O’Fallon grad is competing in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards

Ready to embrace the life-changing moments that the arts can provide, Gage Williams took off Sunday, June 18 for New York City, eager to participate in the 14th annual Jimmy Awards, a one-night-only talent showcase on Broadway June 26.

Formally known as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, Williams earned the honor by being named Outstanding Lead Actor at the sixth annual St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards on May 26.

His performance as the Beast in O’Fallon Township High School’s spring musical, “Disney’s The Beauty and the Beast,” wowed the judges and the 2,500 in the audience at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis.

“I’m really excited. I was surprised to be nominated, let alone winning the St. Louis award, and this is really surreal. It was a dream. To perform on the stage where I saw ‘Wicked’ and ‘Les Miz,’ that was just crazy,” he said. (To help calm his nerves, he said he ran up the large opulent staircase four times).

He is among the 106 national finalists taking part in a week-long intensive before the live competition on Monday at the Minskoff Theatre, presented by the Broadway League Foundation. The live event is sold-out, but people will be able to access a streaming link online. Singer-actor Corbin Bleu is the host.

The actor and actress winners received an all-expenses-paid trip to NYC and participate in a week-long professional development experience with coaching by industry professionals and rehearsals from June 19 to 26.

“We’re going to be going from 8:30 in the morning to 8:30 at night. We’re going to be staying on the Juilliard campus. One night, we’re going to see ‘MJ – The Michael Jackson Musical’ and eat at Sardi’s. It’s going to be an incredible experience,” he said.

Williams is only the second student from OTHS and the third in the metro-east to compete in the Jimmys. OTHS alumnus Meadow Nguy represented Illinois in 2012 and Michael Harp of Swansea, who attended Althoff Catholic High School, won the St. Louis outstanding actor award in 2019.

OTHS’s musical also took home the Outstanding Musical Level 2 Award, and Will Kinsella was named Outstanding Supporting Actor for playing Lumiere. Other nominations include Eve Knipp, director; Heidi Buch, musical direction; Sadie Reimer, choreography; and OTHS for ensemble and technical execution.

Knipp said Gage was a wonderful addition to their program.

“We were lucky to have him these last two years. He is quite talented and I look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in years to come,” she said.

Williams said he is excited about the road ahead, but still can’t believe what’s happened during the past two years, his journey after he moved to O’Fallon between his sophomore and junior year in high school. He and his family had been living in Florida when his father was assigned to Scott Air Force Base during the pandemic.

It was a rocky transition, he said, but he found a home in OTHS’s performing arts programs, and that is where he thrived, soaking up what he could from mentors and the faculty.

“It was during the worst of COVID, and it was hard to meet new people. But through OTHS, I’ve met a lot of really good people,” Williams said.

The last two years taught him that “I can actually do this,” and his family has been supportive as well.

“I like theater for the community it builds, and everyone wants to see you succeed. It’s a safe space. If you are having a bad day, you can get a hug from someone. It’s a positive, friendly environment,” he said.

He is headed to Ithaca College in New York this fall, one of the best performing arts schools in the country. He plans to major in musical theater.

“I’m really grateful for all the support I received at OTHS. I am going to miss them a lot, and we’re going to keep in touch. It’s been such a very positive experience,” he said.

His family moved back to Florida just last week, after his father retired from the Air Force, but will be grateful for how welcome they felt in O’Fallon, he said.

The St. Louis awards are produced by the Fox Theatre, The Muny and The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, and celebrate achievements in musical theatre. A year-long adjudication process culminates in an awards ceremony modeled on the Tony Awards.

The St. Louis awards are part of a national program that impacts more than 140,000 students who compete annually. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, more than $5 million in educational scholarships have been given out since the awards program began in 2009.

Regarding the competition, Williams said he expects to grow as a performer.

“There are going to be people better than me, and I am going to learn from them. Whatever happens, happens. It’s awesome to be able to be around all these talented people and you will get better, and from being around them you can take what you can,” he said.

For more information, visit www.JimmyAwards.com. Their Facebook page is being updated with rehearsal photos daily.