The Jimmy Awards in NYC honor the best in high school musical theater performances

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- High School theater performers got their big break on Broadway Monday night.

At The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (the Jimmy Awards®) held at the Minkskoff Theater, 102 students nationwide were nominees.

The students spent 10 days rehearsing with professional coaches and a choreographer so they could perform at the Awards Ceremony.

Two of the nominees are from Long Island. Isaiah Baston attends Bay Shore Senior High School, and Ashlee Fucarino attends Wantagh High School.

Singer and Actor Josh Groban hosted the Jimmy Awards.

"It's a great opportunity for them to show what they've got to some incredible judges and eyeballs around the country," on the red carpet, Groban told PIX11 News.

"There's nothing more important to me than nurturing young talent and supporting arts education in this country," Groban added.

"The timing of that is completely ridiculous, and I owe it all to being here at the Jimmy Awards," Andrew Barth Feldman, who starred in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway right after winning a Jimmy Award in 2018, told PIX11 News. "Yes, it's a competition, but it's not a competition. What an amazing opportunity this is. No matter where you're from, this is a life-changing opportunity."