Broadway Babies

Stars are born at Broadway Dallas' high school theater awards

UPDATE: At the 15th annual Jimmy Awards, held on June 24 in New York City, Damson Chola Jr. won Best Performance by an Actor. Fabiola Caraballo Quijada placed in the top four for Best Performance by an Actress.

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The Tony Awards, Broadway's biggest night, is coming up on June 16 but Dallas-area high-schoolers already experienced their night in the spotlight on May 24.

That's when Broadway Dallas hosted its 13th annual High School Musical Theatre Awards at the Music Hall at Fair Park, giving away $65,000 in scholarships to boot.

The ceremony was hosted by Dallas native and two-time HSMTA winner Haley Dortch — currently starring as Fantine in the national tour of Les Miserables, which stopped in Dallas in December 2023 — and featured student performances, award presentations, and acceptance speeches from the winners.

A total of 79 productions from 73 participating high schools were evaluated by a diverse group of highly qualified judges from the North Texas theater community. Awards were presented in 15 categories and scholarships were awarded to outstanding graduating seniors who apply and were selected by the Broadway Dallas scholarship panel. To date, Broadway Dallas HSMTA College Scholarship program has awarded more than $500,000 in cash scholarships, raised through private donations, to deserving students.

The Outstanding Musical award went to Rowlett High School's production of Six, while Cleburne High School's Damson Chola Jr. (Little Shop of Horrors) and Tyler Legacy High School's Fabiola Caraballo Quijada (Something Rotten) each won Outstanding Lead Performer.

Each receives a scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to represent their high school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Awards) on June 24.

Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards 2024

Photo courtesy of Broadway Dallas

Rowlett High School's production of "Six" won Outstanding Musical.

"We say this every year, but it’s true: The Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards is the most special night of the year,” says Ken Novice, president and CEO of Broadway Dallas. "We’re beyond proud to celebrate the hard work of these students and witness their talent onstage. Congratulations to all the 2024 nominees and winners!"

Other notable winners include:

Outstanding Direction: Midlothian High School, Chicago: Teen Edition
Outstanding Choreography: Grapevine High School, Something Rotten
Outstanding Music Direction: Liberty Christian School, Singin' In The Rain
Outstanding Orchestra: Wakeland High School, White Christmas
Outstanding Ensemble: Liberty Christian School, Singin' In The Rain

See the full list of winners here.

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Cool Deep Ellum shop named one of America’s best indie bookstores

Deep Vellum Books, independent bookstores in Dallas

Deep Vellum Books/Facebook

Dallas' Deep Vellum Bookstore claimed bragging rights as one of the 20 best independent bookstores in America

Dallas' Deep Vellum Bookstore is claiming new bragging rights as one of the 20 best independent bookstores in America, according to a new guide from Condé Nast Traveler.

The list was published in celebration of Independent Bookstore Day on April 25 — but every day can be Indie Bookstore Day when you're supporting your local shop rather than a national chain like Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Indie bookstores and physical media have been having a much needed renaissance in today's digital (and AI slop-filled) era. More than 400 new bookshops opened in 2025 alone, the American Booksellers Association reported, and local bookstores are welcome third spaces for many literature loving individuals.

Deep Vellum won the title as the best indie bookstore in the Lone Star State, outshining several other popular Texas booksellers. Located at 3000 Commerce St. in Dallas' Deep Ellum neighborhood, Condé Nast said the bookshop serves as "one of the country’s premier translators of contemporary global literature."

"As esoteric as its collection may seem, the bookstore itself makes exploration approachable," wrote editorial assistant Kat Chen. "Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs."

Deep Vellum was founded by Will Evans in 2013 as a community-focused literary arts center and nonprofit publishing house for diverse international literature, as well as local Dallas writers. The bookstore soon followed in 2015, and operations have now expanded to five publishing imprints that produce half English-original works and half international literature.

This mighty bookshop and publishing house has long proved its staying power even after its federal funding was axed last year. In early April, the organization revealed it would launch its inaugural Deep Vellum Music and Literature Festival from July 10-12, 2026.

"Through literary readings, author panels, spoken word, live music performances, and community activations this festival will bring voices from across Texas and around the world," a press release said.

Until then, Condé Nast provided some recommended reading for Dallas bibliophiles that want to check out some (new-to-you) literary and psychological fiction: Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila (translated by Roland Glasser) and Miss MacIntosh, My Darling by Marguerite Young.

dallas indie bookstore deep ellum bookstores conde nast traveler