On Sunday, May 4th, Calabasas High School Theater attended the Jerry Herman Awards and achieved a historic first: senior Riley Eichberg won best actress. Eichberg, president of Theater Arts Club, co-president of Unstrumental, and star of CHS’s recent production of Urinetown as Penelope Pennywise, performed “Privilege to Pee” from the musical and, out of 87 other nominees, was chosen as best actress. Her win advances her to the national Jimmy Awards auditions, with a chance to perform on Broadway in New York this June.
This process all began in late September of 2024, when the school applied for the Jerry Herman award for Urinetown, which wasn’t set to be on stage until March, and the actual awards show was not until May. William Garrett, the theater director, has applied for the Jerry Herman awards every year, but this was the first time winning and only the second time they were asked to perform a number from the show.
“The reason why I continually enter the Jerry Herman awards is because I feel like it gives a great opportunity for the students. They get to go through the audition process, work with different professionals in the industry, and some of the best students from throughout Southern California,” said Garrett. “All of that, I think, is really worthwhile.”
CHS Theater was asked to perform at The Jerry Hermans in 2013 with their production of West Side Story, which featured CHS alum Cooper Koch, but CHS has not been invited back to perform since.
At the actual award show, the format is as follows: performance, awards, performance, awards, etc. All of the best actor/actress nominees were part of a 5-minute opening performance that was a mashup of several different songs. From there, six finalists were chosen: three actors and three actresses. However, this year was unique, an extra two people were selected.
“They got to the last girl, and my heart plummeted. I was so destroyed. Then they were like ‘Oh wait, we have two more finalists!’ and I didn’t think it was going to happen. And then they called out my name,” said Eichberg.
Previously, at auditions, Eichberg was asked to prepare two songs, and she wasn’t told which song she would be singing for the finals until a few minutes before going up on stage and delivering the performance, which would determine whether or not she would be going on to the Jimmy Awards.
“You don’t get a chance to run it with the band. You have a chance to tell them your tempo, like two minutes before,” said Eichberg. “[After performing] I saw one person kind of stand up in the front, and I got off stage, and I got a call from my mom saying, ‘The entire balcony just stood up’; it was the most electric feeling.”
After all of the finalists had performed their solos, it was time for the best actor and best actress to be announced. Eichberg’s name was called for best actress.
“It’s like the sound of all your dreams coming true,” said Eichberg.
At the beginning of the week, preparing for the Jerry Herman awards, Eichberg believed this might be the last time she would ever get to perform on stage. She was set on either being a communications or sports media major, but the day of her audition for the Jerry Herman’s, she received a phone call that changed everything. She had been accepted off the waitlist for the theater program at her dream school, Indiana University. Going from a communications major to getting a chance to perform on Broadway.
“To have the trajectory of my life change in a matter of 72 hours was crazy, and I can’t imagine doing anything differently,” said Eichberg.
Of course, Eichberg was not the only one from Calabasas who received a nomination. Noah Grismer also received a nomination for best actor, having performed as Bobby Strong in Urinetown, and CHS Theater received a nomination for Best Production with Urinetown.
“Performing for the Jerry Herman’s was such a surreal experience especially after watching every show since my freshman year. Being able to perform Urinetown one last time felt really awesome,” said junior Sean Taylor, who starred as Hope Cladwell in the production. “I’m so, so proud of Riley and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving. We were all screaming backstage for her and we’re so proud of all that she’s done.”
