The Boothbay Region Y Arts competition team traveled to the National Performing Arts Festival at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida Feb. 16-19 and received the highest ranking of “Superior Performance” for their adjudication piece, “Let’s Go to the Movies.” The team, made up of 27 local youth, also received an ensemble award for excellence and professionalism. The judges commented how the Y Arts group “had a spark they had not seen in a long time.” Agatha Harris, Scout Martin, Oscar Mirabile, and Trey Tibbetts won individual awards for “outstanding performances.”

The 2023 Y Arts team was directed by Emily Mirabile and comprised of Spencer Pottle, Imij Armstead, Rory Vaudreuil, Trey Tibbetts, Reese Nelson, Sarah Harris, Sophia Mansfield, Josephine Shea, Sofia Michaud, Andrew Minzner, Natalie Flagg, Allison Smart, Gigi Blake, Scout Martin, Ford Harris, Jessie Ullo, Kayla Watts, Fiona Bishop, Jackie Branch, Lucie Hollon, Sloan Nelson, Collin Cantillo, Finn Sullivan, Lina Minzner, Agatha Harris, Lily Billings, and Oscar Mirabile. 

Over the course of their stay in Orlando, members of the group also competed in the solo/duo event. Fiona Bishop and Ford Harris received outstanding performance awards for their duet “Anything You Can Do.” Scout Martin and Spencer Pottle received outstanding performance awards for their solos “Don’t Rain On My Parade” and “Grow As We Go.”

The group attended workshops in dance, acting and singing, led by industry professionals along with enjoying park time at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The festival ended with a showcase on the Lagoon Stage at City Walk. Scout Martin, Fiona Bishop and Ford Harris were invited to perform their solo/duo pieces. Sarah Harris stepped in at the last minute as an understudy for Bishop (who had lost her voice) and sang with her brother in the showcase. 

The Y Arts competition team plans to attend the Junior Theater Festival in 2024. If your youth performer has interest in joining the team please contact Emily at emirabile@brymca.org for more information. Rehearsals will begin in March.