Created to acknowledge the ways young people at the Junior Theater Festival are giving back across the country, The Playbill Community Service Award nominees have been announced. Groups attending JTF 2018, which kicks off in Atlanta January 12–15, were encouraged to document their organization's community service projects. The projects could be anything from hosting a weekly after-school program for underserved students, to holding a food drive, to performing at a nursing home.
Five finalists were chosen by a panel of adjudicators; and we now ask readers to vote on which project is their favorite. The organization receiving the most votes will win a $1,000 cash prize to support its continued charitable efforts, with an award presented during JTF. Voting opens Sunday, January 7, and ends at 11:59 PM ET January 13.
The JTF Community Service Award nominees follow:
Bay Area Performing Arts Casting (St Petersburg, FL)
"BAPAPC had the privilege to partner and exchange videos with Springs of Hope Orphanage in Njoro, Kenya. We then started our Lion King Kids performance with a song sung with both our BAPAC kids and the kids at the orphanage. All proceeds from our concessions were donated to the orphanage."
Roy Waldron (La Vergne, TN)
"Our team brought the theme of kindness from Flat Stanley to our school community. Our students created kindness cards, attached pencils that say 'Be You! #KindnessMatters,' and decorated random lockers throughout our school."
Augusta Jr. Players (August, GA)
"Camp Wonderful is a summer camp tailored to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and was inspired by the film Spectrum of Hope. The camp offers enriching theater experience in music, dance, and art with August Jr. Players serving as assistants."
Moorestown Theater Company (Moorestown, NJ)
"MTC donated $2 per ticket from the performance of West Side Story to UNICEF USA Hurricane Relief Fund for Puerto Rico. The service project was the idea of cast member Rebecca Vidal, who played Anita in the show and is Puerto Rican."
Social Circle Theater (Social Circle, GA)
"This year we participated with the UGA Miracle Dance Marathon, whose primary purpose is to raise money for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This was on top of our Special Hearts Club that provides yearly opportunities of disabled children and adults."
Founded in 2003, the Junior Theater Festival is the largest of its kind in the world and attracts students and instructors from across the U.S., who gather to participate in workshops and lectures and perform highlights from their respective productions. The three-day event celebrates musical theatre and the numerous Broadway Junior titles available for school-age performers through Music Theatre International and Disney Musicals.
As in previous years, Playbill is a sponsor of the Junior Theatre Festival and will report live from the event, keeping readers up to date on the exciting weekend of performances and special events. Follow
Vote for your favorite below!
