Local students representing Humphreys School of Musical Theatre 

Local students representing Humphreys School of Musical Theatre in Houston, Inspiration Stage in Sugar Land, Joyful Theatre Company in League City, and Purple Box Theater in Galveston national awards and earned praise at the Junior Theater Festival Atlanta which happened January 18-20, 2019.

All photos are here

Photo Captions 

Pictured in Inspiration Stage Outstanding Production Trophy – are the students from Inspiration Stage with their Outstanding Production trophy. (James Barker Photography)

Pictured in Inspiration Stage Outstanding Performance 1 and 2  – are the students from Inspiration Stage performing during the closing ceremony (Marcus Woollen)

Pictured in Inspiration Stage – Freddie G Excellent Individual Performance by a Male 10 are from left: actress Taylor Iman Jones (Head Over Heels and Groundhog Day on Broadway), Inspiration Stage student Evan Blackwell, composer and lyricist Rob Rokicki (The Lightening Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical) (James Barker Photography)

Pictured in Inspiration Stage – Freddie G Excellent Individual Performance by a Female 8 are from left: artistic director of the Adventure Theatre MTC Michael J. Bobbitt, Inspiration Stage student Mya Bryant, composer, director, producer and music director David Weinsten (The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach) (James Barker Photography)

Pictured in Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (in Houston) student Kelly Lomonte joined Mya Bryant from Inspiration Stage (Sugar Land, TX) in performing “This is Me” with Tony and Oscar-winning songwriting team Pasek & Paul during the concert’s headling concert for all 6,600 festival attendees.

Pictured in Humphreys Freddie G Excellence in Dance 12 are from left: Cindy Ripley, senior educational consultant for iTheatrics, Humphreys School of Musical Theatre’s Mikeitta Williams and Kelly Lomonte, and managing director of Music Theatre International Australasia Stuart Hendricks. (James Barker Photography)

Pictured in Humphreys School of Musical Theatre – Freddie G Outstanding Student Direction & Choreography 13 copy are from left: Humphreys School of Musical Theatre’s student director Carlie Sachs, Humphreys School of Musical Theatre’s Manager of Education Mikeitta Williams, and Humphreys School of Musical Theatre student Kelly Lomonte. (James Barker Photography)

Pictured in 092_Purple Box Theater_1166, 054_Joyful Theatre Company_0574, 050_Humphreys School of Musical Theatre_0030  are the student groups at the Junior Theater Festival. (James Barker Photography)

 LOCAL STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL AWARDS AT
2019 JUNIOR THEATER FESTIVAL ATLANTA

Students from TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre in Houston, Inspiration Stage in Sugar Land, Joyful Theatre Company in League City and Purple Box Theater in Galveston won national awards and earned recognition at the 2019 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta, which happened January 18-20, 2019 at The Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.  The Junior Theater Festival Atlanta united 6,600+ students and educators from 133 educational musical theater groups representing 28 states, Australia, China, New Zealand, and the U.K.

Inspiration Stage received a Freddie G Outstanding Production award and performed for all 6,600 attendees during the festival’s closing ceremony. Student Mya Bryant won a Freddie G Award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Female and student Evan Blackwell received a Freddie G Award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Male.

Humphreys School of Musical Theatre won a Freddie G Award for Excellence in Dance.  Students Kelly Lomonte and Carlie Sachs received a Freddie G Award for Outstanding Student Direction & Choreography.

Additionally at the festival, Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (in Houston) student Kelly Lomonte joined Mya Bryant from Inspiration Stage (Sugar Land, TX) in performing “This is Me” with Tony and Oscar-winning songwriting team Pasek & Paul during the concert’s headling concert for all 6,600 festival attendees.

Purple Box Theater and Joyful Theatre Company earned praise.

Adjudications
The Joyful Theatre Company students presented selections from Shrek The Musical JR. for Nick Pramik, managing partner at Broadway advertising and marketing agency RPM, and Nina Meehan, founder and executive artistic director of Bay Area Children’s Theatre.

Nina Meehan said about Joyful Theatre Company, “Joyful Theatre Company truly brought joy to their Shrek JR. We loved their fun choreography and creative characters.”

The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre students presented selections from Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. and The Purple Box Theater students presented selections from Disney’s Peter Pan JR. for director Holly Stanfield (national student premieres of Aida School Edition, Thoroughly Modern Millie School Edition and Rent School Edition) and John Prignano, chief operating officer and director of education and development at Music Theatre International.

Holly Stanfield said of The Purple Box Theater, “Purple Box Theatre offered us creative and fun choices and story-telling. They had good energy and were well rehearsed and connected.” Added John Prignano, “Flying was no problem for Purple Box Theatre, who rendered an engaging version of this classic tale. Their inventive staging really told the story well.”

Holly Stanfield said of Humphreys, “Humphreys School of Musical Theatre brought a special energy to JTF this year and opened the blue pod performances with a brilliant and beautifully choreographed version of Madagascar JR.”

The Inspiration Stage students presented selections from Once On This Island JR. for composer and lyricist Matthew Lee Robinson (The Magic School Bus, Atlantis) and Rosemary Newcott, artistic director of Theatre for Youth and Families.

Rosemary Newcott said, “Inspiration Stage offered us a truly outstanding production in every way. I was literally in tears several times. The actors played sophisticated and mature moments with great focus and ease. I was transported into the world and lifted by the story. Even the accents were consistent across the board. I felt that particular ‘something special’ that happens when a group totally physically and emotionally supports each other in extraordinary ways. We saw performances from very strong leads and an equally strong and fearless ensemble.” Matthew Lee Robinson said, “This performance was absolutely outstanding! From each individual to the work as a company, massive congratulations!”

Additional Recognition

Humphreys School of Musical Theatre’s Mabyn Coleman, Sydnie Harris, Michael Karash, Hannah Pettit, and Caitlin Raffield, and Inspiration Stage’s Jackson Champion, Jane Delahoussaye, Gentry Claire Lumpkin, Annalicia Teel, and Danny Terrier made it to the call-back for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway Junior musicals.  The shoots will be taped in New York City this summer. The Broadway Junior scouts were on the lookout for outstanding students, out of 6,600 people at the festival, 181 were invited to audition for iTheatrics resident choreographer Steven G. Kennedy.  The final cast will be determined later this year. These videos will be used in tens of thousands of schools across the country and internationally.

Humphreys School of Musical Theatre’s Chase Fontenot and Sydnie Harris, Inspiration Stage’s  Emily Adams and Danny Terrier, Joyful Theatre Company’s Shelby Hill and Mario Sweeney, and Purple Box Theater’s Liam Alonzo and Mylana Valdina were named to the Junior Theater Festival All-Stars, made up of outstanding performers attending the festival. The All-Stars performed a song during the closing ceremony for all 6,600 festival attendees.

Produced by the Junior Theater Group in partnership with iTheatrics, a leading educational theater company that creates innovative experiences and products for the public and private sector, the Junior Theater Festival Atlanta is the world’s largest festival celebrating young people and the transformative power of musical theater. This year’s title sponsors were Music Theatre International, Disney Theatrical Group, and Playbill, Inc®. The Junior Theater Festival was founded in 2003. In 2010 the festival became an annual event.

About Humphreys School of Musical Theatre

Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) educates and develops musical theater students of all ages and ambitions, from the beginner to the Broadway bound. A myriad of courses, workshops and seasonal camps train pre-schoolers to pros in dance, acting and vocal technique. From jazz theory to improv, diction to demi-pliés, Humphreys School of Musical Theatre helps to polish young stars until they truly shine.

The group has enjoyed past success at the Junior Theater Festival.

At the 2017 Junior Theatre Festival, TUTS – Humphreys School of Musical Theatre won a Freddie G Group Award for Excellence in Dance and student Jamir Brown won the Freddie G Award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Male. Additionally student Bryce Cooper won a Freddie G Broadway Junior Slam Award.  The Broadway Junior Slam is a theatrical challenge in which students who don’t know each other must stage and perform a song from a musical in an hour.

At the 2015 Junior Theater Festival, Theatre Under The Stars’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre students, Matthew Smith and Dylan Lambert, won a Freddie G award for Outstanding Student Director & Choreographer. Theatre Under the Stars was also one of four educational musical theater groups across the nation to perform as part of the New Works Showcase and performed selections from Disney’s The Lion King KIDS and Disney’s The Lion King JR.

At the 2013 Junior Theater Festival, TUTS earned a Freddie G Outstanding Performance award, a Freddie G Outstanding Music award and students Trey Curtis and Matthew Smith were awarded a Freddie G Outstanding Student Direction and Choreography award.  The group was also selected to perform selections from Disney’s Aladdin Dual Language Edition during the New Works Showcase.

At the 2011 Junior Theater Festival, students from TUTS received a Freddie G Outstanding Achievement in Music award; students Alex Stone and Christian Warner were awarded a Freddie G Outstanding Student Direction and Choreography award; TUTS student Donovan Linsey was named to the Technical Theatre All-Star team and worked with professionals on running the Disney Musicals New Works showcase, while TUTS student Preston Granger earned a “Freddie G Broadway JR. Slam” award.  The TUTS students were hand-picked to perform selections from Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. for all attendees at the Disney Musicals New Works Showcase.

About Inspiration Stage

Located in Sugar Land, TX, Inspiration Stage is a national award-winning performing arts studio and theatre for ages four through adult. The program believes theatre promotes and instills intellectual, emotional, physical and communication skills by cultivating freedom of personal and creative expression. Inspiration Stage works to show how nourishing the creative spirit empowers people to embrace the complexity and diversity of the world with understanding, hope, courage, and empathy.

Again this Inspiration Stage was happy to take two companies to Junior Theater Festival, one company will attend JTF Atlanta with the show Once On This Island JR., and one cast will attend JTF West with the show Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. According to Inspiration Stage, its students represent the most diverse county in the United States, Fort Bend County, and the greater Houston area with students ranging in age from 9 to 18.

Inspiration Stage has enjoyed considerable success at past Junior Theater Festivals.

At the 2018 Junior Theater Festival, Inspiration Stage won a Freddie G award for Excellence in Dance and student Davis Underwood won a Freddie G award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Male.

Furthermore the students performed selections from Children of Eden JR., and were introduced by the show’s composer and lyracist Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) at the New Works Showcase in which groups perform selections from shows which will soon be made available for licensing. Mya Bryant representing Inspiration Stage sang “Spark of Creation” from Children of Eden JR. for Schwartz and all festival attendees. Also at the 2018 JTF Atlanta, Addy McMillen and Kate Henry  made it to the call-back for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway Junior musicals.

At the 2017 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta Inspiration Stage received a Freddie G Outstanding Production award. As one of just nine schools from across the country to win a Freddie G Outstanding Production Award, the students performed  for all 6,000 attendees at the Junior Theater Festival closing ceremonies. Additionally, Inspiration Stage students Ashley N. Johnson and Olivia Goodman  made it to the call-back for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway Junior musicals.   Furthermore, Inspiration Stage educator Mandy Seymore was one of eight exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country selected for the eighth annual “The Freddie G Fellowship.” Freddie G Fellows receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to collaborate with each other and work one-on-one with Broadway greats.  Lastly, Inspiration Stage joined fellow students from Community Theatre of Greensboro to perform a surprise musical tribute of “Why We Tell the Story” to Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, when the Tony-award-winning creative team received the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival Legacy Award, celebrating musical theater artists who make the world a better place, one musical at a time.

In 2016, Inspiration Stage students won a Freddie G Outstanding Production award and performed a song for all 5,800 festival attendees. Student Mya Bryant received a Freddie G Excellent Individual Performance by a Female award, and Inspiration Stage student Rayevin Johnson received a Freddie G Broadway Junior Slam Award.

In 2015 Inspiration Stage earned a Freddie G Excellence in Dance group award, and student Davis Underwood received a Freddie G Award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Male. Additionally, students Rayevin Johnson, Cade Thomas, and Claire Domenic-Smith made it to the final call-back for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway Junior musicals.

In 2014 the group won an award for Excellence in Acting and teacher Johnny Nicholas Jr. won a Freddie G award for Excellent Achievement in Music Direction in the Broadway Junior Slam. The Broadway Junior Slam is a competition in which students and educators who don’t know each other must stage a scene and song in one hour. Maddie Lucas traveled to New York to participate in a one-week workshop of Madagascar in summer 2014.

About Joyful Theatre Company

Joyful Theatre Company is a community kids theatre serving ages 8-18 years old.  The program is committed to providing quality theatre education in a positive, uplifting environment.

About Purple Box

Purple Box Theater offers musical theater, theater and performance classes for kids ages 5-12, as well as teen programs for young performers ages 13-17.

The group has enjoyed success at past Junior Theater Festivals.  At the 2018 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta, Purple Box Theater won a Freddie G Award for Excellence in Music. At the 2017 Junior Theater Festival Purple Box Theater won a Freddie G Group Award for Excellence in Dance. Additionally, Purple Box Theater educator Victoria Reyes won a Freddie G Broadway Junior Slam Award.  Also, Keara Smith made it to the call-back for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway Junior musicals

The group also travels to New York City to perform with Voices on Broadway and participate in workshops led by Broadway Professionals, as well as to Disney World and Disney Land to perform, along with Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood.

About the 2019 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta

The 2019 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta is a monumental weekend of theatrical fellowship rewarding and empowering student-driven musical theater programs.

Disney Theatrical Productions President & Producer Thomas Schumacher, Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and Caissie Levy (Frozen on Broadway), legendary Broadway and West End producer (and Chairman of Music Theatre International) Sir Cameron Mackintosh, songwriting team Pasek & Paul, Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Taylor Iman Jones (Head Over Heels), Ryan McCarten (Heathers The Musical), Billy Jenkins (“The Crown,” “Holmes & Watson”), Luca Padovan (School of Rock), and Isabella Russo (School of Rock); New York Times best-selling authors Jodi Picoult (Small Great Things); Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, off-Broadway, Miss Saigon, national tour); Elyssa Samsel & Kate Anderson (“Olaf’s Frozen Adventure”) were some of the celebrities at the festival cheering on the students.

In addition to presenting selections from shows for adjudication, participants took part in interactive workshops led by Broadway and West End professionals, gained from professional development, watched outstanding performances by fellow students and Broadway stars and enjoyed theatrical fellowship.

Oscar-, Grammy-, Tony-, and Golden Globe award–winning songwriters Pasek & Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, “La La Land”) performed the festival’s headlining concert with a special surprise guest appearance by Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple).

Disney Theatrical Productions President & Producer Thomas Schumacher, Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and Caissie Levy (Frozen on Broadway) offered the festival keynote.

Legendary Broadway and West End producer (and Chairman of Music Theatre International) Sir Cameron Mackintosh spoke with all 500 educators attending the festival.

During the festivals’ New Works Showcase, select groups performed songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available as Broadway Junior musicals for licensing by MTI, including:

Oliver JR. was presented by British Theatre Academy (London, U.K.).

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer JR. was presented by University School of Nashville (Nashville, TN).

Sister Act JR. was presented by Community Theatre of Greensboro (Greensboro, NC) and Adelaide Youth Theatre (South Australia).

In addition to presenting a 15-minute selection from a Broadway Junior musical for adjudication, participants took part in interactive workshops led by Broadway and West End professionals, and gained from professional development.

Based in New York City, for the last decade iTheatrics has established itself as the world’s leading authority on musical theater for young people. The company works with leading public and private companies around the world — including the White House, the Kennedy Center, NBC and all the leading theatrical licensors — to make sure that young people everywhere have access to quality musical theater programs.