“Hamilton’s” original George Washington and a star of the CBS series “Bull” will be the keynote speaker for the 25th annual Henry Mancini Awards that celebrate excellence in high school musical theater in Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties.

Christopher Jackson is a Tony Award nominee and Grammy winner for “Hamilton,” and he won a 2011 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Original Song, Children's and Animation (“What I Am,” on “Sesame Street”).

The Mancini Awards ceremony will be 7 p.m., May 19, at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, Beaver County. The awards are named for the four-time Oscar-winning composer Henry Mancini, who grew up in West Aliquippa. The best actor and actress at the Mancinis are eligible to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Working with “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jackson also originated the role of Benny in “In the Heights,” which Lincoln Park will produce this June. His other Broadway credits include Simba in “The Lion King” and Delray in “Memphis,” the closing show in Lincoln Park’s 2019-20 series.

Tickets for the Mancinis go on sale May 10 at www.lincolnparkarts.org or 724-576-4644 and choosing option 2 at the menu from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg. Sign up for the PG performing arts newsletter Behind the Curtain at Newsletter Preferences.

First Published: April 19, 2019, 1:00 p.m.