Twenty-seven members of the Independent Day School-Corbett Campus Thespian Troupe 88622 competed last weekend in the Florida Junior State Thespian Competition in Melbourne. Students received medals in each of the five categories in which they competed, earning a total of nine superior and two excellent awards, in addition to Best in Show for Small Group Musical.

According to IDS-CC middle school teachers Barbara McBride, Jeanne Rivera, Michael J. Vokoun, and Sheri Whittington, who serve as coaches for Thespian Troupe 88622, every student who competed earned either a superior or an excellent award.

With 2,841 middle school students from around the state competing, the Florida Junior State Thespian Competition has doubled in size since last year and has become the largest festival of its kind in the world, according to Junior State Thespian Director Rod Savickis.

“It’s highly competitive and to qualify, students needed to achieve a superior rating at a district competition,” said Whittington. “All of our students worked extremely hard, and showed incredible dedication to preparing for the past six months.”

Vokoun agreed, adding, “I am so impressed with their work-ethic. Students spent many hours outside of school hours to create their amazing performances, and this dedication to do their best by excellent preparation paid off in spades! Congratulations, Troupe 88622!”

The results of the state competition were:

One-Act Play – Superior

This Is A Test: (Cast) Laurel Floen, Serena Jonas, Emily Quin, Slater Rice, Kalie Schrader, Adam Shaikh, Morgan Selewach, Ricky Thomas, Mia Torres, Eli Watson, Seth Will, Sophia Windisch, Valan Zuccolillo (voted the performance’s “Best Actor”); (Crew) Jaclyn Cohen, Jonah Kornberg, Maggie Kratzer

Small Group Musical Theatre – Superior & Best of Show

“But I Do” from I Love You Because: Victoria Beaudoin, Jonah Kornberg, Julia Peacock, Alex Rivera

Small Group Musical Theatre – Superior

“Prologue” from Little Shop of Horrors: Laurel Floen, Megan McBride, Kalie Schrader

Duet Musical Theatre – Superior

“Some Things Are Meant to Be” from Little Women: Catie Clark, Noa Friedman

Duet Musical Theatre – Excellent

“Introducing Me” from Camp Rock: Emma Friedman, Connor Goering

Solo Musical Theatre – Superior

“You’ve Got Possibilities” from It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman: Victoria Beaudoin

Solo Musical Theatre – Superior

“On My Own” from Les Misérables: Allegra Beachy

Solo Musical Theatre – Superior

“Blue Hair” from The Black Suits: Laurel Floen

Solo Musical Theatre – Superior

“Still Hurting” from The Last Five Years: Julia Peacock

Monologue – Superior

“What Andy Warhol Never Told Me”: Emma Friedman

Monologue – Excellent

“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”: Sam Goetz

For more information about IDS-CC, go to www.idsyes.com.