For the second consecutive year, Bellarmine Theatre Arts will be represented at The Jimmy Awards in New York City.
Santa Clara High School student Venice Ella Mayor is a Jimmy Award nominee as recipient of the coveted regional Rita Moreno Award for Best Lead Actress for her performance as Phoebe in Bellarmine’s production of A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder.
Last year, Kavan Bhatia ’25 won a Rita Moreno Award for his performance in Bellarmine’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, thus also earning him a trip to the Jimmies in 2023.
“This is a HUGE deal,” notes Russ Marcel ’91, Bellarmine instructor and theatre artistic director. “Bellarmine Theatre has sent a student to the Jimmies two years in a row. Equally impressive is that Venice won Supporting Performer for The Wedding Singer last year. I don’t think there’s ever been a back-to-back Rita Moreno Award winner.”
Mr. Marcel reports that during her time in New York City, Venice has auditioned, workshopped, rehearsed, met Broadway professionals, and attended the recent Tony Awards. She is joined by 2024 Rita Moreno Award winner for Best Actor Mitchell Henderson, who won for his performance as Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
The Jimmy Awards highlight the best of high school musical theatre talent and features approximately 100 nominees from all over the United States. Hosted by Josh Groban, the 2024 Jimmy Awards will stream for free beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) on Monday, June 24 via Facebook and YouTube. The ceremony will remain available online for three days afterwards, through the evening of June 27.