Alpharetta Students Win National Theater Awards

ALPHARETTA, GA — Students from Mill Springs Academy and Off Broadway Children's Theatre in Alpharetta won national awards and earned other recognition at the 2020 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta, which happened Jan. 17-19 at The Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The Junior Theater Festival Atlanta united 7,000 students and educators from 128 educational musical theater groups representing 31 states, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K.

Adjudication

Mill Springs Academy students presented selections from Bugsy Malone JR. for performer, teacher, and choral director David Rogers-Smith (Ubaldo Piangi in the International and Australasian tours of The Phantom of the Opera), and Rosemary Newcott, the Sally G. Tomlinson Director of Theatre for Youth and Families at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

Said Newcott, "The Mill Springs Academy cast beautifully incorporated their diversity in ages into the work. Their support of each other was exceptional. They made delightful character choices throughout." Added Rogers-Smith, "It was wonderful to see all the ages on stage. I send a special congratulations to this group on their lovely storytelling."

Off Broadway Children's Theatre students presented selections from HONK! JR. for Lisa Mitchell, Disney Theatrical Group director of education and audience engagement, and choreographer Kenny Shepard (Swing! for Little Theatre on the Square).

Said Shepard, "Off Broadway Children’s Theatre brought a sincerity and captivating approach to their performance of Honk JR. I loved seeing this group come together to tell this story so sweetly and creatively through fun staging and heartwarming performances!" Added Mitchell, "Off Broadway Children's Theatre brought this story of belonging to life in such a heartfelt way."

Other Recognition

Mill Springs Academy’s Warner Jones and Calista Craig, and Off Broadway Children's Theatre’s Noah Squires and Maddie Dupree 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 year marks the 15th Junior Theater Festival Atlanta. The Junior Theater Festival Atlanta was founded in 2003. In 2010 the festival became an annual event.

About Mill Springs Academy

Mill Springs Academy is a values-based educational community dedicated to the academic, physical, and social growth of those students who have not realized their full potential in traditional classroom settings.

The group has enjoyed success at past Junior Theater Festivals.

At the 2019 Junior Theater Festival, Mill Springs Academy won a Freddie G Award for Excellence in Ensemble Work. Mill Springs Academy Jack Hurtsellers received a Freddie G Inspiration Award. Student Lilliana Coco was selected to ask a question to Disney Theatrical Productions president and producer Thomas Schumacher

At the 2018 Junior Theater Festival, Mill Springs Academy won the top award – the Broadway Junior Spirit Award. The Freddie G Broadway Junior Spirit Award is given annually to the group that most embodies the spirit of educational musical theater. Since the group won The Broadway Junior Spirit Award, Mill Springs Academy educator Kate McElliot was awarded a “Freddie G Fellowship,” recognizing the exceptional contributions to arts education. Freddie G Fellowship educators receive all-expense paid trip to New York City, complete with professional development, Broadway performances and unforgettable celebrations. In addition to the New York experience, each of the teachers’ organizations receive $5,000 from Freddie and Myrna to enhance their arts program and further the collaborative and inclusive spirit of producing a musical. The Freddie G Fellowship is underwritten by Music Theatre International Chairman and Broadway Junior founder Freddie Gershon, and his wife, Myrna.

About Off Broadway Children's Theatre

The Off Broadway Children’s Theatre has attended multiple past Junior Theater Festivals. At the 2018 and 2017 Junior Theater Festivals Atlanta, Off Broadway Children’s Theatre won a Freddie G Award for Excellence in Music. Also at the 2017 JTF Atlanta, student Avery Soto won a Freddie G Award for Excellent Individual Performance by a Male.

In 2010 Off Broadway student Crawford Horton was awarded a “Freddie G Outstanding Individual Achievement: Male” prize.