{"id":148241,"date":"2026-02-08T19:20:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T19:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/148241\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T19:20:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T19:20:13","slug":"youth-theater-groups-earn-international-recognition-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/148241\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth theater groups earn international recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Melody Lane Performing Arts Center, which has been a mainstay at the Junior Theater Festival in recent years, received the Excellence in Ensemble Award in Atlanta for its selections from \u201cDisney\u2019s Aladdin JR.\u201d PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Melody Lane\u2019s\u00a0Jonathan Serrat earned an Award for Outstanding Individual Performance at the 2026 JTF. Serrat, a high school freshman who played Aladdin, received the high honor of \u201cOutstanding Individual Performance\u201d in the pod. Out of 144 groups and 7,000 people, only about 20 students earn this special award. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Multiple Cape Coral and Southwest Florida-based performing arts troupe once again earned national recognition on a large stage.<\/p>\n

Students representing Melody Lane Performing Arts Center, Gypsy Playhouse in Cape Coral, and Fort Myers Theatre received major awards and recognition at the 2026 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta. The weekend dedicated to rewarding and celebrating excellent student-driven musical theater programs happened Jan. 16-18 at the Cobb Convention Center in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

JTF Atlanta saw 141 groups from 31 states, as well as Washington DC, Australia, England, France, Malta, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales participate in the festival.<\/p>\n

Melody Lane Performing Arts Center, which has been a mainstay at JTF in recent years, received the Excellence in Ensemble Award for its selections from \u201cDisney\u2019s Aladdin JR.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the eighth time Melody Lane has represented at the festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery festival has unique programming such as the New Works Showcase in which we get to see brand new musicals presented, performance and technical workshops for students and teachers, interviews and performances by Broadway and Hollywood professionals, and so much more,\u201d said Melody Lane Director Dana Alvarez. \u201cBut besides the content that is presented, we continue to go back because we see such growth in our students\u00a0year after year They look forward to JTF as their favorite weekend. When our team can present their adjudication piece after working for months, the elation they feel while striking that final pose, hearing the applause and the judges\u2019 feedback \u2014 it is so fulfilling.\u201d<\/p>\n

At JTF, groups have to select 15 minutes of performance material from a Broadway JR title to present for adjudication. The songs have to be performed in their entirety (no cutting of music) and can include character dialogue. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus is to tell a story, not the whole story, in that limited time frame,\u201d Alvarez said. \u201cWe also choose material that will allow our team to work as an ensemble, as a cohesive group, with lots of moments for everyone to shine. \u2018Aladdin\u2019 is such a magical and fun tale that we were excited to get the chance to not just focus on technical dance moves but creating shapes and tableaus to set the scenes. Since no props, sets, or costumes are permitted, this means we needed to create the desert, Cave of Wonders, magic carpet, and more with just the students\u2019 bodies. The young performers rose to the challenge and did such an amazing job creating this selection.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alvarez said 25 students ages 8 to 18 were chosen for the team in June 2025 and began rehearsing in early October to learn the music, characters, and choreography.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey truly poured their whole hearts into it and had a blast,\u201d she said. \u201cWinning the Excellence in Ensemble Work award is a true testament to the work achieving the overall goal we had of creating a story that involved every single student as a storyteller. Between the multiple chances for singing solos and acting lines, the beautiful vocal harmonies they sang, and the various stage pictures created like the Genie coming out of the magic lamp, the market in Agrabah, and the landmarks Aladdin and Jasmine spot on the magic carpet ride; we completely agree that the team worked together beautifully as an ensemble. This award also reads as \u2018Triple Threat\u2019 status: that they weren\u2019t just excellent at acting, singing, or dancing- but all three. Our students were very honored to receive Excellence in Ensemble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Melody Lane students were also recognized as individuals by the panel.<\/p>\n

Two \u201cAll Stars\u201d per group are chosen by adjudicators to participate in a special workshop, and those two students were Alexa Careccia and Sophia Robinson, both in 10th grade. Careccia played one of Aladdin\u2019s best friends, Kassim, and had some show-stopping solos, said Alvarez. Robinson played the villainous Jafar and truly embodied the stealth and slyness of this icon. Three students received call-backs for the iTheatrics Special Project Auditions, meaning they may be invited to New York City this summer to film material for brand new musicals. Those students were Kennedy Fields, Stratton Reed, and Violet Salcido.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Serrat earned an Award for Outstanding Individual Performance.<\/p>\n

Serrat, a high school freshman who played Aladdin, received the high honor of \u201cOutstanding Individual Performance\u201d in the pod. Out of 144 groups and 7,000 people, only about 20 students earn this special award.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means that out of our pod\/category of performers, he stood out as an exceptional individual,\u201d Alvarez said. \u201cWe are so thrilled for Jonny to receive this recognition. His performance as Aladdin was captivating and heartfelt, and his singing is truly beautiful. Aladdin had a lot of \u2018heavy-lifting\u2019 to do as the title character in this show, and Jonny rose to the challenge, balancing strong vocals with fast-paced choreography and a wide range of acting on his character\u2019s emotional journey. When his name was called at the awards ceremony, our whole team celebrated as if sharing a part of that honor with him. Everyone was so happy for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group earned major kudos from the adjudicators, who are high-level talent in the Broadway and show business realm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the moment they stepped on the stage they worked together to create clear pictures that helped support the story,\u201d said Brion Watson, who has performed in \u201cHamilton,\u201d \u201cWicked,\u201d and \u201cMJ the Musical,\u201d in a release. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that this group knows hard work pays off in the long run. Their presentation showed us that strength lied in their ability to use their entire body to tell the story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alvarez said At Melody Lane, their creative team always strives for excellence while also working hard to create a safe space for growth and learning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want our students to understand why they are performing, what the story is, the lessons within the songs and scenes,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are not interested in creating a perfect cast doling out precise movements if there is no connection, no twinkle in the eye. So earning major recognition at the festival really helps to reassure us that we are balancing skill with heart. We are thankful to receive special awards that reinforce our core values and perhaps draw others to our program. For us, JTF is not about awards but instead a celebration of hard work and talent; but it is very nice to receive recognition year after year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alvarez, along with Amber Angeloro serve as Melody Lane\u2019s directors, with Sami Doherty handling choreography, and Athena Belis serving as assistant director.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gypsy Playhouse also received the Excellence in Ensemble Award, presenting \u201cDisney\u2019s Finding Nemo JR.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is clear these kids have found a space that lets them celebrate what they love to do and who they are,\u201d said Taylor Iman Jones, a Broadway actor, in a release. \u201cAnd nothing is greater or makes better humans than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rob Rokicki, educator and Broadway composer\/lyricist, stated, \u201cThis presentation of \u2018Finding Nemo JR.\u2019 was charming and delightful. The performers made fun characterizations and had lovely voices. They had expressive faces and great energy throughout the whole piece. You could tell that this group was having a blast and worked well as an ensemble, showing collaboration and what it means to be part of a team. They really worked well together the whole ocean world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gypsy Playhouse\u2019s Giana Randall and Cole Edwards were named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars. Cole Edwards, Giana Randall, and Vivienne Randall made it to the call-back to a yet-to-be announced special project promoting musical theater in schools.<\/p>\n

Fort Myers Theatre received the Excellence in Acting Award, presenting\u00a0\u201cRoald Dahl\u2019s Matilda The Musical JR.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFort Myers Theatre nailed it with their commitment, character and vivacity,\u201d said composer\/lyricist Matthew Lee Robinson, in a release. \u201cThe training here is so strong and there are so many very young artists who are sure to contribute vast amounts to the arts and to their broader community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fort Myers Theatre\u2019s JJ Freiras and Alani Bryan were named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars. Rian Bauer and Asher Azzi made it to the call-back to a yet-to-be announced special project promoting musical theater in schools.<\/p>\n


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