Late last month, Valdosta Middle School became the first South Georgia middle school to compete in regional one-act theatre competition.
VMS Players Director Toni Jarvis ensured that her school could participate by not only preparing for its first competition but by agreeing to host the competition. She wasn’t certain of funding to transport her players to regional competition in any other location.
The move paid off and Jarvis and her students will travel now. VMS Players’ “Dracula: The Death of Nosferatu” won passage to state one-act competition later this month. Valdosta Middle cast and crew also won awards for performances and special effects.
The reason why Valdosta Middle is the first South Georgia middle school to compete in these competitions is simple.
Valdosta Middle School is the only area South Georgia middle school offering a theatre program.
VMS started the theatre program a few years ago under Jarvis’ direction. Given regional youth and children’s theatre activity in the region, it is a move other area middle schools may want to consider.
Valdosta-Lowndes County has two children’s theatres with the Little Actors Theatre and the Gingerbread Players of Theatre Guild Valdosta. Both of these organizations have attracted hundreds of young people to performance and stage work during the past several years.
Valdosta State University Theatre has annually toured area schools with shows designed to introduce theatre to young people.
Meanwhile, both Valdosta High and Lowndes High offer award-winning theatre programs. Both high schools have spent the past several weeks preparing for this week’s one-act regional high school competition in Moultrie. Lowndes High School Off-Broadway will present the Elton John-Tim Rice musical “Aida.” Valdosta High School Drama competes with Noel Coward’s British 1930s comedy, “Blithe Spirit.”
Meanwhile, the area has regular performances from VSU Theatre & Dance which opens the musical “Damn, Yankees” next week; Theatre Guild Valdosta which recently wrapped the Agatha Christie mystery “And Then There Were None”; the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts Presenter Series which hosts a professional touring production of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” this weekend; and Peach State Summer Theatre which presents three professional musicals each summer.
Valdosta Middle School Players has set the stage for other regional middle schools. Perhaps, other middle schools should consider following the VMS example by getting into the act.
What We Think
What We Think: Getting into the act
- What We Think
-
-
Memorial Day: A solemn occasion
Memorial Day has taken on many meanings through the years. The unofficial start of summer, a day off from work, a day to honor family and friends who have passed away.
-
Elections: Creating a two-party region?
Twenty years ago, most area elections were decided during the primaries. Then, almost every candidate qualified as a Democrat. While there may be plenty of challengers on the ballot, many seats were decided in July or a few weeks later during the primary run-off.
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To South Georgians making fine impressions on television singing competitions. Phillip Phillips of Leesburg won “American Idol” this week. Meanwhile, Lowndes High School graduate Stacia Watkins participated in the new ABC show “Duets.” Well done!
-
Farewell to the vanishing ace
Donald S. “Bush” Bryan was not only a rare individual. He was part of a vanishing breed.
An Adel resident for the past 30 years, Bryan was a World War II flying ace. Not just an ace but a double ace. A pilot must down five enemy aircraft to become an ace; Bryan downed 13.3 enemy planes in Europe. The fractions represent planes downed with other pilots. -
A widespread mosquito alert
In announcing the discovery of a mosquito carrying the West Nile Virus strain, city and health officials did not include the specific location of the discovery.
-
Of Guantanamo Bay and a Founding Father
Some readers may wonder how a Valdosta High School graduate could bring himself as an attorney to represent a Guantanamo Bay prisoner charged in connection to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
-
Congratulations, VSU Softball!
This weekend, Valdosta State University Blazers Softball became the latest team to add to Valdosta’s TitleTown legacy.
-
School’s out so watch out!
Summer is a time of rest, vacations and trips. It is a time when school is out, when people take time off from work, when people may stay out a little later. It is a time of swimming, trying new things, and seeking adventure.
-
Qualifiers are next leaders
While the national media focuses attention on the presidential election, it should be remembered that we will also choose our local leaders this year.
-
Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To the 2011-12 arts season. Theatre Guild Valdosta’s rollicking comedy, “Caught in the Net,” officially brings to a close a magnificent schedule of shows ranging from theatre to opera to concerts to art exhibits and more from a variety of area venues. Theatre Guild will also open the 2012-13 season this summer with the musical “Into the Woods.” Until then, arts lovers can soon enjoy a new series of exhibits from the year-round Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts and three musicals starting in two weeks from Peach State Summer Theatre.
- More What We Think Headlines
-
Memorial Day: A solemn occasion
