Theatre-Arts Students and Teacher at Jefferson Middle Honored

Jefferson Middle School students and theatre-arts teacher Joanna Palmer returned from the N.C. Theatre Conference Middle School Play Festival with a number of recognitions and honors.

In Offerings, Jefferson received a Superior rating. Jefferson also received:

Excellence in Acting – Alec Marsh

Outstanding Achievement in Acting – Cassidy James

Excellence in Directing – Joanna Palmer

Excellence in Costumes

Excellence in Ensemble Acting

The N.C. Theatre Conference (NCTC) Middle School Play Festival strengthens arts education in schools by bringing curriculum to life, challenging students to do their very best work, and contributing to the development of future audiences for live performing arts. This year, Jefferson Middle students participated in one of two regional Play Festivals, featuring 300 students from 14 schools in 17 productions.

The atmosphere at the Play Festival is positive and exciting, and students are filled with energy as they watch shows, learn from their peers and make new theatre friends. Schools travel with theatrical sets and load-in to a 10-foot-by-10-foot backstage area. Before their 45-minute time limit begins, students eagerly await hearing the starting phrase, “Your time begins NOW!” The 45-minute time limit includes setting up, performing the play and clearing the stage. Following their performance, students join their peers in the cheering audience to receive feedback from professional actors and directors with Broadway and Hollywood credits. Actors, designers, writers, directors and teachers are celebrated, and bring home awards that are displayed beside school sports trophies.

The NCTC Middle School Play Festival is made possible with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

The NCTC Play Festival also builds 21st Century and Workplace Skills. Future employers seek the creativity that theatre students develop, as they go beyond linear thinking in rehearsals and productions. Students begin to understand Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy, as they work together to build their set and execute their design. The Play Festival rehearsal process encourages Communication and Collaboration as students work in diverse teams, and Productivity and Accountability, as they assume shared responsibility for their work with their classmates. Students also develop Initiative and Self-Direction, and set high standards for their work at the Festival.

More information about NCTC is available at nctc.org