Local theater students achieved remarkable success at the **2026 Junior Theater Festival** held in Atlanta from **January 16 to 18**. This prestigious event, known as “the world’s biggest celebration of young people performing musical theater,” attracted **141 student groups** from **31 U.S. states** and **eight countries**, including Australia, England, and France. Among the **7,176 attendees**, three local troupes showcased their talents and were recognized with various awards.
The festival, which began in **2003**, is organized by **iTheatrics**, **Music Theatre International**, **Disney Musicals**, and **Playbill**. During the three-day event, participants engaged in workshops that covered various facets of theater, including dance, technical theater, acting, and music. Students also performed **15-minute excerpts** from Broadway Junior shows, which were evaluated by industry experts.
North Whitfield Middle School’s **Pioneer Players**, Westside Middle School’s drama club, and the **Artistic Civic Theatre’s ACT 2** children’s wing were among the groups that received accolades. North Whitfield’s musical theater teacher, **Ashlyn Barnett**, expressed pride in the students’ accomplishments, highlighting the festival as a unique opportunity for artistic growth.
North Whitfield’s Triumphs
The Pioneer Players stood out by performing a rendition of **Alice in Wonderland Junior**. With **38 students** participating, it was the largest group North Whitfield had ever sent to the festival. Barnett noted that out of the performers, four students engaged in technical roles or served as student directors, enriching their festival experience.
The group received the **Freddie G. Award for “Excellence in Music,”** marking the third consecutive year they achieved this honor. Notably, eighth-grader **Blakely Nix**, who played Alice, was recognized as an **“Outstanding Student Choreographer.”** Barnett commented, “This is our third year in a row receiving ‘Excellence in Music’ and our second year for ‘Outstanding Student Choreography.’”
Additionally, **Bo Owen**, a ninth-grader from Coahulla Creek High School, and **Zeydi Canales**, a seventh-grader from North Whitfield, were named **All-Stars** for their roles as the White Rabbit and Lily. Two students also received callback auditions for a summer program in New York City, where they would create choreography videos for new Junior musicals.
Barnett herself was honored as a recipient of the **Freddie G. Fellowship** for 2026, an award that provides educators with an all-expense-paid trip to New York to work with industry professionals. “This is a prestigious opportunity,” Barnett said. “It includes **$5,000** to enhance our local theater programs.”
Westside’s Recognition and Achievements
Westside Middle School’s drama club also garnered attention, earning a **Freddie G. Award for “Best Ensemble”** after performing **Shrek the Musical Junior**. The group included **25 participants** and showcased their talents effectively in front of a large audience.
**Kobe Martinez**, a freshman from Northwest Whitfield, and sixth-grader **Knox Ogle** received All-Star awards, while four students auditioned for the iTheatrics summer program. These included Martinez and seventh-graders **Mollie Addis** and **Kinsley Blount**, along with senior **Ella Rose**, who is also the drum major for the Blazing Blue marching band. Akers, the theater teacher, noted that around **650 students** auditioned for the program, highlighting the competitive nature of the festival.
In addition to performance, Westside students excelled in various workshops, particularly in social media and technical theater. **Jay Brewer** and ninth-grader **Stella Ogle** received commendations for their public relations project, while a team of students impressed in the **“Tech Olympics,”** finishing fourth among **141 competing groups**.
Artistic Civic Theatre’s Success
The Artistic Civic Theatre’s ACT2 group, which comprised **23 students**, also made a mark at the festival. They performed **Seussical Junior**, showcasing characters from Dr. Seuss’s beloved stories. The ACT2 team was awarded a **Freddie G. Award for “Excellence in Ensemble.”**
Managing director **Kate Southerland** emphasized the importance of the festival for young theater students. “The ensemble work they do in the 15-minute adjudications is invaluable,” she said. “The students are responsible for storytelling using only their voices and bodies, which is essential in theater.”
Southerland expressed pride in her students’ growth and camaraderie throughout the festival. “Hearing their support for one another was truly inspirational,” she remarked.
Both Barnett and Akers acknowledged the exceptional experiences provided by the Junior Theater Festival for students aspiring to pursue careers in theater. They emphasized the significance of networking with peers and professionals, which contributes to their personal and artistic development.
As a follow-up to their festival success, the Pioneer Players will perform their rendition of **Alice in Wonderland Junior** on **January 30** at North Whitfield Middle School. Meanwhile, Westside Middle School is scheduled to present the complete **Shrek the Musical Junior** from **April 31 to May 2** at Northwest Whitfield High School.
The accomplishments of these local students underscore their dedication and talent, positioning them as promising figures in the future of the arts.
