JTF - Godspell Reflection

Every year, Wildfish Theatre selects a group of 32 students (ages 9 - 18) to prepare a piece and perform at Junior Theatre Festival. I was honored to be chosen for the second time to participate in this excursion as my first trip had been a blast.

At our first rehearsal in September, we learned that we would be performing Godspell. I had heard of this musical but knew little about it. We began right away learning the music and harmonies (which are my least favorite part because out of singing, dancing, and acting - I am definitely and actor). After completing the music, we began incorporating dance and movement. I love to dance (I am not great) but it is always fun to learn the new choreography.  When we were not working on choreographing musical numbers, we were staging scenes that go in between the music. Godspell is a super cool show because it leaves a lot of room for improv and add-ons. This means that, while you have to say the lines in the script, there is plenty of freedom to make the show your own. For example, I was chosen to be the Protacles Son which I did as Miranda Sings (not gonna lie, my impression is impeccable). I had a lot of fun with my scene and I am proud of how it turned out.

After months and months of weekly rehearsals, our trip to Atlanta finally arrived. In the past, Wildfish has attended JTF West in Sacramento which is about 2,000 people. This year, we attended to JTF East in Atlanta. This festival was HUGE - 6,000 people! More people = more competition. We boarded the plane with our 32 musical theatre kids and set off for Atlanta.

At Junior Theatre Festival, each theatre group divides into pods and performs a 15 minute "cut" of an MTI produced musical. The performance is then adjudicated by professionals in the theatre world. When the time came for the adjudication, I was a little nervous because some of the pieces that came before ours were really good - especially in dance. Since we have people in our group as young as age nine, our choreography could only be so limited and precise. However, I had faith we could be the best in our pod.

Our performance went really well (people laughed at my lines yay!) and the judges loved us. We received the Best Ensemble award (only ten groups receive this). In addition, Estus (who played my father in the skit as Donald Trump) and I received the All-Star award meaning we were "standouts" in the performance. I was very honored. Also, our student choreographer, Abbigayle Scott (who is only 13!) received the best student Choreographer award!

Overall, this trip was even better than the first time and I had so much fun. I was able to see many famous people in the "musical theatre-world" perform on stage and made so many memories. I am so glad that I do theatre because it has made me more confident, helped my public speaking skills and has changed my life! Thank you Wildfish for this opportunity!

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