DPAC RISING STAR AWARDS
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About
Since 2010, the DPAC Rising Star Awards (Rising Stars) have celebrated outstanding achievements in high school musical theatre made throughout central North Carolina. This program focuses attention on the meaningful work being done both on and off stage by dedicated teachers and students, and is a part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®), also known as the Jimmy Awards® which was named in honor of Jimmy Nederlander Sr. Both Rising Stars and the Jimmy Awards offer incredible exposure to young theatre artists and have the potential to catapult the careers of Broadway's future stars.
School Musical Registration — Open Now
The DPAC Rising Star Awards are now accepting high school musical registrations. To learn more, and to register a musical today, please use this season's handbook linked below.
Application Process
To learn more about each step of the application process, please reference pages 14-23 of this season's handbook.
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Step 1: Register Your Musical — Due by or before December 1, 2026
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Step 2: Prepare for Adjudication — Due two weeks prior to your opening performance.
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Step 3: Wrap Up Your Production — Due two weeks following your closing performance, or by April 18, 2027 (whichever comes first).
Cost
Thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, our volunteer judges, and other important community partnerships and sponsors, the DPAC Rising Star Awards program is free for participating schools and students.
Eligibility
Please reference pages 6-7 of this season's handbook to learn more about eligibility requirements.
To register, your school must be located within the Rising Stars jurisdiction, and your musical must be scheduled within the Rising Stars adjudication window. If you'd like to nominate any student performers, your musical must be listed as "qualified" by the NHSMTA®/Jimmy Awards®.
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Eligible Counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Sampson, Stokes, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, and Wilson.
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Adjudication Window: October 5, 2026 - April 18, 2027.
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NHSMTA®/Jimmy Awards® Approved Shows: can be found online here.
Important Dates for the 2026/2027 Season
Please reference page 10 of this season's handbook for a more detailed overview of important dates this Rising Stars season.
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September 28, 2026 — High School Musical Registration Opens
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October 5, 2026 — Adjudication Window Begins
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December 1, 2026 — High School Musical Registration Closes
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April 18, 2027 — Adjudication Window Closes
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May 18, 2027 — DPAC Rising Star Awards Ceremony
Awards Categories
To learn more about each awards category, please reference pages 11-13 of this season's handbook.
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School Production Awards
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Best Ensemble (Tier 1)
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Best Ensemble (Tier 2)
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Best Musical (Tier 1)
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Best Musical (Tier 2)
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Student Performer Finalist Awards
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Best Actor
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Best Actress
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Best Dancer
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DPAC Shining Star
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Student Tech & Production Awards
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Best Student Costume Design
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Best Student Lighting Design
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Best Student Choreography
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Best Student Set Design
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Best Student Orchestra
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Rising Stars Ensemble Awards
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Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble
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Questions?
Please contact Megan Rindoks, DPAC's Director of Community Engagement, at mrindoks@dpacnc.com with any questions regarding the DPAC Rising Star Awards.
The DPAC Rising Star Awards are made possible by
and by the support of these valuable community partners and sponsors
