PITTSBURGH — Dozens of the best high school musical actors and actresses from around the country will compete on Broadway next year for a new national award named after famed theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander.

The National High School Musical Theater Awards are a partnership between the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and Nederlander Presentations Inc., which operates theaters on Broadway, in Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere.

The awards are based on the opera's Gene Kelly Awards, which for 18 years have recognized high school musical performers from the Pittsburgh area, Van Kaplan, the opera's executive producer, said Friday. Those awards are named for the filmmaker, choreographer and Pittsburgh native perhaps best beloved for the film "Singin' in the Rain."

The national award will be called The Jimmy, in honor of James M. Nederlander, who has produced or co-produced "Annie," "Peter Pan," "La Cage aux Folles," and others.

"My father believes in talent — on stage, back stage and in business. This new award will help encourage a new generation of artists and audiences," James L. Nederlander, president of The Nederlander Organization, said in a statement. "We are humbled and grateful that the Pittsburgh CLO is naming this award in his honor."

Some details are still in the works, but the first award is set for June 1, 2009. Kaplan anticipates that about 50 to 60 actors and actresses from around the country culled from competitions like the Gene Kelly Awards will advance to a national competition in New York City.

There, competitors would be taught an opening and closing number, which would be performed at the Palace Theatre before judges and an audience of industry professionals.

"I think that's really important," Kaplan said. "Whether they decide to continue in a career in theater or performing arts, performing on the Palace stage will be a life-changing process for them."

Competitors would then be narrowed through a series of interviews and auditions.