Nantucket Current | Nantucket Stage Company Takes Home Honors At…

Nantucket students have earned significant accolades at the 2026 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta, held January 16-18 at the Cobb Convention Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The festival celebrates excellence in student-driven musical theater programs nationwide.

Island Company Receives National Recognition

The Nantucket Stage Company was awarded the Excellence in Acting Award at the festival. This recognition highlights the company’s strong performance and dedication to theatrical arts.

All-Star Performers Shine

Two Nantucket students, Tomas Young and Julia Nogueira, were individually honored as Junior Theater Festival All-Stars. This distinction is given to a select group of outstanding student performers, recognizing their exceptional talent and stage presence.

Did You Know? The Junior Theater Festival Atlanta requires each participating group to perform a 15-minute excerpt from a Broadway Junior musical.

The Nantucket Stage Company presented “The Drowsy Chaperone JR” to a panel of judges including Derek Bowley, an iTheatrics teaching artist and music director, and Holly Stanfield, a theatre educator and Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year award winner.

Judges Impressed by Nantucket’s Production

Holly Stanfield praised the Nantucket Stage Company’s performance, noting their “strong vocal work and their stylized choreography.” She further commented that the students “understood the period of the piece and demonstrated skill beyond their years in creating the world of the play.”

Expert Insight: Recognition at the Junior Theater Festival Atlanta can be a pivotal moment for young performers, potentially opening doors to further opportunities and fostering a lifelong passion for the performing arts. The awards also reflect positively on the quality of arts education programs within the Nantucket community.

The success of the Nantucket Stage Company could inspire increased participation in local theater programs. It may also lead to further opportunities for these students to showcase their talents at regional or national levels. A possible next step for the company is to build on this momentum with future productions and workshops.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Junior Theater Festival Atlanta?

The Junior Theater Festival Atlanta is a festival dedicated to rewarding and celebrating excellence in student-driven musical theater programs.

Who are Tomas Young and Julia Nogueira?

Tomas Young and Julia Nogueira are Nantucket students who were named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars.

What musical did the Nantucket Stage Company perform?

The Nantucket Stage Company presented “The Drowsy Chaperone JR” at the festival.

How might early recognition in performing arts impact a student’s future?