Rules and Guidelines here
Online Application Form here
Information for Judges here
In 2002, MTW launched a program called the Jester Awards, 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 Jester Award program recognizes the extraordinary amount of work, creativity,
and devotion that faculty and students pour into their high school theatrical productions.
We intend to celebrate the entire art of musical theatre: casts and crews, directors
and designers and the great musical theatre works that inspire such devotion.
Although there must be some limitations in the number of schools and their distance
from Wichita, we are making every effort to be as inclusive as possible within practical
constraints of schools and Music Theatre.
The program has grown exponentially each year since its inception, and took a huge leap into national prominence in 2009 with the launching of the National High School Musical Theater Awards (The Jimmys), honoring young performers from all across the United States.
Jester Award recipients, Sam Leake (Sterling H.S.) and 2009 Outstanding Actress Winner Jenny Wine (Wichita East H.S.),
with Music Theatre of Wichita Producing Artistic Director, Wayne Bryan. May 22, 2009 Photo by Jerry Fritchman
Jenny Wine took top honors as Outstanding Actress, singing Fantine's "I Dreamed a Dream" from LES MISERABLES (a role she understudied in 2007 at Music Theatre of Wichita).
The Jester Award program recognizes the extraordinary amount of work, creativity, and devotion that faculty and students pour into their high school theatrical productions. We intend to celebrate the entire art of musical theatre: casts and crews, directors and designers and the great musical theatre works that inspire such devotion. Although there must be some limitation of the distance judges must travel to attend, we make every effort to be as inclusive as possible.
Information, including an application form and a list of rules and guidelines, is available by clicking on the links above. We sincerely hope that all eligible schools will participate in the Jester Awards program this year – celebrating students, faculty members, and the performing arts in our community.
To contact us, please call Matt May or Wayne Bryan at 316 265-3253,
Or email us at jesters@mtwichita.org
