Middle School Musical Theater Troupe Wins Top Honors at National Performing Arts Festival in Orlando

This past weekend, the Middle School Show Choir/Musical Theater class headed to the National Performing Arts Festival (NPAF) in Orlando, Florida to compete as the only school group against community theater and pre-professional programs. At the festival, they performed for professional adjudicators, attended workshops and special events, and competed for various performance awards as both an ensemble and soloists/duos. 

The Eagles came out victorious by being awarded the highest overall score for their performance of Matilda Jr. and were also awarded the Junior Showcase Award. They were also awarded a Superior Rating (the highest achieving category) and the Impactful Performance Award (a special judges award). The Junior Showcase Award led to them being invited to perform on Sunday, February 18, at Universal Studios on the Main Stage for all park goers to enjoy the performance. 

Eighth grade student Harper Brown and sixth grade student Beck Brown were recognized and awarded for standout performances in the ensemble production, as Miss Trunchbull and Bruce, with a Spotlight Student Award. 

This is a promising beginning for this young class, who is made up of 19 sixth graders and one eighth grader. 

“This weekend was absolutely incredible for these budding young musical theater students. This year, we embarked on a brand-new journey to offer not only an expanded curriculum full of music, acting, and dance, but also a fantastic extracurricular experience traveling to the National Performing Arts Festival,” Sarah Patterson, Musical Choir Director said. “I am tremendously proud of this troupe who embraced this new world of musical theater with open arms and jazz hands, and their performance was equal parts dazzling and heartwarming. I am so blessed as a director to work with this amazing group and grateful to FBCA for supporting us at every step along the way.”

Way to go, Eagles!
 

Awards at NPAF ‘24

Ensemble Performance Rating: Superior

Impactful Performance Award

2 Spotlight Students 

Festival Junior Showcase Award (highest award of the festival)