Middle School takes on JTF West

We are so excited to share what an incredible experience our Middle School Advanced Musical Theatre Team had at Junior Theatre Festival West this year! JTF was a jam-packed weekend full of learning, creativity, and unforgettable moments, and our students truly rose to the occasion.

Throughout the festival, students participated in high-energy workshops led by Broadway professionals and theatre educators, where they strengthened their skills in singing, dancing, and acting while being challenged to grow as performers and collaborators. They also had the opportunity to watch inspiring performances from schools across the country, broadening their understanding of musical theatre and performance excellence.

We are incredibly proud to share that our team’s hard work and dedication were recognized at the festival with the Excellence in Music award. In addition, Asher Oliu and Elaine Xi were honored as All Star Cast members—an exciting and well-deserved recognition of their talent and commitment. Beck Brown, Linley Crain, Eliana Kalambo, Eden Wynter, and Elaine Xi all participated in the iTheatrics Video Auditions, and all five were selected for callbacks. Beck Brown served as a student assistant to renowned iTheatrics choreographers Shay Rodgers and Steven Kennedy 

During adjudication, the judges took time to highlight several standout strengths of our performance. They praised the troupe’s deep commitment to honoring the history and style of Mary Poppins, as well as the strong contrast and clarity between character groups such as the chimney sweeps, bankers and accountants, and park goers. Adjudicators also noted the ensemble’s exceptional ability to support one another and remain fully present throughout the piece, creating a strong sense of connection and storytelling. They were especially impressed by the students’ intentionality from the very beginning of the performance and their confident ability to embrace stillness when the moment called for it—drawing the audience into the story right away.

Beyond the awards and recognition, JTF allowed our students to bond as an ensemble, build confidence, and create memories that will last long after the curtain has closed. As a troupe, we had the opportunity to experience hands-on learning in dance and acting workshops, panel discussions featuring career performers like Samantha Pauly, Stephanie J. Block, and Darian Sanders, and New Works Showcases for upcoming Broadway Jr. shows.

As their instructors, we are incredibly proud of this group and so grateful for the support that made this experience possible. Thank you for cheering on our students and for being such an important part of our theatre community. Junior Theatre Festival was truly a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the joy of musical theatre—and we cannot wait to see how our students continue to grow from this experience.