Thirty-one of the region’s talented young Y-arts performers will be on their way to Atlanta this weekend to take part in the 11th annual Junior Theater Festival. The Boothbay Region YMCA Y-Arts program has a history with this festival, first participating in 2009 when we were invited to take part. Ginny Bishop’s huge success with our Y-arts group attracted a lot of attention in the theater world, and those who have followed this Y-Arts program for years know that their shows have been second to none and earned rave reviews month after month, year after year. Ginny was determined that we take advantage of the invitation to perform in Atlanta, and the money was raised to make the trip possible. It was the first of many and talented Boothbay kids excelled in their performances time after time. They have chosen to perform Godspell, Jr., again this year, a favorite, with more dancing added.

It’s with pride that we send yet another Y-Arts group south, this time under the capable direction of Ginny’s daughter, Emily Mirabile, who worked alongside her mother for years before taking over the reins herself.  Thirty-one performers, ages 6 to 18, will be making the trip this year, where they not only get to perform, but also attend workshops and master classes to help them hone their skills. Back in 2010, four young performers, Sophia Thayer, Nate Friant and his sister, Kate, and Rick Hilscher, were all chosen to perform for a special DVD for Fame, Jr. — quite an honor, considering that theater students from all across the country attend the annual festival, many of them from private schools with hand-picked pupils.

It’s pretty amazing that our small community is able to offer such professional training to young folks who have an interest in theater and dance. It’s an opportunity often only afforded to those in the city. Our congratulations to the Atlanta-bound young people and may you make us proud, once again.