'Shrek' performance earns students national recognition
by Melissa Flatt, parent volunteer
Middle School Theater earns Outstanding Performance Award at Junior Theater Festival.
Middle School Theater earns Outstanding Performance Award at Junior Theater Festival.
Middle School Theater, under the direction of Bakari King, traveled to Atlanta this past weekend to attend the Junior Theater Festival. Braving snow, ice, and flu, we made it over the mountain to JTF 2018 and earned the Outstanding Performance Award.
JTF is the world’s largest gathering of musical theater students. The weekend is full of schools performing 15-minute adjudication pieces, participating in workshops, seeing new musical adaptations, hearing from theater professionals, and attending a concert. This year’s experience included appearances from Stephen Schwartz, Paul Williams, Samsel and Anderson, and Megan Hilty, just to name a few.
We do, however, prepare an adjudication piece. This year, USN presented a 15-minute adaptation of "Shrek Jr. the Musical." If you had any concerns about illness, or that the room was warm, or that we had been sitting for a long time, you can let all of that go. USN literally rocked the house. The harmonies were beautiful, their faces and bodies engaged in the action, choreography crisp. The energy was amazing. Our students have never done it better. The audience clapped with the songs, toes tapped, and the ovation started before the last notes faded from the air. They gave it their all and they told the USN story.
It wasn’t until after dinner that the results were posted, and we found out USN was chosen as one of the outstanding performances. We got to perform "Freak Flag" on the main stage Sunday, Jan. 14 in front of all 6,000 festival attendees. It was a huge honor. To put this award in perspective, at JTF 2018 there were:
One of my favorite quotes from this weekend comes courtesy of songwriter Paul Williams, who said, “Different is special that hasn’t been discovered yet.”
Don’t be afraid to be different, because again, this is our story.
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JTF is the world’s largest gathering of musical theater students. The weekend is full of schools performing 15-minute adjudication pieces, participating in workshops, seeing new musical adaptations, hearing from theater professionals, and attending a concert. This year’s experience included appearances from Stephen Schwartz, Paul Williams, Samsel and Anderson, and Megan Hilty, just to name a few.
We do, however, prepare an adjudication piece. This year, USN presented a 15-minute adaptation of "Shrek Jr. the Musical." If you had any concerns about illness, or that the room was warm, or that we had been sitting for a long time, you can let all of that go. USN literally rocked the house. The harmonies were beautiful, their faces and bodies engaged in the action, choreography crisp. The energy was amazing. Our students have never done it better. The audience clapped with the songs, toes tapped, and the ovation started before the last notes faded from the air. They gave it their all and they told the USN story.
It wasn’t until after dinner that the results were posted, and we found out USN was chosen as one of the outstanding performances. We got to perform "Freak Flag" on the main stage Sunday, Jan. 14 in front of all 6,000 festival attendees. It was a huge honor. To put this award in perspective, at JTF 2018 there were:
- 119 groups
- 30 states represented
- six countries represented
- nine outstanding performance awards, including USN
One of my favorite quotes from this weekend comes courtesy of songwriter Paul Williams, who said, “Different is special that hasn’t been discovered yet.”
Don’t be afraid to be different, because again, this is our story.
More USN News
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Athletes beyond Edgehill
Read MoreIt is common to have five or more University School of Nashville student-athletes sign college athletic commitment letters each year. USN has 25 alumni participating in their chosen sport at the collegiate level from the Classes of 2021 through 2025. Continue reading to learn more about where Tigers are competing beyond Edgehill. -
Tech Bytes: Tips for summer
Middle School Educational Technologist Kari Luecke shares must-read articles and suggests options to declutter your smartphone and reduce screen time this summer.Read More -
6th graders head to capitol for spirited debate
Read MoreDuring a fun field trip to wrap up the year, students were able to debate on the House floor during a visit to the Tennessee State Capitol. See more photos from their final lesson here.
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.