Published On: March 26th, 2018By

Aldine ISD’s Carver High School Earns 11 Tommy Tune Award Nominations for Musical ‘Jelly’s Last Jam’

The big reveal this past week came courtesy of Emmy winner, “Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons.
Aldine-ISD-Carver-HS-Jellys-Last-Jam-NY-2-Tommy-Tune-Awards-Image-6

A scene from Carver HS’ musical production of “Jelly’s Last Jam.”


Carver High School’s Theater Department is elated by the nominations announced today for the Tommy Tune Awards. The school’s spring production of Jelly’s Last Jam earned 11 Tommy Tune nominations.

The AISD magnet campus is among the 45 Houston area schools competing in the 16th annual Tommy Tune Awards. Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) acts as the administrative body of the awards, which annually shines the light on incredibly talented young artists in high school theater.

A team of 31 Houston-based theatre professionals nominated students in 15 award categories.

Tommy-Tune-Awards-Image-2018-50th-TUTS-SeasonThe production has students from Carver HS, Drew Academy and Houston Academy. Several familiar faces are also taking part. Carver alumni Denzel Taylor, Ivan Geters, Sade Franklin and Elias Flores form part of the production team. Carver HS theater volunteers Pamela Dickson and Linda Fleming also stepped in to assist. Roshunda Jones is proud of everyone taking part. Jones is Carver’s theater director.

This is Carver‘s 11th year to take part in the Tommy Tune Awards and fifth time to receive the Best Musical nomination.

2018 Tommy Tune Awards Nominations for Carver HS

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Musical: Jelly’s Last Jam[/li] [li]Best Leading Actor: Bishop Pearsall as Jelly Roll Morton from Jelly’s Last Jam [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Supporting Actor: Ri’Chard Jordan as Jack the Bear/Buddy Bolden from Jelly’s Last Jam[/li] [li]Best Featured Performer: Kai Womack as Gran Mimi from Jelly’s Last Jam [/li][/ul]Aldine-ISD-Carver-HS-Jellys-Last-Jam-Mimi-n-Jelly-Tommy-Tune-Awards-Image-8[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Ensemble/Chorus[/li] [li]Best Costume Design [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Stage Crew & Technical Execution[/li] [li]Best Musical Direction [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Orchestra[/li] [li]Best Choreography [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Direction[/li][/ul]

Production Team for Jelly’s Last Jam

Director: Roshunda Jones, Carver HS
Technical Director/Choreographer: Jabari Collins, Carver HS
Choreographers: Sarita Salinas, Carver HS; and Denzel Taylor, Carver Alum
Musical Director: Pamela Dickson, Carver Theatre Volunteer
Orchestra: Refugio Rodríguez, AISD Performing Arts Director; Ivan Geters, Carver Alum; and Sade Franklin, Carver Alum
Sound Designer: Elias Flores, Carver Alum
Vocal Coach (AFA): Kelli Estes
Costume Designer: Linda Fleming, Carver Theatre Volunteer​​​​

(*Photos courtesy of Kristin Wilson with Eisenhower Ninth Grade School.)

Awards Announced by Actor Jim Parsons

Jim-Parson-Tommy-Tune-Award-Noms-2018

Jim Parsons

The big reveal came courtesy of Houston-born Emmy winner Jim Parsons. Many people know Parsons for his role as Dr. Sheldon Cooper on TV’s “Big Bang Theory.” He has starred in a number of other TV and film roles. Parsons graduated from Klein Oak High School, and shared why theater had such a big impact on his life before announcing the nominees for best musical.

Whether its going to be your ultimate career or not, its such a great place to learn about people, to learn about life, to learn about literature and I felt very lucky that I got to do theater in high school, whether or not I would have done it later in life,” Parsons said.

Stay Tuned

Aldine-ISD-Carver-HS-Jellys-Last-Jam-Creole-Way-2-Tommy-Tune-Awards-Image-37The Tommy Tune Awards will be held April 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. ABC-Channel 13 will air the awards in May or June. Tickets to attend the Awards Ceremony will go on sale to the public on April 9 at 9 a.m.

Each school that received a Best Musical nomination will perform a scene from their musical for the awards ceremony. Additionally, Best Actor/Actress nominees will perform a melody with all the other nominees in that category. Two students will also be selected to perform in the closing number of the awards ceremony.

Congratulations on the nominations! And “break a leg” at the Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony!

View images from the musical production Jelly’s Last Jam.


Carver High School made U.S. News & World Report‘s Best High Schools in the U.S. rankings. Carver, a magnet school, focuses on engineering, applied technology and the arts.
Read older stories regarding Carver HS Tommy Tune Awards and nominations.

About the Author: Leticia Fehling

Director of Internal Communications