DA Theatre Triumphs at Applause Awards, Sends Two to Jimmy's in NYC

The Douglas Anderson Theatre Department walked away with 38 total awards at the Applause Awards held on June 1st in Orlando. DA Theatre students Emma Cate Davis and George Eastman were selected as the overall winners. Brennan Mitchell was male runner-up and Arianna Flores placed in the Top 8.

Scholarship winners from DA were: DJ DeJesus, Micah Webster-Bass, Nick Benwick and Olivia DeMaio.

Both of DA's musicals from the 2023-24 school year, Natasha , Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and Once On This Island, won for Outstanding Musical.

With their Applause Award wins, Emma Cate and George advanced to the Jimmy Awards in New York City. They placed in the top 40 among the top high school performers from around the country, making their Broadway debut on the Minskoff Theatre stage.

What are the Applause Awards?

A panel of 18 statewide casting agents, show producers, and industry professionals select nearly 300 students from 34 high schools and 10 counties to participate in the Applause Awards, held at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando in early June. The night features live performances of winners in the Outstanding Musical category and culminates in the announcement of who will represent the Dr. Phillips Center in New York City at the Jimmy Awards.

Modeled after the Tony Awards®, the Applause Awards is directed by Broadway veteran Ray Roderick and hosted by award winning Broadway performer and Central Florida local, Michael James Scott. Thousands of dollars in scholarships were awarded to college-bound seniors. Two overall winners advanced to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, known as The Jimmy Awards®, for an opportunity of a lifetime to compete among the next generation of Broadway stars in New York City.