Student Performers Shine at Walt Disney World® Resort

Top U.S. high school and middle school theater troupes attend Walt Disney World festival.

Lapeer, MI (PRWEB) April 16, 2008 -- Comments like "Bravo", "Wow", and "Fantastic" cascaded throughout Walt Disney World® Resort for the amazing performances that were part of the National Performing Arts Festival. Twelve of the top high school and middle school theater troupes from throughout the nation attended the festival held at Walt Disney World on two separate weekends in January and February. Each group performed scenes from a theatrical production of their choice for a panel of professional adjudicators and attended a private, interactive feedback clinic following the performance.

The festival also featured Solo and Duet competition, theatrical seminars for the actors on topics such as audition techniques, stage movement, and vocal training, and special seminars taught by Disney experts for the school production technology students. The outstanding performances were recognized during a Sunday morning breakfast held at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney.

One of the drama troupes traveled from as far away as California, while the remainder came from Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Six of the groups presented popular school productions like Disney's High School Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, and Schoolhouse Rock Live. The other six covered for a wide range of topics from comedy (Humpty Dumpty is Missing) to Improv and an original composition entitled By Grace.

The top two performing troupes received a Superior Rating from a panel of theater professionals and the Showcase Award for best festival production. Each group concluded the festival by performing their production live on stage at a Disney Theme Park. They were:

- The Holly Children's Theater from Dahlonega, GA under the direction of Nathan Gerrells for their production of Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr. Based on the Emmy Award winning cartoon series, the show tells the story of Tom, a school teacher nervous about his first day of teaching, shown creative ways to teach with imagination and music, that cover a variety of subjects: math, science, history and grammar.

- Charlotte Christian School Act 1 from Charlotte, NC under the direction of Michelle Long for their production of By Grace, an original production written by Ms. Long and her students about Grace Kelly.

This is the fifth year of the festival at Walt Disney World. Annual festivals are also held in New York City and as part of a Bahamas Cruise. The festival at Disney is a unique collaboration between Walt Disney World and Travel Adventures.

Travel Adventures is a student tour (http://www.traveladventures.com) provider staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. It has served over one half million students since 1987 and its mission is to "empower teachers to create change by expanding the classroom to the world." To discover more about Travel Adventures and its many educational programs, visit Travel Adventures (http://www.traveladventures.com).

CONTACT: Dr. David Thompson, Educational Coordinator, Travel Adventures, Inc., 1175 S. Lapeer Road, Lapeer, MI 48446, Phone: 810-664-1777 X168, dthompson(at)traveladventures.com

###