For the first time in school history, a Madison Country Day School student has won a Jerry Award: Quinn ’28 took home the Outstanding Lead Performance honor for her role as Hope Cladwell in the fall production of “Urinetown: The Musical.”
“I am beyond thrilled when such a hardworking, passionate, talented, goofball gets honored,” said Theater Department Chair and “Urinetown” director Emily Glick said of Quinn.
The Jerry Awards are Wisconsin’s statewide high school musical theater awards program, giving students the opportunity to perform at a ceremony and audition for the National High School Musical Theater Awards, known as the Jimmy Awards, in New York City.
Quinn was one of three MCDS students nominated for individual Outstanding Lead Performance awards in December 2025. Donovan ’27, who played the show’s heroic lead Bobby Strong, and Phoebe ’26, who played the curious narrator Little Sally, also received nominations. The MCDS student band received a nomination for Outstanding Orchestra.
Quinn has been doing theater her entire life, she said, noting that her first role came at five weeks old, when she played baby Jesus in a local Christmas pageant. She has since performed in 28 productions, including school musicals and several professional companies.
Donovan has been doing theater for 11 years. He said he loves the spontaneity of live performance.
“I like having to be quick on my feet and having to improvise,” he said. But it is the people that keep him coming back. “I really appreciate the friendships that you gain by being on stage with so many people,” he said. “I like to tell a story and take the audience on an emotional journey.”
Phoebe has participated in the high school musical every fall since her freshman year. “The ensemble aspect is what I really love about it, because it’s a team effort,” she said.
The orchestra nomination highlighted musicians from across the Madison area alongside two MCDS students: Dhyana ’28 on alto saxophone and Jagger ’27 on percussion.
