Eliana Wasserman
116 Musicals, 65 Reviewers, 1 Statewide Celebration: Jerry Awards Break Records
May 16, 2025
Fifteen years ago, the Jerry Awards began with the vision to recognize excellence in Wisconsin high school musical theater. What started with just 23 schools and a handful of dedicated reviewers has expanded into a statewide celebration of high school musical theater. This season, a record of 116 musicals have been reviewed by a network of 65 industry professionals.
Insight from professionals
At the heart of the Jerry Awards are the industry professionals in areas of theater, acting, singing and dance who offer their expertise to high school musical theater programs. Jack Porubsky, Overture’s Broadway Engagement Program Coordinator for the Jerry Awards, and former Jerrys participant himself, now oversees the program: managing logistics and ensuring every production receives thoughtful, meaningful feedback.
Every reviewer is vetted in a lengthy process by Overture’s Co-CEO and Chief Artistic Experiences Officer Tim Sauers and Director of Broadway Engagement Programs Karra Beach to ensure they are qualified and can give meaningful feedback.
As the Jerrys program has grown—in size and reputation, it has attracted bigger talent and brought bigger names to the schools to review productions.
“These accomplished professionals bring hard–to-find expertise to smaller schools who otherwise may not get that kind of exposure,” says Porubsky.
More than a score
Each reviewer uses a standardized rubric to ensure every school is assessed equitably, to account for variables like budget, which can range from $5,000 to $65,000, depending on a school district. In addition to the rubric, reviewers include written feedback, offering encouragement and constructive notes. That feedback is reviewed by Porubsky and then sent to school theater directors and sometimes shared with students, depending on the school’s preference.
“Reviewers identify what’s working in a production,” says Porubsky. “It’s not just about critique but also highlighting excellence to help school theater programs grow.”
Schools often use the reviews not only to refine their theater programs, but also to advocate for funding and support. In districts where the arts are underfunded, the feedback, nominations and awards from this program functions as a powerful argument for investing in the arts.
Reviewing logistics
Coordinating the reviews of 120 musicals a year requires coordination and planning. Behind the scenes, Porubsky coordinates show schedules across the state, reviewer assignments and travel logistics. He ideally pairs reviewers with local schools but potentially matches a reviewer to a show at a school in any one of the 31 counties across Wisconsin that the Jerrys works with.
“We send three reviewers to each show, ideally on different performance nights,” Porubsky explains. “That way the schools get well-rounded, holistic feedback of the production from different perspectives.”
With so many shows to review across the state, reviewers can choose to stay local for performances or travel -outside their immediate vicinity. Some reviewers do just one show a season, some do multiple—and there’s even one reviewer this season who has reviewed 35 shows.
Trends in stories
Certain trends emerge each season. This year, Porubsky has seen many “Mean Girls,” “Cinderella” and “The Lightning Thief” productions.
Porubsky has also enjoyed a recent increase in high school theater’s putting on more contemporary stories, though it can be challenging for schools to bring those shows to the stage.
“It takes a lot to put on a new musical that hasn't yet been put on at their school or area,” says Porubsky. “Bringing something new to an audience is difficult to sell, and it can be difficult to get people to want to go to these shows.”
Despite those challenges, Porubsky has seen high schools put on modern shows like “Hadestown,” which push thematic boundaries and bring fresh, complex stories to Wisconsin high school stages.
“These newer productions touch on difficult issues and tell the stories of young people, which can be powerful for the students involved and for the audience to see,” Porubsky remarks.
Awards Show Photos
The final ceremony
The season’s culmination is the Jerry Awards Show at Overture Center, which falls on Sunday, June 8 this year. School and student achievements are honored, and award recipients get to perform numbers on stage in front of their peers from all around Wisconsin to attend. Outstanding Lead Performance Award recipients sing solos, Outstanding Musicals perform a number from their production, in addition to group numbers featuring Outstanding Supporting & Dance, Spirit Award and Youth Performers.
“Some of these students are coming from five hours away to attend this show,” Porubsky says. “This is a big deal for people, and we provide them with a professional experience.”
At this show students, directors, families and communities all come together to celebrate the transformative power of musical theater, facilitated by the Jerrys program and the reviewers and Overture staff that make it possible.