Commanding colossal spotlight

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School’s thespian troupe distinguished itself as an exemplary school with honors in several categories at the National Junior Thespian Festival in Coppell, Texas recently. 

Among the 22 schools in attendance, OLV was the only school from Alabama, and had 19 students who entered 17 individual events. 

In events such as monologues, solo musical theatre, duet acting and duet musical theatre, OLV students were awarded five superior ratings, 12 excellent ratings and one good rating. 

Two of the superior events were ranked in the top 10 of the entire conference and were performed in front of the entire festival on the final morning. This was one of the strongest showings for OLV at the Junior Thespian Festival. 

Events are judged and performances awarded superior, excellent, good, fair or non-rated based on performance. Students Kayla Wiggins, Eva Catherine Crawford, Olivia Fant, Tessa Elward, Avery Martin and Chandler Norman all received superior rankings. 

Students receiving superior awards are eligible to compete at the National Thespian Festival held in Lincoln, Neb., in June, where they compete with and are evaluated against high school students from around the country.

“I always love watching OLV students perform,” said Craig Branch, Junior Thespian Festival coordinator. “It is evident that their performances are committed to quality and hard work. The thespians love OLV and the work that they do there.” 

Branch said he noticed OLV students consistently taking on leadership roles in the workshops throughout the conference. 

“One thing that thrilled me was when our students asked if they could start a warm-up activity during registration,” said troupe director Michael Bridges. “Before I knew it, I looked up and there was a huge crowd gathered around our own students who were leading improv games and songs. They even got everyone singing ‘I’ll Make a Man Out of You’ from Mulan.”