TUTS' Humphreys School Shines Bright at the 2011 Junior Theater Festival

Students from Theatre Under The Stars' (TUTS) Academy at the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT), recently received several accolades including Outstanding Achievement in Music, Outstanding Student Director and Outstanding Student Choreographer in the nation-wide Junior Theater Festival, January 14 - 16, 2011. More than 2,000 children, aged 7 - 15 years, participated in the celebration of musical theatre presented by iTheatrics and Theater Of The Stars in Atlanta, Georgia. "The level of professionalism our students portrayed at the festival was equally impressive to any award they could have received. We are proud to have them represent HSMT and Theatre Under The Stars." said Bob Lawson, TUTS' Director of Education.

One of the benefits of attending the Junior Theater Festival is to receive critiques from voice, dance and acting adjudicators who are professionals in the business. The students of HSMT performed a fifteen minute piece from the musical The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr. to much success. The following honors were awarded to HSMT:

A trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Music for The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr.
A gold medal for Outstanding Student Director to Alex Stone
A gold medal for Outstanding Student Choreographer to Christian Warner
A gold medal for Outstanding Student Ensemble Member for Broadway Slam to Preston Granger
Trey Curtis and Meredith Bechtel were selected to perform in the All-Star show
Dylan Lambert, Matthew Smith, Michelle Smith, Payton Russle, Miho Maeda, Kerry Sullivan, Hanna Seay and Preston Granger were all asked to audition to appear in the future Broadway Junior Choreography DVD
Donovan Linsey was selected as a Technical Theatre All-Star
Christian Warner was selected to introduce keynote speaker Tom Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical
Presented Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. in the New Works Showcase
Under the direction of Alex Stone and choreography of Christian Warner, the following ensemble of students worked together in making The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr. an award-winning success at the festival: Meredith Bechtel (Mom), Emma Campbell, Mia Coyle, Trey Curtis (Dad), Rebecca Eckert (Featured Dancer), Preston Granger (Arthur), Ronson Hawkins, Fallon Jones, Dylan Lambert (Flat Stanley), Donovan Linsey (Doctor Dan), Amanda Lofaro (Narrator), Miho Maeda (Narrator), Libby Malone, Peyton Manning, Miles Marmolejo (Narrator), Payton Russle (Nurse Betty), Lauren Santana, Hanna Seay, Riley Shaper, Nick Sheppard, Lindsay Sloan (Talent Agent), Matthew Smith (Featured Dancer), Michelle Smith (Featured Dancer), Ellie Sondock and Emily Wallace.

An additional honor for HSMT was being one of four schools asked to perform an original musical number in the festival's New Works Showcase. With creative costuming and hats, the students transported the audience "Under The Sea" in Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. Appearing as Ariel, the curious mermaid looking for life beyond the depths of the sea was Mallory Bechtel. Her smaller sidekicks, Flounder and Sebastian, were played by Parker Manning and Gerra Gistand. Also appearing in this musical number was Brooke Humphrey as Ursula; Savannah Schakett as Jetsom; Paige Manning, McKenna Marmolejo, Lauren Matthews, Janie Stewart, Kerry Sullivan and Anna Yost as Ariel's mermaid sisters.

Many unique opportunities were also given to those who attended the festival as described by student director Alex Stone, "The Junior Theatre Festival was a life changing event. The experience I had was indescribable. I cannot thank TUTS enough for this opportunity". Interactive workshops with highly skilled theater professionals were available to both students and teachers. Key note speakers including Jeanine Tesori, musical composer of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek the Musical; Thomas Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical; and Houston native Bryan-Michael Cox, producer and song writer for artists like Justin Beiber, Usher and Beyonce were on hand to encourage the students to follow their theatrical dreams.

Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars is Houston's acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge. TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the building opened. Since its founding by Frank M. Young, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Kopit and Yeston's Phantom, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll & Hyde, and Irving Berlin's White Christmas as well as critically acclaimed re-inventions of classics Cabaret and Les Miserables. Through its membership in the Independent Presenters Network, TUTS has helped bring Bombay Dreams, 9 to 5, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot, Legally Blonde, Ragtime, Curtains and The Color Purple to Broadway.

As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS Education provides instruction and stage experience for more than 21,000 students annually, allowing students to flourish in a year-round schedule of classes. With a common goal - to expand arts access to children of all abilities - The River Performing and Visual Arts Center (The River) merged with Theatre Under The Stars in 2010, creating a unique, barrier free, arts education model for non-profit musical theatre performing arts organizations. With the merger, TUTS Education now provides extended on-site programming as well as off-site programming for children in schools, hospitals and other community-based sites. Housed in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.

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