Art  THEATER

Students from Carpe Artista, Oakland Middle Receive Honors at 2023 Junior Theater Festival

STUDENTS REPRESENTING Carpe Artista in Smyrna and Oakland Middle School in Murfreesboro won awards and earned recognition at the 2023 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta, a weekend dedicated to celebrating student-driven musical theater programs Jan. 13–15.

Carpe Artista student Gabe Moyer received a Freddie G Student Direction or Choreography award and made it to the callback to a yet-to-be announced special project promoting musical theater in schools.

Moyer, along with fellow Carpe Artista representative Roman Seyfried and Oakland Middle School students Bailie Davis and Gavin Pearson, were named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars.

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

Carpe Artista presented The Big One-Oh! Jr.

“Their use of comedy was spot-on. Their characterizations were brilliantly realized and the choreography really told the story,” said judge Holly Stanfield.

Oakland Middle School presented Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr.

“This is one immaculately trained ensemble that strives for the best and has mastered the craft of storytelling,” said judge Cindy Ripley, senior education consultant at iTheatrics.

The Junior Theater Festival program applauds young people and educators creating student-driven musical theater around the globe. Its event drew 125 groups from 28 states, Canada and Australia. For more information on Junior Theater Festivals, visit juniortheaterfestival.com.

Arts Center of Cannon County Leads

Fairytale Journey Into the Woods

INTO THE WOODS, directed by Renee Robinson, continues through Feb. 11 at the Arts Center of Cannon County in Woodbury.

Journey “into the woods” with some of your favorite fairytale characters in this witty and tragic retelling by the late, great Stephen Sondheim. The story follows a baker and his wife who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

Into the Woods, rated PG, shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5. Tickets for adults start at $15 and are currently on sale at artscenterofcc.com, by calling 615-563-ARTS (2787), or in person at 1424 John Bragg Hwy., Woodbury, Tennessee.