Several students from the Dawson County Arts Council (DCAC) and the Holly Performance Academy will be traveling to Atlanta in mid January to attend the Junior Theater Festival.
The festival is presented by New Yorks iTheatrics and Atlantas Theater of the Stars.
Sponsored by Music Theatre International and Disney Musicals, the festival brings together more than 3,000 voices featuring 60 groups in 18 states.
The Junior Theater Festival is an invitation only event. Each group will perform a 15 minute selection of a musical for a panel of distinguished theatre professionals.
Each cast will receive feedback from the panel and if chosen, they are invited to perform during the closing awards ceremony for their peers.
This year, the 31 students of the DCAC will be performing a 15 minute selection from the musical, Godspell JR. The cast has presented its full production in the past.
The DCAC has received awards in the past at the Junior Theater Festival. Awards include 2011 Freddie G winner, Kealy Ford and Technical Theater All-Stars award winner, Sean Newman.
Other awards include the 2010 Freddie G Outstanding Production, Outstanding Student Direction, and Choreography awards.
The Holly Performance Academy cast of 24 will be performing a fifteen minute selection from Roald Dahls, Willy Wonka JR.
This group has also received awards at past festivals. They include the 2011 Freddie G Outstanding Student Direction and Choreography award winner, Shelby Garrett, 2011 Outstanding Female performance award winner, Heidi Rider, and the Outstanding Broadway Slam award winner, Kaleb Hunt.
In addition to the presentation of the 15 minute selection, the students and teachers will participate in interactive workshops led by Broadway and West End professionals.
As part of the spirit of performing, all festival attendees will attend a professional production of the Broadway musical, Annie, at Atlantas Fox Theater.
Upon returning from the festival, the Holly Performance Academy will be preparing for their full community performance.
The cast will be performing Willy Wonka JR. publicly in February. Shows are February 17-19 and February 24-26 at the Holly Theater.
You may purchase tickets online at www.hollytheater.com or by calling the theater at 706-864-3759.