Rock Academy senior nominated for prestigious Jimmy Awards

POINT LOMA – Rock Academy senior Laila Varner is well on her way to achieving her career ambition.

Varner attends the private Christian school serving students from preschool through grade 12 at 2277 Rosecrans St. in Point Loma. She recently was nominated for the prestigious National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards.

The Jimmy Awards are a national celebration of outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance and elevating the importance of theater arts education in schools. 

Though Varner didn’t win the award, just being nominated and traveling to New York City to compete with other celebrated aspiring high school performers was an honor in itself and put her in a class apart from the rest.

This honor follows Varner’s noteworthy performance as the Fairy Godmother in the Rock Academy’s production of Cinderella, a role which earned her a nomination and Top 20 placement at last year’s San Diego Broadway Awards.

That and her talent and dedication propelled her to win a coveted spot at this year’s Jimmy Awards, where she performed and trained among the nation’s top young theater artists.

Varner credits her mom, Adena Goode, who works in theater as an artistic director, as her role model and inspiration.

“I started young, performing since age 6, through plays my mom wrote at our church in Baltimore,” Varner said. “That was my introduction into the theater world. After that, I started taking theater more seriously.

“I continued to pursue it on my own, auditioning for shows as the theater business has taken us around the country. Theater is something I want to continue to pursue.”

Varner noted musical theater is a hybrid art form comprised of more than one component.

“It’s a lot different than singing, or acting,” she pointed out. “It’s a combination of dancing, singing and acting. And you have to be able to do all three at the same time.”

Varner noted that the Jimmy Awards is a program where “the best high school performers in the country come to New York to compete for the title of the best performer. And they have to win a regional title to be able to go.”

Each year, more than 150,000 students from 2,300 high schools participate through 55 regional competitions for the Jimmy Awards. Nominees selected from these programs travel to New York City for an intensive week of coaching, training and rehearsals led by Broadway’s top professionals, culminating in a nationally streamed, one-night-only talent showcase.

Varner noted there are three regional programs in California competing in the Jimmy Awards – in Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego.

“One male and one female performer went on from each region to compete,” she noted, adding all competitors performed solo songs from the musicals they were nominated for. In Varner’s case, it was tunes from playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.

“It got me pretty far. I’m very thankful,” she enthused.

Varner’s résumé includes standout roles such as Peppermint Pattie in Snoopy during her sophomore year and Tomika in Moonlight Stage Production’s School of Rock the summer before her junior year.

Beyond her commanding stage presence, Varner is a versatile and passionate performer — an accomplished vocalist, actor and dancer. She trains regularly, maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a core member of the Rock Academy’s student worship team.

Taylor Fox, Rock Academy’s director of theater arts, said: “We are thrilled to see Laila’s talent and heart recognized on a national stage. Not only does she embody the artistic excellence we nurture at the Rock Academy, but she also lives out the character, integrity and faith that define our community. She is a shining example of what it means to lead with purpose and passion.”

Asked what advice she’d give to other aspiring young musical theater performers, Varner said: “Make sure you’re focused on your pace. We all go forward and learn differently. It’s a much more competitive field than people realize. Keep your goals in mind. Try to be the best that you can.”

As Varner took the stage in New York, she carried not only her dreams but the admiration and support of her school, community and fellow students. 

“The Rock Academy is beyond proud of her accomplishments and excited to see what the future holds,” said the school in a prepared statement.