Two Theatre for Youth(TFY) Festivals, events of the Alabama Conference of Theatre, were held this spring.  The first TFY festival was at Saint James School, Montgomery, AL, on February 25, 2023, and the second at Collins Intermediate School, Scottsboro, AL on March 11, 2023.  Nearly 200 students from 13 elementary and middle school drama programs participated. The participating organizations were Gwin Elementary (Hoover), Opelika Theatre Company, Prattville Junior High School, Bumpus Middle School (Hoover), Rudd Middle School (Jefferson County), The Studio (Mobile), Thompson Middle School (Shelby County), Trace Crossings Elementary (Hoover), UMS-Wright Preparatory School (Mobile), Wetumpka Middle School, Collins Drama Club (Scottsboro), Discovery Middle School (Huntsville) Lee Scott Academy, Rainbow Middle School.

Coordinating the events were Cindy Harper, Executive Director, Melissa Strickland, Chair, Theatre for Youth, Ashley Bishop, Vice Chair, Theatre for Youth, and hosts Lonny Harrison at St James School, and Matt Brewer at Collins Intermediate School.  The judges were Jessica Lucas, Kim Mason, Charles Thompson, Allison Keene, Cam Williams, Angie Dixon, Drew Wingate, Rachel Pickering, Daniel Harris, Roy Lightner, and Randy Foster., Sara Argiro, Wesley Rorex, Vanessa Marcum, Paul Stevenson and Brian Adkins. Workshops leaders were Brian Adkins, Kayleigh Smith, Sean Golson, and Ashely Portis.

The Theatre for Youth Festival provide quality training workshops and performance opportunities for Alabama theatre students in 4^th through 8th grade. The festival consists of solo, duet and group acting events, solo, duet and group musical theatre events, pantomime, and a technical theatre showcase. The top three students in each event receiving a Superior score are named to the All-Star Cast and receive a medal. 

All-Star Cast from TFY-Montgomery

All-Star Cast from TFY-Scottsboro: