GUIDELINES
The Kelli O’Hara Awards were created by OKC Broadway to celebrate outstanding achievement in Oklahoma high school musical theatre. The program highlights the exceptional students and teachers who devote their time and passion to making a home in their schools for the performing arts.
OKC Broadway is a regional provider of The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (AKA “The Jimmys”), a program that unites high school musical theatre awards programs from around the country. The awardees of the Kelli O’Hara Awards for Best Actress and Actor will participate in The National High School Theatre Awards, where they will receive professional training and compete with other students from dozens of other regional programs as they make their Broadway debut.
Awards are given in the following categories: Outstanding Actor and Actress, Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Ensemble, Stagecraft, and Student Reporting. Spotlight Awards are also given to students from each participating school who are in non-qualifying roles, but adjudicators felt had an outstanding performance.
SCHOOL & INTENT TO PARTICIPATE
Schools must complete an Intent to Participate form before students may apply for individual awards. Schools wishing to participate in educational opportunities, adjudication, or individual student awards must submit their completed Intent to Participate form by October 1, 2026. Schools that do not meet this deadline will not be eligible to participate in these program opportunities for the 2026–2027 season.
Once your form has been received, you will receive an email from the program manager.
If you have questions regarding your eligibility, notify the awards coordinator via kelliawards@okcbrodway.com.
NON-APPLICATION AWARDS
Qualifying Kelli O'Hara Award participants are placed into the appropriate consideration groups and evaluated according to the following award's criteria.
Spotlight Award
Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble
Dance Captain*
Rising Star*
*Both awards are determined from the pool of students participating in the Kelli O'Hara Awards ensemble.
ELIGIBILITY
The Kelli O’Hara Awards program is open to public and private high schools producing elligable productions* in Central and Western Oklahoma. To verify if your school is within our region, view our region list. Only shows and roles found on the National High School Musical Theatre Awards qualified roles/production list can apply for the competitive track of The Kelli O'Hara Awards. The list of qualifying productions and roles can be found on the National Awards website.
Schools producing inelligable productions can apply for the non-performance track of The Kelli O'Hara Awards.
TIMELINE
Those seeking to participate in the Kelli O'Hara Awards should mark their calendars for the following dates. Additional dates will be added as more information becomes available.
September 1, 2026
Intent to Participate & Individual Applications open
October 1, 2026
All schools intending to participate must complete an Intent to Participate by the stated deadline
December 31, 2026
Applications close for Stagecraft Award of Excellence and Student Reporter Award
January 2027
Recipients selected for Kelli O'Hara Student Reporter Award and Stagecraft Award of Excellence
April 30, 2027
All school performances must close by this date
Early May 2027
Applicants informed of finalist status.
May 23 thru 28*
Kellis Week and Kelli O'Hara Awards
*Students participating as an Outstanding Performer finalist, Kellis ensemble, Stagecraft nominee or Student Reporter are required to be available on these dates
Early June 2027**
Jimmy's Week and The Jimmy Awards
**Students competing at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in NYC must be available on these dates
Rules, regulations and timelines subject to change at any time. KOHA staff will do their best to notify of any important changes as they occur.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR/ACTRESS
Students wishing to be considered for the Outstanding Actress or Actor award, must submit their application separately from the school application.
Eligibility Requirements:
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Nominees must be currently enrolled in high school grades 9-12, in the Kelli O'Hara Awards region.
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Nominees must be performing in a qualifying show and appearing as a qualifying role, as noted by the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. For more information on qualifying roles and shows visit here.
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Nominee should be available for the following dates.
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5/23/27 - 5/28/27 -- Kellis Week & Kelli O'Hara Awards ceremony
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Early June -- NHSMTA Week ("The Jimmys")
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Dates for The Jimmys have not yet been announced. The 2 students selected to represent the Kelli O'Hara Awards for Outstanding Actress and Actor will participate in the National High School Theatre Awards, where they will receive professional training and compete with winners from dozens of other regional programs to a national audience.
Note: The Kelli O'Hara Awards currently does not require COVID-19 vaccinations, however it may become a future requirement for participation.
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
This award recognizes the highest-scoring NHSMTA approved musical theatre productions in each school classification—6A, 5A, and 4A. Adjudicators evaluate each production based on overall artistic excellence, including performance, storytelling, musicality, staging, and production elements. The top two scoring schools in each classification are selected to perform at the awards ceremony and be recognized for their outstanding achievement.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE
These awards recognize the schools that received the highest scores in the Ensemble category during adjudication, celebrating the teamwork, chemistry, and overall strength of the cast as a group. Awards are presented across three school classifications: 6A, 5A, and 4A. Unlike Outstanding Musical Performance, schools recognized for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble will not perform at the awards ceremony. Any school selected as a finalist for Outstanding Musical Performance is not eligible for the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble award.
SPOTLIGHT AWARD
This award is presented to one student from each participating production who, while not cast in a role eligible for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, is selected by the adjudicators for a performance that deserves special recognition.
RISING STAR
This award is voted on by the other student performers during “Kellis Week”. This award honors the peer who, in the students’ opinion, embodies the true qualities of a Rising Star: approachable, considerate, professional and consistently uplifting others.
DANCE CAPTAIN
This award helps maintain the artistic integrity of the choreography and supports the cast throughout the rehearsal and performance process. At the beginning of the week, the Kelli Awards team will select one student who demonstrates strong leadership, attention to detail, and the ability to support and encourage their fellow performers.
STAGECRAFT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The Stagecraft Award of Excellence recognizes a student, who, throughout Kelli's week, has worked alongside professionals and other students in the technical field of theatre. The winner of this award is one student who staff felt demonstrated excellence in technical skills, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and professionalism.
A select number of students from schools identified as finalists in the Outstanding Musical Performance (OMP) category will be nominated to participate by their teachers. Additionally, students interested in stagecraft whose school is participating in the Kelli O'Hara Awards competition, but were not identified as finalists in OMP, are invited to apply. Technical staff from the Civic Center Music Hall and OKC Broadway will review applications and invite a select number* of candidates to compete alongside nominated students.
During the Kelli's Week, these students will work alongside Civic Center Music Hall technical staff to assist in producing the Kelli O'Hara Awards Ceremony. Students will learn working stage fundamentals, lightning, sound, and carpentry.
*Total number of students selected will depend upon the backstage and technical needs of the upcoming Kelli O'Hara Awards ceremony.
STUDENT REPORTER AWARD
The Kelli O’Hara program has introduced the Student Reporter Award, designed to engage students who are not participating in their school's productions. This initiative seeks to foster connections with local schools’ journalism, film, and related departments. Two nominees selected by the Kelli O’Hara Awards will gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to document and showcase “The Kellis” during Kelli’s Week on OKC Broadway’s social media channels.
These nominees* will then progress to the next stage of the Jimmy Awards’ Student Reporter Search, with the potential to cover the 2026 Jimmy Awards in New York City. To learn more information about the the Jimmy Awards Student Reporter Search on their website.
*The two students chosen as the Kelli O'Hara Award Student Reporters, will be the nominees submitted to the Jimmy Awards' Student Reporter Search. Being selected for this award does not guarantee you will be covering the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City. For more information, contact Kellis staff at kelliawards@okcbroadway.com
The Kelli O'Hara Awards are a presentation of OKC Broadway and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.
The Awards are Sponsored by Paycom.