Jerry Award Winners Ava Greenberg and Nolan Travis Shine at the 2024 Jimmy Awards

Two Jerry Award participants, Ava Greenberg, a sophomore from Middleton High School, and Nolan Travis, a junior from Wausau West High School, were selected on June 9 as the 2024 Jerrys Outstanding Performers, earning them a trip to New York City to participate in the 15^th annual Jimmy Awards® on June 24.

Both Greenberg and Travis have had a passion for musical theater since early childhood.

“My journey in musical theater started in third grade,” shared Travis. “My family and I went to a show put on by our local community theater. That’s where it all started, and I quit sports to fully focus on theater.”

“I was cast in my first real show in 2019 when I played Lavender in ‘Matilda the Musical’ with Children’s Theater of Madison,” recalled Greenberg.  “After doing that show at 11 years old, I knew I wanted musical theater to continue being a part of my life. I’ve been lucky to have such a welcoming and supportive community behind me.”

Preparing for the Jimmys audition required significant time and dedication along with guidance from teachers and mentors.

“I rehearsed the music with my voice teacher, had all my songs prepared and memorized, and then did research on the character and the message they were portraying,” said Greenberg. “I connected the motives of the character to an aspect of my own life, which allowed me to not only create a personal connection to the song, but also sing it with more conviction and believability.”

When Travis learned he was selected for the Jimmys, his initial reaction was complete shock. It was something I dreamed about since a young age so it was a special moment for my family and me.”

The Jimmy Awards proved to be a transformative experience for both performers. According to Travis, it was better than he ever could have imagined.

Greenberg said, “Being in the same environment as 101 talented, driven and dedicated artists was truly inspirational. We created a Jimmy Awards family, and even though it was a competition, everyone supported one another no matter what.”

Despite the excitement, the competition posed its challenges.

“We had long days, and it was a lot of work physically and mentally,” said Travis. “Everyone there was an amazing support system and we always tried to maintain a positive environment.”

For Greenberg, the most challenging part of the competition was not comparing herself to others: “Although challenging, it was also an important lesson to learn, especially in this industry, and an important reminder that comparison is the thief of joy.”

Participating in the Jimmys provided a taste of Broadway's professionalism for the young performers.

“Participating in the Jimmys helped me grow as a performer just by working with different people,” said Travis. 

“Every discussion, rehearsal, coaching session and audition was yet another opportunity to learn invaluable lessons from the best in the industry. The coaches, directors and Jimmys staff truly helped me change my mindset, enhance my performance skills and pushed me to keep working hard and put my best foot forward,” said Greenberg.

When asked what advice they would give to other students aspiring to pursue musical theater, Travis said, “Don’t be afraid to take risks and make strong choices in life and in theater. You only live once, so why not take it and run with it!”

Greenberg emphasized authenticity, saying “It is important to stay true to yourself and always try to portray the most authentic version of yourself. Especially in auditions, don’t try to be someone you’re not because they want to see the real you!”

Greenberg and Travis returned home with invaluable experiences and memories from the 2024 Jimmy Awards. As they continue to pursue their dreams in musical theater, the lessons learned and connections made at the Jimmys will be something they can always look back on.  

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