Local Student Wins National Award At 2023 Junior Theater Festival West

Press release from Decatur Community Players:

Feb. 27, 2023

Decatur Community Players in Decatur won second place in the Tech Olympics and student Sofia Satterfield won a Freddie G Student Direction & Choreography award at the 2023 Junior Theater Festival West (JTF West). The monumental weekend dedicated to rewarding and celebrating excellent student-driven musical theater programs happened February 17-19, 2023, at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center and the UC Davis Health Pavilion in Sacramento, CA.

In the Tech Olympics groups of students are put through a number of backstage tests and are rated on their efficiency, teamwork, and accuracy.

Additionally at the Junior Theater Festival West, Decatur Community Players student Sofia Satterfield made it to the callback for a yet to be announced special video project which will promote musicals in schools. Also, students Sylvie Carnathan and Alexa Bowles were named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars, a select group of outstanding performers.

At the festival, each group performed 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior® musical for adjudicators.

Decatur Community Players presented selections from Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical JR. for actor McKenna Michael (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical tour); music director and iTheatrics Master Teacher Derek Bowley, and iTheatrics Vice President of Publications Steven G. Kennedy.

Said Kennedy, "Decatur Community Player’s Roald Dahl's Matilda JR. showcased incredible ensemble work. They were an absolute joy to watch. They showed us confident acting choices and strong technique in their storytelling."

Added Bowley, "The actors performed with heart and energy. Their collaboration and connection as an ensemble was rewarding in the big group numbers, as well as smaller moments like the scene with Matilda and Miss Honey."

About The 2023 JTF Atlanta

Called a “rousing celebration of theatre” by the New York Times, the Junior Theater Festival applauds and empowers young people and educators creating student-driven musical theater around the globe.

The 2023 JTF West was an incredible weekend of singing, dancing, acting, and learning. There were 38 groups from 12 states, and South Korea participating in the festival.

Siblings Adam Jacobs and Arielle Jacobs, who both starred in Aladdin on Broadway performed the headlining concert.

The weekend also included panels and performances from songwriter Kate Anderson (Between the Lines); SJ Arnegger, director of iHeartRadio Broadway; actor Cori Jaskier (Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, TheaterWorksUSA's Charlotte's Web); Jade Jones (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Olney Theatre Center); Debbie Wicks La Puma (She Persisted, Elephant and Piggie’s We Are In A Play JR.); composer and music supervisor Daniel J. Mertzlufft (Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, Breathe); actor McKenna Michael (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical tour), actor Luca Padovan (Newsies, Broadway; School of Rock, Broadway); New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult (Between the Lines, Off-Broadway); Broadway composer and lyricist Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical); actor Evan Ruggiero (Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, Olney Theatre Center); Joe Serafini (High School Musical The Musical: The Series), and Michael Wordly (Kinky Boots, Chicago).

Groups enjoyed a New Works Showcase of performance selections from upcoming Broadway Junior® musicals presented by JTF groups, and other mainstage performances featuring powerhouse Broadway guests, and took part in workshops.

This press release was produced by Decatur Community Players. The views expressed here are the author's own.