on a performance for ten hours every day in one week and still want to do more. I am beyond excited for everything the Jimmy’s has to offer. I cannot wait to take classes with professional educators to further my skills, attend a Broadway show and see myself on a billboard in Times Square.”
You can watch Hollingsworth in the Jimmy award ceremony on June 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET via the Jimmy awards website. The Santa Fe Performing Arts Council (PAC) is even hosting a watch party for the event in the choir room that same day at 6:30 p.m. CST.
