Junior Thespians attended the Florida Junior Thespian State Festival at the Orange County Convention Center from February 5-7th, where students performed, learned from industry professionals, and expanded their theatre skills. The festival offers a wide range of workshops and performance opportunities, allowing scholars to gain hands-on experience in areas such as singing, dancing, acting, and stage management.

Lola Drake, a seventh-grade scholar, attended the festival excited to perform for the first time at States. “It’s not my first time going to States, but it’s my first time performing,” Drake said. “I brought my large group, You Will Be Found, from Dear Evan Hansen with my middle school choir. I also went to a dance workshop called ‘Daily 8 Count’ and learned a theatre dance with music from Beauty and the Beast.”

Workshops are a major highlight of the festival, giving students the opportunity to learn directly from professionals. Paisley Reyes, an eighth-grade scholar, shared what she gained from a vocal workshop. “At our singing workshop, we talked to a guy named Eddie Dotz,” Reyes said. “He taught us how stillness can be more powerful than movement in strong moments, and how a great slate can make a song even better.”

Students are also exploring the technical side of theatre. Charlotte Elderkin, an eighth-grade scholar, attended a stage management workshop focused on backstage communication and organization. “We learned how to communicate backstage using hand signals, how to make a circle out of spike tape, and how to measure a stage platform on paper,” Elderkin said. “I know this will help me when managing The Outsiders, because I have a better understanding of what it means to work in tech.”

As the festival wraps up, Junior Thespians gained valuable experience that will help them grow as performers and technicians, preparing them for future opportunities in theatre.