News release
Saugus High School’s performing arts program has earned top honors at the Jerry Herman Awards, taking home the award for Best Musical Direction at the 2026 ceremony, said a news release from the William S. Hart Union High School District.
Previously nominated in four major categories — Best Production, Best Musical Production, Best Ensemble and Best Technical Crew — Saugus High School distinguished itself among a highly competitive field of talented schools from across Los Angeles County, the release said.
In addition to this win, Saugus students AJ Fierro and Andrew Mosby were invited to participate in the live audition round for Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively.
“A highlight of the evening was Saugus High School’s exceptional live performance of ‘For the First Time,’ which captivated the audience and underscored the artistry, talent, and hard work of its student performers and production team,” the release said.
The Jerry Herman Awards serve as the regional program for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as “The Jimmy Awards,” held annually at the Minskoff Theatre. Each year, two students are selected to represent Los Angeles at the national level, where they participate in an intensive week-long workshop and compete for the Jimmy Award, named in honor of the late James M. Nederlander.
The awards ceremony took place at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Los Angeles on May 3.
