The Jester Awards Program

In 2002, MTW launched the Jester Awards program, bringing positive attention to area high schools for the excellence of the musical shows being produced on their campuses. With a skilled and dedicated team of judges attending dozens of performances, the Jester Awards have won high praise for successfully increasing awareness and pride in the achievements of local young people. The program has grown at lightning speed since its inception, and has rapidly become an esteemed benchmark for excellence within the Kansas educational community.

Since 2009, the top two Jester Award recipients each year have been flown to New York to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. In 2009, Wichita’s Jenny Wine (an Intern performer, Teen Choir member, Apprentice, and Teen Academy participant) won the first ever “Jimmy” for Best Actress in the nation. In addition to the “Jimmy” she also was awarded a cash prize and a full-ride scholarship to Point Park University. In 2010, Claire Gerig won the “Spirit Award” for outstanding professionalism and attitude.