Highland’s Mia Salas First-Ever KHSD Student Selected for Jimmy Awards

Highland High School student Mia Salas is making history as the first-ever Kern High School District student selected to compete in the prestigious Jimmy Awards, widely regarded as the nation’s highest honor for high school musical theater performers.

Known formally as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Jimmy Awards have been described by The New York Times as “the Tonys for teenagers.” Highland High School theatre instructor Justin Thompson offered his own comparison.

“It’s the Super Bowl of high school musical theater,” he said.

Each year, the competition brings together the country’s top student performers for an intensive 10-day experience in New York City. This week, Salas will train alongside some of Broadway’s leading performers, directors, choreographers and casting professionals while participating in coaching sessions, rehearsals, adjudications and showcase performances.

The program culminates June 22 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre, where nominees from across the country will take the stage for the nationally recognized awards ceremony.

Alumni of the program include Broadway stars Reneé Rapp, Andrew Barth Feldman, Eva Noblezada and many others.

Salas, who recently completed her junior year, spent her earlier school years in choir before joining Highland’s theater program as a freshman. She earned the Jimmy Awards invitation after winning Best Lead Actress at the Rita Moreno Awards held last month in San Jose for her portrayal of Eurydice in Highland’s production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”

“It was quite crazy, getting to hear your name,” Salas said. “It didn’t feel real. I actually did not think it was possible.”

As rehearsals for “Hadestown: Teen Edition” progressed under Thompson’s direction, cast and crew members realized they were creating something special. Thompson credited the students’ commitment and daily work ethic for elevating the production, while choreographer Mika Vargas said the cast possessed an exceptional level of natural talent.

“It’s my 10th year teaching, and I had the most perfect cast,” Thompson said. “I don’t think I could have done this show any other year.”

Members of the Highland High School cast perform a scene from “Hadestown: Teen Edition” at Wesley Anderson Hall.

Salas was joined at the Rita Moreno Awards by fellow Highland student Adam Johnston, a freshman, who portrayed one of the Fates in “Hadestown.” Johnston said theater has provided a supportive environment throughout his high school experience.

“There’s just so much support that comes with theater, and I can really be myself around everybody and my classmates,” Johnston said.

The timing of Highland’s production was significant given “Hadestown’s” continued prominence in American theater.

Since opening on Broadway in 2019, the Tony Award-winning musical has remained one of the industry’s most celebrated contemporary productions. The national tour recently stopped in Bakersfield for a one-night performance at Dignity Health Theater, followed two weeks later by Highland’s production, which even welcomed touring cast member Nickolaus Colón, who played Hades, to one of its performances.

The significance of Salas’ journey to the Jimmy Awards is heightened by an extraordinary full-circle connection between “Hadestown” and the Jimmy Awards themselves. 

Salas earned her invitation to New York City for her portrayal of Eurydice, the musical’s tragic heroine. In 2013, Broadway star Eva Noblezada was a Jimmy Awards finalist whose performance caught the attention of industry agents and helped launch her Broadway career. Noblezada originated the role of Eurydice in “Hadestown” on Broadway in 2018, becoming synonymous with the character. Salas is following a remarkably similar path: portraying Eurydice in a high school production and advancing to the same national competition that helped propel Noblezada to stardom.

“Mia is a generational talent,” Thompson said. “I know she will be on Broadway herself one day.”

Salas and Johnston perform in Highland High School’s production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”

Mia Salas in a scene from “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”

Students, including Mia Salas (third right) and Adam Johnston (right), perform as Eurydice and the Fates.

The chorus, known as “The Workers,” perform with lights.

Highland High School students perform in “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”