Public and private high schools in all Kentucky counties and in the following Indiana counties: Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, and Washington. Only students enrolled in 9th through 12th grade at participating high schools are eligible to be considered for individual awards (i.e. Best Actor/Best Actress). Theatre programs of all budget sizes are encouraged to consider participation; The KPA Bradley Awards will seek to meet schools “where they are” and celebrate their achievements in context of their resources.
Based on capacity, KPA may need to limit the number of schools that participate in The KPA Bradley Awards; not all schools that are interested in participating are guaranteed a spot in the program.
Schools would be required to select a musical that fully complies with The Jimmy Awards’ criteria for qualified musical and roles. CLICK HERE to review this information (scroll to the bottom for links to comprehensive lists).
The KPA Bradley Awards would send a team of three adjudicators to each participating high school to view a performance of their musical. Adjudicators for The KPA Bradley Awards are qualified performing arts educators, professionals, and experts from throughout the awards region. In addition to considering the production, cast, and crew for award categories at The KPA Bradley Awards final ceremony in late May/early June 2025, the adjudicators provide constructive feedback to educators and students with a goal of celebrating their achievements and supporting students’ continued artistic growth.
All participating schools attend The KPA Bradley Awards final ceremony, which takes place in the 2,400 seat Whitney Hall in The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, located in Louisville, KY. Some schools are selected to perform an ensemble piece from their musical during the ceremony.
Based on feedback from adjudicators, schools and students would be nominated in various categories (similar to the Tony Awards®). Winners are announced for each category during the ceremony. Potential categories for The KPA Bradley Awards include:
• Outstanding Dance Performance
• Outstanding Ensemble Performance
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role*
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role*
• Best Actor in a Leading Role*
• Best Actress in a Leading Role*
• Categories acknowledging outstanding students in technical, production, design, and behind-the-scenes roles.
• A category acknowledging a school’s outstanding commitment to creating community impact through their performance/production (i.e. fundraising for a charity, raising awareness of an important issue, etc.)
• A category acknowledging the outstanding contributions of an adult and/or educator to a school’s production/theater program.
• Recognition of student arts reporters
*Students are adjudicated in the category corresponding to their gender identification, not the gender of the role that they play. Students identifying as non-binary or gender-fluid may choose to either select the category in which they wish to be adjudicated (regardless of the gender of the role) or they may be adjudicated based on the gender of the role they play.
The winners in the Best Actor/Actress categories receive an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to participate in the national Jimmy Awards (which includes a week of masterclasses, as well as the awards ceremony where they will be considered alongside other young artists from across the country).
TIMELINE OVERVIEW
(dates are tentative and subject to change)
September 2024: Overall program guidelines announced; schools apply to participate in the 2025 KPA Bradley Awards.
October 2024: Schools selected; orientation for participating schools.
January - May 2025: Adjudicators attend each participating school’s musicals; written feedback provided later in season.
Early May 2025: Nominees announced for each category in The KPA Bradley Awards.
Late May/Early June 2025: The Bradley Awards ceremony in Louisville, KY at The Kentucky Center’s Whitney Hall. Featuring performances by schools nominated for Best Overall Production, and each nominee for Best Actor/Actress. Award winners in all categories announced.
Late June 2025: The winners in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories participate in The Jimmy Awards in New York City.
The KPA Bradley Awards believes every young artist has value and potential, and every participating student and educator should contribute to an environment that is empowering, educational, exciting, and welcoming to all. While there is a competitive element to any awards ceremony, all participants should be treated with dignity and respect, and in turn should treat others with dignity and respect. The Bradley Awards seeks to build community amongst our region’s high school theatre programs, all of which are worthy of celebration for the value they bring to our youth and our communities.
There will be more information about The KPA Bradley Awards in the coming months. Please monitor our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
If you are an educator interested in learning more about how your school might participate in The KPA Bradley Awards, please CLICK HERE to fill out a short survey. The responses will help inform the structure of the Awards.
