Two Seniors to Represent Georgia at National Jimmy Awards in NYC
DALTON, GA – The Dalton High School Players took center stage at the 2025 Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards — known as the Shuler Hensley Awards — earning five major awards, multiple student scholarships, and national recognition in a night that celebrated the best in high school theatre across Georgia.
Held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards, the Shuler Awards recognize outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre. The DHS Players’ production of Hadestown: Teen Edition received 12 nominations, and the cast, crew, and directors certainly delivered.
By the end of the evening, the DHS Players had earned the following awards:
Best Ensemble – Dalton High School Players
Scenic Design – Matthew Sane (DHS Art Teacher) & Alana Sane (DHS Drama Teacher)
Direction – Alana Sane
Leading Actor – Hayden Poe (DHS Senior)
Leading Actress – Kinsley Stephens (DHS Senior)
An especially exciting part of the evening was when seniors Kinsley Stephens and Hayden Poe were named Georgia’s Best Actress and Best Actor. This honor makes them Georgia’s representatives at the 16th Annual Jimmy Awards®, taking place Monday, June 23, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre in New York City. They will join top student performers from over 50 regions across the country for a chance to be recognized on the national stage. This is Poe’s second time earning the Georgia’s Best Actor award.
In addition to the awards, several DHS students earned scholarships during the event:
Ellis Stephens received a film scholarship and will work in a professional studio this summer at the Trilith Institute.
Asa Alexander, Journey Ransom, Olivia Bowen, and Ellis Stephens were each awarded scholarships for voice lessons at Burke Music Academy.
DHS was also well represented across multiple aspects of the ceremony:
Shepherd McKeehan and Audrey Asbell were featured in the STAR Ensemble, which opened and closed the Shuler Awards.
Jay Squires and Soraya McEuen served on the STAR Council, the elite student crew working behind the scenes during the event.
Hope Hambrock made Shuler history as the first-ever student orchestra member, and impressed the organizers so much that she was asked to stay and perform for the entire show.
The DHS Players also performed a dynamic opening number from their production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, captivating the audience and showcasing their extraordinary talent.
“This is a proud moment for our entire school district,” said Dr. Steven Craft, Superintendent of Dalton Public Schools. “We are incredibly proud of our Dalton High School theatre students for their outstanding performance at the Shuler Awards. Their talent, dedication, and passion for the arts are truly inspiring. To be recognized on such a prestigious stage is a testament not only to their hard work, but also to the commitment of our educators who support and guide them every step of the way.”
“I am beyond proud of the Catamount Players, the cast, the directors, and the young people behind the scenes,” said Lee Collins, DHS Principal. “I am even proud of the parents. Mrs. Sane and her team of Laura Knox, Riley Hooper, and Matt Sane do a great job of serving our school and our community by producing a top of the line show. Kinsley and Hayden are deserving of this and so much more. I can’t wait to see what they do.”
“I am very lucky to get to work with these students every day,” said Alana Sane, DHS Drama Teacher. “They are hardworking, creative, and compassionate. This show was the result of so much collaboration between my students and myself, I cannot take the credit for their brilliant minds and talents. I’m most proud to have created an environment where we can come together as a group and develop something so beautiful.”
The Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, named for Georgia native and Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley, celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre across the state. The program is part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards – The Jimmy Awards®, presented by The Broadway League.
To view the full Shuler Awards ceremony and performances, visit:
https://www.gpb.org/television/show/the-shuler-awards
Print Photo Credit: Photo by Ben Rose/www.BenRosePhotography.com