- The 2018 Jerry Awards broadcast
is funded in part by
Julie and Larry Midtbo,
A. Paul Jones Charitable Trust,
Mary Ellen and Joe Sensenbrenner,
Thomas Terry,
The Focus Fund for Young Performers,
and Friends of Wisconsin Public Television.
[upbeat piano music]
- I think theater's important because
of this idea of creation that you're doing
in creating a story.
- I think the most important thing theater does is
spark conversation.
- Theater portrays a lot of messages.
- It's a nice break from reality, but it's also
a really great way to learn.
- It's really deeper than people think.
- It motivates people to make a change.
*
- I don't think you get the feeling
that you get when you're seeing a show anywhere else.
- There is not one show where you don't feel sadness
and happiness
and excitement.
- You get to transport them for two hours out of
maybe a really bad day, or a really great day,
and create a great story for a bunch of people.
- Putting on a show together
and stepping into this different
sense of reality, I think that really
brings us all a lot closer together.
*
- It can really raise
some pretty big issues
and then leave people thinking
in the very end of the show.
- That's why we do the performing arts,
to think about what it is to be human
and to become a better person.
[upbeat piano music]
*
- Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!
[cheers and applause]
Welcome to the 2018 Jerry Awards.
We're here tonight
to encourage, recognize, and honor
excellence in high school musical theater.
My name is Tim Sauers, and I'm the host for tonight.
Please welcome to the stage the Jerry Ensemble.
[cheers and applause]
[jaunty piano music]
all: * Light the candles
* Get the ice out
* Roll the rug up
* It's today
* Though it may not be anyone's birthday *
* And though it's far from the first of the year *
* I know that this very minute *
* Has history in it
* We're here
* It's a time for
* Making merry
* And so I'm for
* Making hay
* Tune the grand up
* Dance your shoes off
* Strike the band up
* It's today
- Welcome to the 2018 Jerry Awards!
[cheers and applause]
We are the Jerry Ensemble, representing both the southern
Wisconsin and northern Wisconsin regions,
and we are here to start this show off with a bang!
*
all: * It's a time for making merry *
* And so I'm for
* Making hay
* Tune the grand up
* Call the cops out
* Strike the band up
* Pull the stops out
* Hallelujah
* It's today
* Hey!
[cheers and applause]
- Was that incredible or what?
Ah.
So, congratulations, everybody. What a great opening.
[cheers and applause]
So, um,
to participate in the Jerry Awards,
schools agree to have their high school musical
adjudicated by a team of reviewers.
Reviewers turn in a set of critiques.
The school gets the written critique,
and along with nominations.
At the end of the year, when we finish
our last weekend of eligibility,
we announce our recipients for the year,
have great rehearsals, and put on this big show.
Schools must reside within 100 miles
of the Madison community,
100 miles of the Milwaukee community,
with our partnership
with the Marcus Center for Performing Arts,
or 100 miles from Wausau community
with the Grand Theater as our partner there.
Now, how do you say we have Aquinas in the show tonight?
[cheers and applause] Yeah.
From La Crosse-- they're from La Crosse,
and they're in the show tonight.
So how did they get in? Do you ask.
We let them.
[laughter] [piano melody begins]
- It's like a family at Aquinas.
- We're not just theater friends.
Like, we're actual friends in real life too.
[laughter] - Small casts are so great
because you are able to get
so close with every single person.
[singing] - They are quite the energetic group
and I've guided them
as best as I can.
- It's great that we all get to come here
with our director, Mr. Bosgraaf,
Since this is his last year, I know it meant a lot to him
to have a small school get this honor.
- He really strives to have us
be the best that we can be.
- You're gonna do great. You sound amazing.
I'm so excited for them and for the school.
[lively piano music]
all: * Oh, bless the Lord my soul *
* Oh, bless the Lord my soul *
* Oh, bless the Lord my soul
* Bless the Lord, bless the Lord *
* Bless the Lord
* Bless the Lord, bless the Lord *
* Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, bless the Lord *
* Bless the Lord, bless the Lord *
* My soul
* Oh, bless the Lord
* My soul
* Oh, bless the Lord my soul Oh, bless the Lord my soul *
* My soul
[cheers and applause]
*
* Grant us all from Earth to rise *
* And to strain with eager eyes *
* Towards the promised heavenly prize *
* We beseech thee, hear us come sing about love *
* Love, that calls us first to be *
* Come sing about love, love *
* That made the stone and tree *
* Come sing about love, love, love, love *
* Love, love, come sing about love *
* Love, love, love, love
* Come sing about love
* We beseech thee
* Hear us, love, love, love, love, love *
* Love, love, we beseech thee
* Hear us
[cheers and applause]
[soft piano music]
- * How'd I let you slip away when I'm longing so *
* To hold you, now I'd die *
* For one more day, 'cause there's something *
* I should have told you
* Yes, there's something I should have told you *
* When I looked into your eyes *
* Why does distance make us wise? *
* You were the song all along
* And before
* The song dies
* I should tell you, I should tell you *
* I have always loved you
* You can see it in my eyes
[cheers and applause]
* Mimi
*
[cheers and applause]
- * When the daylight ends
* And the moon ascends
* I would rather be
* Just the moon and me
* When I feel her pull
* Then my heart is full
* And the night is
* Softly, sweetly calling
* Fester, look and see
* La la la la la la
* La la la la
* La la la la la
* It's a dream that's coming true *
* When the moon says
* I love you
*
* You
* La
* Ah
[cheers and applause]
[jaunty piano music]
- * Death is just around the corner *
* Waiting high upon the hill
* Someone buried
* In an avalanche
* That's the kind of gig
* I could really dig
* Marriage often disappoints you *
* Not each husband is a gem
* So I'll mourn knowing
* Death is just around the corner *
* Coming after them
*
* If life's all plums
* I'll muddle through some
* But when death comes
* I hope it's gruesome, ha-cha *
*
* Death is just around the corner *
* And you have to heed the call *
all: * Don't ask why
- * For your death is just around the corner *
all: * You and I
- * Happy being both the mourned and mourner *
all: * Say goodbye
- * Because death is just around the corner *
* Coming for us
* All
[cheers and applause]
[soft piano music]
all: * Careful the spell you cast *
* Not just on children
* Sometimes the spell may last *
* Past what you can see
* And turn against you
* Careful the tale you tell
* That is the spell
* Children will listen
* Though it's fearful, though it's deep *
* Though it's dark and then you may lose *
* The path, though you may encounter wolves *
* Though it's deep, you can't just act *
* Lose the path, you may encounter wolves *
* You can't just act, you have to listen *
* You have to think
* There are always wolves
* There are always spells
* There are always beans where a giant dwells *
* So into the woods
* You go again
* You have to every now and then *
* Into the woods, no telling when *
* Be ready for the journey
* Into the woods, but not too fast *
* Or what you wish, you lose at last *
* Into the woods, but mind the past *
* Into the woods, but mind the future *
* Into the woods, but not to stray *
* Or tempt the wolf, or steal from a giant *
* The way is dark
* The light is dim
* But now there's you, me, her, and him *
* The chances look small
* The choices look grim
* But everything you learn there *
* Will help when you return there *
* The light is getting dimmer
- * I think I see a glimmer
all: * Into the woods you have to grope *
* But that's the way you learn to cope *
* Into the woods to find there's hope *
* Of getting through the journey *
* Into the woods, each time you go *
* There's more to learn of what you know *
* Into the woods, but not too slow *
* Into the woods, it's nearing midnight *
* Into the woods to mind the wolf *
* To heed the witch, to honor the giant *
* To mind, to heed, to find, to think *
* To teach, to join, to go to the festival *
* Into the woods
then out of the woods *
* And happy ever after
[cheers and applause]
[jaunty piano music]
*
- * Come with me
* To see something strange unfold *
*
* Hear the weirdest tale that was ever told *
*
* From this rare depiction
* Some will swear it's fiction *
* Yet each peculiar twist
* That I tell is true
* And you shall see it in plain view *
* Right before your eyes, marvel as magic *
* Is on display
* Right before your eyes
* All might seem tragic, but then it's okay *
* Poof! A new surprise
* Right before your eyes
[cheers and applause]
- * Ah-ah-ah-ah ah-ah-ah-ah *
* Ah-ah-ah-ah ah-ah-ah-ah *
* Ahh
*
* Alone and waiting
* And wailing
* Whining and waning
* Wanting and wasting and woe
* Waiting, fixating, debating, lose-weighting, *
* Ice skating, lactating, and so *
* We wait to laugh [cackles]
* We wait to cry
* We wait for every hopeful breath *
* Waiting for a lousy
* Vicious, rotting, rancid
* Flushed out, fetid
* Frenzied, fatal
* Death
- * Whoa-oh-oh-oh whoa-oh-oh-oh *
*
[cheers and applause]
- So I've been in "Les Mis" a couple times as a kid,
and I've always looked at Thénardier
as the coolest character in the show.
He's just the coolest, like, creepy little, you know,
oily man.
I think that's the coolest part.
I spent a lot of time off stage
looking at all these different versions
of Les Mis and creating my own version.
There's a little bit of me in there, but
when I hear that music start, when he comes onstage,
he changes into a whole new person from what I am.
Which is cool.
It's a lot more fun. [laughs]
[cackling]
* Oh, welcome Monsieur, sit yourself down *
* And meet
* The best innkeeper in town *
* As for the rest, all of them crooks *
* Rooking the guests and cooking the books *
* Seldom do you see
* Honest men like me
* A gent of good intent
* Who's content to be
* Master of the house, doling out the charm *
* Ready with a handshake and an open palm *
* Tells a saucy tale, makes a little stir *
* Customers appreciate a bon-viveur *
* Glad to do me friends a favor *
* Doesn't cost me to be nice
* But nothing gets you nothing *
* Everything has got a little price *
* Master of the house, keeper of the zoo *
* Ready to relieve him of a sou or two *
* Watering the wine, making up the weight *
* Picking up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight *
* Everybody loves a landlord
* Everybody's bosom friend
* I do whatever pleases Jesus
* Won't I bleed them in the end? *
[laughter]
[cheers and applause]
- Will, you give a man a fish,
you feed him for a day.
- You teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
- But you teach a man the Alabama Stomp, well!
You feed his soul!
- Come on, Jerry Awards ! Let's do the Alabama Stomp!
Come on, y'all! - Whoo-hoo!
[stomping in unison]
- Whoo!
*
[stomping and clapping]
*
- Whoo!
- Everyone dies, Edward Bloom,
but your death is glorious.
* Let me show you, what's your concern? *
* Are you scared of hearing one thing new? *
* When you could learn something secret *
* That could help you through
* In one good turn
* I can show you counterfeit from true *
* Life begins when you know how it ends *
[cheers and applause]
all: * Shim, sham, I'm a little lamb from Alabama *
* Flim, flam, I'm a little lamb from Alabama *
* I'm a little miss praying for a kiss *
* Just a little
* Lamb from Alabama
[cheers and applause]
* I can see America, dependable and true *
* Open sky and passers by congratulating you *
* Find the open highway and you've hit the mother lode *
* Go crazy out there on the
* Happy, out there on the, finally *
* Out there
* Be the hero every time
* You get the chance
* If the music stops continue with the dance *
- * On a wing or on a prayer
- * You'll only get there with your voice *
all: * Be attentive, be inventive *
* Be the first one to rejoice
* With a story in your heart
* You won't need any other choice *
* You're a hero fighting dragons, winning wars *
* Be the hero, and the world *
* Will soon be
* Yours!
*
[cheers and applause]
- "Next to Normal" is about
Diana Goodman, who struggles with bipolar
and has elements of schizophrenia.
And it's about her going through her journey
with her husband and her daughter.
- This piece offered us a moment to talk about
mental disease, which is a huge,
resonant thing in our culture,
something that needs to be talked about.
- It's really teaching
about people with these disorders.
- Just talking about all the different options
and what mental illness does,
I think it sparked a lot of conversation.
- And we can keep moving forward
and there is hope at the end of the road.
[soft piano music]
[sniffling]
- * We need some light
* First of all, we need some light *
* You can't sit here in the dark *
* And all alone, it's a sorry sight *
* It's just you and me
* We'll live, you'll see *
*
- * Night after night
* We'd sit and wait for the morning light *
* But we've waited far too long *
* For all that's wrong to be made right *
- * Day after day
* Wishing all our cares away
* Trying to fight the things we feel *
* But some hurts never heal
* Some ghosts are never gone
* But we go on
* We still go on
* And you find some way to survive *
* And you find out
* You don't have to be happy at all *
* To be happy you're alive
- * And when the night is finally gone *
* And when we see the new day dawn *
* We'll wonder how we wandered for so long, so blind *
* The wasted world we thought we knew *
* The light will make it look brand-new *
all: * So let it, let it
* Let it, let it *
* Shine!
* Shine
* Shine!
* Day after day
* We'll find the will to find our way *
* Knowing that the darkest skies *
* Will someday see the sun
- * When our long night is done *
* There will be light
- * There will be light, there will be light *
all: * There will be light
* When we open up our lives
* Sons and daughters, husbands, wives *
* Can fight that fight
* There will be
* Light
* There will be light
* There will be
* Light
[cheers and applause]
[jaunty piano music]
*
- * When you're an Addams, you need to have *
* A little moonlight
* When you're an Addams
* You need to feel a little chill *
* You have to see the world
* In shades of gray
* You have to put some poison in your day *
- * That's the way when you're an Addams *
- * You need to have a sense of humor *
- * Ha ha ha ha, when you're an Addams *
* You need to have a taste for death *
both: * Who cares about the world outside *
* And what it wants from you
* When you're an Addams
* You do what Addams always do *
all: * When you're an Addams
- * You gotta have a lot of passion *
all: * When you're an Addams
- * You need to really love your wife *
- * At least once a day
all: * You're happy when your toes are in the mud *
* You smile a bit the moment you smell blood *
[both howling]
* When you're an Addams
- * You need to grab a bow and arrow *
all: * When you're an Addams
- * You need a moment to explode *
- * Just pour a potion - * Flip the switch
- * And wait till things get hot *
all: * When you're an Addams, you have to really *
* Stir the pot
* When you're an Addams, you have a very special duty *
* When you're an Addams
* You're obligated to the clan *
* It's family first and family last *
* And family by and by
* When you're an Addams
* The standard answers don't apply *
* When you're an Addams
* You do what Addams do or die *
*
[cheers and applause]
[soft piano music]
*
- * Standing in this room
* Well, I wonder what comes now *
* I know I have to help her, but hell if I know how *
* And all the times that I've been told *
* The way her illness goes
* The truth of it is no one really knows *
* And I've never been, day the act *
* Gets more and more absurd
* And all my fears just sit inside me *
* Screaming to be heard
* I know they won't, though
* Not a single word
*
* I've been here for the show
* Every high, every low *
* But it's the worst we've ever known *
* She's been hurt and how
* But I can't give up now
* 'Cause I've never been alone *
* I could never be
* Alone
*
[cheers and applause] [quick, heavy piano music]
- * Do you wake up in the morning *
* And need help to lift your head? *
* Do you read obituaries and feel jealous of the dead? *
* It's like living on a cliff side *
* Not knowing when you'll dive *
* Do you know, do you know *
* What it's like to die alive? *
* When a world that once had color *
* Fades to white and gray and black *
* When tomorrow terrifies you
* But you'll die if you look back *
* You don't know
* The sensation that you're screaming *
* But you never make a sound
* Or the feeling that you're falling *
* But you never hit the ground *
* It just keeps on rushing at you *
* Day by day by day by day
* You don't know, you don't know *
* What it's like to live that way *
* Like a refugee, a fugitive forever on the run *
* If it gets me, it will kill me *
* But I don't know what I've done *
[cheers and applause]
- You know your problem, kid?
You ain't got no philosophy.
[soft piano music]
* There's an old Australian bush song *
* That Melba used to sing
* A song that always cheered me *
* When I was blue
* Even Melba said
* This bush song
* Was a helluva song to sing
* So be quiet
* Whilst I render it for you
* When your instinct tells you that disaster *
* Is approaching you faster and faster *
* Then be like the bluebird
* And sing tweet tweet, tra-la, la la, la la *
* Be like the bluebird, who never is blue *
* For he knows from his upbringing *
* What singing can do
* And though by other birdies in the boughs he *
* May be told that his efforts *
* Are perfectly lousy
* He sings on and on till his troubles are through *
* Tweet, tweet, tra-la, la la, la la *
*
[cheers and applause]
- * It ends with you
* It ends with me
* It ends the way a story's ending is supposed to be *
When I first listened to it, I was like,
"I need to do this song."
'Cause it's just so emotional,
it's so driven by the plot.
And the message is just so beautiful.
* It ends with faith
* It ends with love
Everything in your life coming to a close,
wrapping it up in a pretty bow,
but revisiting everything that you've experienced
in the last moments of your life.
* I know I wasn't perfect
* I know my life was small
* I know that I pretended that I knew it all *
* But when you tell my story
* And I hope somebody does
* Remember me as something
* Bigger than I was
* It ends with
* Sons
* It ends with wives
* It ends with knowing when the pavement bends *
* We find our lives
* So let it come and let me go *
* Show me the waves
* And let them flow
* It all ends well
* This much I know
[cheers and applause]
Jumping into this whole rehearsal process
was kind of scary to begin with, but I'm so thankful
for the people in my medley because they're so kind
and genuine and talented,
and I appreciate them all so much.
all: * So you can keep your fiddle and your bow *
* Give me a P-I-A-N-O oh oh *
- * I love to stop right beside an upright *
- * Or a high-toned baby grand *
[shoes tapping]
[tapping]
all: * I love a piano
* I love a piano
* I love to hear somebody play *
* Upon a piano, a grand piano, it simply *
* Carries me away
* I know a
* Fine way to treat a Steinway *
* I love to run
* My fingers o'er the keys, the ivories *
* And with the peddle I love to meddle *
* Not only music from Broadway *
* I'm so delighted if I'm invited *
* To hear a long-haired genius play *
* So you can keep your fiddle and your bow *
* Give me a P-I-A-N-O oh oh *
* I love to stop right beside an upright *
* Or a high-toned baby grand
[shoes tapping]
*
[shoes tapping]
*
[shoes tapping]
*
[shoes tapping]
*
[cheers and applause]
[soft piano music]
*
- * With time rushing by
* What would you do?
* With the clock running down
* What would you do?
* The young always have the cure *
* Being brave
* Being sure and free *
* But imagine
* If you were me
* Grown old like me
* With neither the will nor wish to run *
* Grown tired like me
* Who hurries for bed when day is done *
* Grown wise like me
* Who isn't at war with anyone *
* Not anyone
[cheers and applause]
*
- * There's darkness in me
* As deep as this valley
* And things that I've done I cannot repay *
* The days I regret are too many for countin' *
* And sins river water
* Cannot wash away
* But if you can turn this whole valley to golden *
* And burn till the colors of paradise shine *
* Then maybe your bright morning light can discover *
* A diamond of hope in this dark heart of mine *
* Morning light
* Shine on me
* Shine
* Find a diamond of hope
* In this dark heart of mine
[cheers and applause]
[lively piano music]
- * I can't see the reason it can't be *
* The kind of world where we all get our chance *
* Oh no
* The time is now and we can show them how *
* Just turn the music up and let's all dance, yeah *
* Now all things are equal when it comes to love *
* But that ain't quite true
* 'Cause when push comes to shove *
* The blacker the berry
* The sweeter the juice
* I could say it ain't so
* But darling, what's the use?
* Darker the chocolate, the richer the taste *
* And that's where it's at
* Now run and tell that
* Oh yeah, run and tell that
* Hey, hey, here we go
* Run and tell that
* Run and tell
* That
[cheers and applause]
- It's really cool to see
the older kids in the community and the school
helping out the younger kids,
'cause there's, like, junior high students
or sixth-graders who are in the show.
And they may not have big parts, but they're in
those big group numbers like "Super Cal."
They're all part of that.
So it's a whole group effort
where everyone always tries to help each other out.
And you have to be patient a lot of times,
and repeating things multiple times,
but it's really-- it bears great fruit
because you're working together and
producing something that's fantastic.
- * When trying to express oneself *
* It's frankly quite absurd
* To leap through lengthy lexicons *
* To find the perfect word
* A little spontaneity
* Keeps conversation keen
* You need to find a way to say precisely what *
* You mean
* Supercalifragilistic expialidocious *
* Even though the sound of it *
* Is something quite atrocious *
* If you say it loud enough
* You'll always sound precocious *
all: * Supercalifragilistic expialidocious *
* Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle aye *
- You know, you can say it backwards,
which is suoicodilaipxe citsiligarfilacrepus.
- She may be tricky, but she's bloody good!
- * So when the cat has got your tongue *
* There's no need for dismay
* Just summon up this word
* And then you've got a lot to say *
- * Pick out those 18 consonants *
* And 16 vowels as well
* And put them in an order which *
* Is very hard to spell
- * S-U-P-E-R
* C-A-L-I-F
* R-A-G-I-L
* I-S-T-I-C-E
* X-P-I-A-L-I-D
- * O-C-I-O-U-S!
- Smarty pants!
all: * S-U-P-E-R
* C-A-L-I-F
* R-A-G-I-L
* I-S-T-I-C-E-X-P
* I-A-L-I-D
* O-C-I-O-U-S
* S-U-P-E-R
* C-A-L-I-F
* R-A-G-I-L
* I-S-T-I-C
* X-P-I-A-L-I-D
* O-C-I-O-U-S
- Here we go!
all: * Supercalifragilistic expialidocious *
* Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious *
* If you say it loud enough
* You'll always sound precocious *
* Supercalifragilistic
* Expialidocious
* Supercalifragilistic expialidocious *
[cheers and applause]
- * Last night I was so nasty *
* Well, he deserved it, but even so *
* That George is not like this George *
* This is a new George
* That I don't know
* Somehow it all reminds me *
* Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
* For right before my eyes a man that I despise *
* Has turned into a man I like *
* It's almost like a dream and strange as it may seem *
* He came to offer me
* Vanilla
* La [singing operatically]
* Ice
* Cream
[cheers and applause]
- * There's a somebody I'm longing to see *
* I hope that he
* Turns out to be
* Someone
* To watch over me
* Won't you tell him please
* To put on some speed
* Follow my lead
* Oh how I need
* Someone to watch
* Over me
* Someone to watch
* Over me
*
[cheers and applause]
[lively piano music]
*
- * Me
* Who am I?
* A far from perfect guy
* A bum who wants to do what's right *
* But often does what's wrong
* A kid whose voice is way off-key *
* But loves to sing a song
* A guy who dreams like a lion but wakes up like a lamb *
* Me, who am I but the guy I am *
* That's who'm I
* Who am I?
* A far from perfect guy
* A jerk who wants to do what's right *
* But often does what's wrong
* A drip whose voice is way off-key *
* But loves to sing a song
* A dope who dreams like a lion *
* But wakes up like a lamb
* Me, who am I but the guy I am *
* That's who'm I
[cheers and applause]
[light piano music]
- I can see that you got quite a mind for your age.
Why, one think, and you're dragging me
right onto the stage!
Now I'm here, there's no telling
0
with a cat such as me and a thinker like you.
* Oh, the thinks you can think *
* If you're willing to try
* Think invisible ink, or a gink with a stink *
* Or a stair to the sky
* If you open your mind, oh the thinks you will find! *
* Lining up to get loose!
* Oh, the thinks you can think *
* When you think about
all: * Seuss!
* Seuss! Seuss!
* Seuss, Seuss, Seuss, Seuss
* Seuss!
* Oh, the thinks you can think *
* Any thinker who thinks
* Can come up with a few
* Oh, the thinks you can think *
* Think a trip on a ship
* To the Vipper of Vipp
* Or to Solla Sollew
* Think of beautiful Schlopp
- With a cherry on top!
all: * You don't need an excuse *
* Oh, the thinks you can think *
* When you think about Seuss, Seuss *
* Seuss, Seuss, Seuss
*
* Think of nobody here, and the feeling of fear *
* And the darkness of night, ooh ooh ooh *
* All alone in your room as you're facing your doom *
* Think a glimmer of light, ah-ah *
- * But I hope you're prepared to be scareder than scared *
all: * 'Cause this ain't Mother Goose *
- * Danger's right on the brink *
all: * When you think about Seuss *
* Seuss, Seuss, Seuss, Seuss
* Seuss, Seuss, Seuss
* Oh, the thinks you can think *
* Think and wonder and dream
* Far and wide as you dare
- * Oh, the thinks you can think *
all: * When your thinks have run dry *
* In the blink of an eye
* There's another think there
* If you open your mind
* Oh, the thinks you will find *
* Lining up to get loose
* Oh, the thinks you can think *
* Oh, the thinks you can *
* Think, oh, the thinks you can think *
* When you think about Seuss
* Seuss, Seuss [audience cheering]
* Seuss, Seuss, Seuss
* Seuss, Seuss
* Seuss, Seuss, Seuss
* Seuss!
[cheers and applause]
- This is our seventh year
of participating in the National High School
Musical Theatre Awards, or the Jimmy Awards.
There are 40 programs from across the country
who send one female and one male representative.
- We are there for a week,
and we work on group numbers, and we do medleys
like they do here at the Jerry Awards.
- And they put on a show in a week,
and at the end of that week,
the judges who came to see the rehearsals
and the show determine
a winner, a male and female, who receive a scholarship.
- To be eligible for our program,
you had to be one of our leading performers,
and tonight we gave out 57 of those awards.
On Memorial Day, we had a special audition
with 25 of them.
- Being able to go and perform
in New York on a Broadway stage, it's...
a dream come true.
It's really something I'm looking forward to.
* Well, I'm not in a tower
* And I'm not locked away
* And no magic spell could have forced me to stay *
* I'm still keeping hope
* That she'll come around
* And she'll understand
* I need out of this town
* I'll see outside a world
* So this small town can see
* That I dare to imagine a world bigger than me *
* And if I close my eyes and I shut them real tight *
* And I make a wish with all of my might *
* I wish one day she'll see this is part of a plan *
* Just the start of a dream
* A dream I've always had
* And if I close my eyes
* And I shut them real tight
* And I make a wish with all of my might *
* I wish one day she'll see this is part of the plan *
* Just the start of a dream
* And this is all that I dream *
* All of my dream
* Well, I wish
* And I wish
*
* Yes, I wish
*
[cheers and applause]
- I did this last year, and just going to
New York and sort of getting a taste of
working in a Broadway atmosphere,
and a lot of hard work, constantly going.
It was really interesting. It was helpful.
Because of that, I was
asked to audition for "Dear Evan Hansen," which is crazy.
I never would have thought that would have happened.
* Somebody need me too much
* Somebody know me too well
* Somebody pull me up short
* And put me through hell
* And give me support for being alive *
* Make me alive
* Make me confused
* Mock me with praise
* Let me be used
* Vary my days
* But alone
* Is alone
* Not alive
*
* Somebody crowd me with love
* Somebody force me to care
* Somebody make me
* Come through
* I'll always be there
* As frightened as you
* To help us survive
* Being alive
*
[cheers and applause]
- When it comes to the Jerrys, you're seeing
all these different kids from all these different
walks of life and different places.
- These people are truly just amazing performers.
They just blow me away.
- Schools involved in the Jerry Awards
are getting better and better and better.
- I see them walking through these corridors
talking and building friendships.
- It's so fun being able to
be with other people that love musicals
just as much as you do.
- It's just like a whole new world opens.
- You meet people that you would never talk to.
- I wish they had this when I was a kid.
- Everybody is cheering each other on.
- It's just how welcoming everyone is, and how friendly
and how excited they are to be here.
- I see it, as, like, a blessing, because, you know,
I've never had this opportunity before.
all: * But they'll never get to be part of the family *
* That we have made
- * 'Cause a geek's got style
- * And geeks got pride
- * A geek steps out in the open *
both: * She's got nothing to hide *
- * No, I'm not afraid
* Of what anyone says at school *
- * The more I see the geek in me *
* The more I think I'm cool
all: * More I think I'm, more I think I'm cool *
* Whoo!
*
* Whoo!
* Hey! Whoa! *
* Whoo! Whoo! *
*
- * Embrace your inner geek, no you won't seem weak *
* It'll make you stronger
both: * The only real weakness
* Is hiding your geek-ness for any longer *
all: * Embrace your inner geek
* C'mon, let it speak, it's the freak inside you *
* Who cares what others like?
* If it's what you like you should let it guide you *
* Don't try to keep it
* At bay
* Deep down you're a geek
* You're a geek * You're a geek
* Deep down you're a geek anyway *
* Ba ba ba ba ba ba
* Ba ba doo doo doo doo doo *
* Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
* Doo doo doo doo doo
* Doo doo doo doo doo! *
* Dow!
[cheers and applause]
- Our supporting and our leads
tonight in their finale number!
You were a great audience.
Take a bow, everybody.
[cheers and applause]
- This 2018 Jerry Awards broadcast
was funded in part by
Julie and Larry Midtbo,
A. Paul Jones Charitable Trust,
Mary Ellen and Joe Sensenbrenner,
Thomas Terry,
The Focus Fund for Young Performers,
and Friends of Wisconsin Public Television.