The Heller Awards for Young Artists (HAYAs) are moving to TPA, the home of Broadway in Austin, and will become a permanent program beginning in the 2025/2026 season. TPA will hold the Heller Awards ceremony at Bass Concert Hall in the spring of 2026, after 12 successful years at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.
The HAYAs are a highly anticipated annual event that recognizes the outstanding achievements of high school musical theatre students and educators in the Greater Austin area. Founded by the Long Center, TPA, and ZACH Theatre, the program has been produced and presented by the Long Center since 2014. Starting with 19 schools participating in the first annual ceremony, then known affectionately as the Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards (GAHSMTA), the program has expanded to now feature 37 schools and counting. Ginger Morris, Executive Artistic Director of Impact Arts, has served as the Producing Director of the program since its inception.
Modeled after the Tony Awards®, the HAYAs honor the entire high school musical experience, on and off the stage. Awards are presented in 19 categories such as best production, lead and supporting performers, and technical design. Through TPA’s connection with the Broadway League, the winners of lead actor and actress at the HAYAs go on to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards. These students join top students from other U.S. regional programs to perform on the Broadway stage in New York City and participate in a week-long training intensive with notable theatre professionals.
The 2025 HAYA awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 16 at the Long Center. For more information about the 2025 HAYA Ceremony, please visit The Long Center for the Performing Arts.
Support for the Heller Awards for Young Artists at Texas Performing Arts is provided by the Heller Awards for Young Artists Endowment and HAYA Executive Producers Andrew & Mary Ann Heller, Bettye Nowlin, and Marc & Carolyn Seriff.
Support for Austin’s participation in the Jimmy Awards is provided by Andrew & Mary Ann Heller, Mila McCutchen, Marcia & Gary Nelson, Bettye Nowlin, and Marc & Carolyn Seriff.