Y Arts theater group gets ready for Atlanta!

The youth of Boothbay Region Y Arts have been very busy this month. In addition to “Seussical Jr” at Lincoln Theater, caroling on Boothbay Common, and the recent Christmas Spectacular show, they’ve been rehearsing for their 15-minute adjudication at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta over the weekend of Jan. 14.

YMCA Arts & Humanities Director and Y Arts youth groups’ director Emily Mirabile has chosen “Madagascar Jr” for the competition. Mirabile selects a show after she learns who the performers will be for the best fit for each group.

“With everything the kids have been through it will be fun to take a ‘party’ to the competition,” said Mirabile. “The show also has a lot of fun roles, including multiple styles of dance.”

Ranging in age from 8 to 18, Imij Armstead, Fiona Bishop, Lindsey Clifford, Emerson Harris, Ford Harris, Sarah Harris, Phoebe Cook, Sophia Mansfield, Scout Martin, Sofia Michaud, Lina Minzer, Anderson Pierpan, Hamilton Pierpan, Spencer Pottle, Jojo Shea, Finn Sullivan, Trey Tibbetts, Jessie Ullo and Kayla Watts will be attending. Most members of the group are from the Boothbay Region, but a few are from Newcastle and Bristol and one from as far as Massachusetts.

Mirabile, who is expecting her second child in January, will not be attending the festival. In her stead, she is sending a team of Y Arts alumni – Taylor Fish, Noelle Timberlake, Kate Hilscher and Ellie Hilscher. They will meet the group in Atlanta.

“I am fully preparing the group for the competition prior to their departure,” Mirabile said. “All four girls participated in Y Arts for many years – and attended the festival together when they were in elementary and high school. I am very confident that they will succeed and thankful for them stepping in to help our youth performers down in Atlanta. We are typically strong with our ensemble work meaning all the kids can do the given choreography and work well together to make sure everyone succeeds. Our overall performance is strong because of this.”

In addition to the adjudication, this weekend-long event includes workshops, programs and performances by theater pros in all areas of musical theater – and tech, too. Some students, based on their performance during the adjudication, are named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars; up to six members of each group may be invited to audition for Steven G. Kennedy, Broadway Junior’s resident choreographer and a chance to be in a Broadway Junior choreography video shoot.