CCS Theater Wins Best Musical at 2026 Jewel Awards; RC Moore Advances to National Jimmy Awards Competition

Chattanooga Christian School theatre students earned top honors at the 2026 Jewel Awards Ceremony, bringing home multiple awards including Best Musical and celebrating a second consecutive Best Actress win for student RC Moore ‘26.

The annual Jewel Awards Ceremony, held May 9 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, recognized excellence in high school musical theater across the Chattanooga region. This year’s ceremony featured participation from 14 schools across the area and honored more than 500 student performers, including 50 students from Chattanooga Christian School who performed “Paris Holds the Key” from Anastasia as the closing number.

Featuring live performances and more than 25 awards, the ceremony celebrated student achievement in musical theater and performing arts while also selecting regional nominees for the prestigious National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as The Jimmy Awards.

The Jewel Awards, now in its third year, provides Chattanooga-area high school musical theatre programs the opportunity to receive adjudication, compete against one another, and celebrate together. The day included workshops taught by industry professionals in areas such as dance, prop and costume making, vocal performance, improv and stage combat, giving students opportunities to grow both artistically and professionally.

CCS was nominated for 21 awards and took home 10 honors during the evening, including the top prize of Best Musical. Additional awards included Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and Best Ensemble. Zachary Ledford and Eulabee French swept the Outstanding Dancer category, Reagan England earned Outstanding Ensemble Performer, and RC Moore received the top honor of Best Lead Performer for the second consecutive year.

“This program not only gives growth opportunities for our theatre department, but fantastic opportunities for our students to connect with theatre professionals in Chattanooga and beyond,” CCS Theatre Director Mary Catherine Schimpf said.

In addition to the group awards, RC Moore was named Best Actress for the second year in a row. As the regional Best Actress winner, Moore will represent the Chattanooga area at The Jimmy Awards in New York City this summer.

The Tivoli Theatre Foundation’s Broadway League membership provides the opportunity for the region’s Best Actor and Best Actress winners to participate in The Jimmy Awards program, which impacts approximately 100,000 students involved in 51 regional high school musical theater competitions across the United States.

Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, The Jimmy Awards program has served as a catalyst for more than $6 million in educational scholarships.

Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, Inc., the National High School Musical Theatre Awards invite one Best Actress and one Best Actor nominee from each regional competition to New York City for an intensive week of theater training and performance preparation. Students participate in coaching sessions, rehearsals and workshops led by accomplished Broadway professionals before performing in a live talent showcase on a Broadway stage.

The recognition reflects Chattanooga Christian School’s continued commitment to excellence in fine arts education and student performance opportunities both locally and nationally.

For a full list of awards and winners, visit www.tivolichattanooga.com/education/jewelawards.