Adlai E. Stevenson High School sophomore Jonah Rawitz of Buffalo Grove was named best actor at the 6th Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York on Monday night.
Called the Jimmy Awards, the event brings together high school musical theater students from across the country to learn from industry professionals and compete for prize money meant to further their education. As one of two winners — best actress went to Jai’Len Josey of Georgia — Rawitz received a hefty check for $10,000.
In Illinois, Rawitz performed the title song from the musical “In The Heights.” His solo number in New York was “If I Didn’t Believe In You” from “The Last Five Years.”
Rawitz and fellow Illinois competitor Julia Lindsey Whitcomb won the top prizes at the Illinois Musical Theater Awards in May and advanced to this national competition.
![Ashley Neal in "Spaceman" by the new Chicago theater company [producingbody] at The Edge Off-Broadway. (Alex Albrecht)](https://bancodeprofissionais.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CTC-L-ENT-SPACEMAN-03.jpg?w=525 "CTC-L-ENT-SPACEMAN-03")
