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Niche: Best Schools - 2022
4 Critics Choice Awards and 34 Individual Awards

4 Critics Choice Awards and 34 Individual Awards at Junior High Drama Competition

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American Heritage Schools, Palm Beach campus, proudly showcased the extraordinary talent and dedication of Troupe #88410 at the Junior Thespian District 3 Festival. Competing against over 600 students from schools across the district, our students delivered exceptional performances and designs, earning accolades that underscore their hard work and creativity.  

Among the day’s highlights, Asher Sukenik (8th grade) was named Best Actor of the Day, and Emma McCurdy (8th grade) received the honor of Best Technical Designer of the Day. These individual achievements reflect the exceptional talent cultivated within our Junior Thespian program.

The festival featured adjudicated performances scored on a rigorous five-level scale, with “Superior” being the highest rating. Judges then awarded their favorite pieces of the day a prestigious *Critics’ Choice Award*. This year, American Heritage broke records with four Critics’ Choice Awards:

- One Act: Booby Trap  
- Large Group Musical Number: “King of New York”  
- Publicity Design: Nate Colton (7th grade)  
- Scene Design: Emma McCurdy (8th grade)  

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Participation in Troupe #88410 is highly selective, requiring students to audition for a spot in this elite group. Members meet regularly during A days for class and dedicate multiple afternoons each week to rehearsals. Under the expert direction of Ms. Elyse Anderson, with support from Mr. Neil Burton (Technical Director), Ms. Ashley Vorsteg (Music Director), and Mrs. Melissa Terpak (Choreographer), these students have spent the past three months perfecting their material for competition.  

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication these young performers and designers have shown, as well as the outstanding recognition they received at this year’s Junior Thespian Festival. Their achievements exemplify the creative excellence and commitment to the arts that define American Heritage Schools. 

Critics’ Choice Awards:

  1. One Act - Booby Trap - 7th & 8th Grade Thespians
  2. Large Group Musical - “King of New York” - 7th & 8th Grade Thespians
  3. Publicity Design - Nate Colton (7th)
  4. Scene Design - Emma McCurdy (8th)

Best in Show:

  1. Best Actor of the Day - Asher Sukenik (8th)
  2. Best Technical Design of the Day - Emma McCurdy (8th)
  3. Best Actor in Booby Trap - Reid Jovine (7th)

Superior:

  1. One Act - Booby Trap - 7th & 8th Grade Thespians
  2. Large Group Musical - 7th & 8th Grade Thespians
  3. Small Group Musical - 6th Grade Thespians - Julian Burton, Dean Finkel, Charlotte Reinckens, Anaya Sehgal, Lucy Sweetnam, Charlotte Torres & Alex Von Schimmelmann
  4. Duet Musical -Mia Martin (7th) and Nate Colton (7th)
  5. Solo Musical - Skylar Levine (7th)
  6. Monologue - Asher Sukenik (8th)
  7. Monologue - Alana Schwartz (7th)
  8. Monologue - Reid Jovine (7th)
  9. Monologue - Maia Alvarez (7th)
  10. Publicity Design - Nate Colton (7th)
  11. Scene Design - Emma McCurdy (8th)
  12. Costume Design - Emma McCurdy (8th)
  13. Scene Writing - Dhruv Patel (8th)

Excellent:

  1. Duet Musical - Mia Martin & Maia Alvarez (7th)
  2. Duet Musical - Skylar Levine & Kylie Frankel (7th)
  3. Solo Musical - Alana Schwartz (7th)
  4. Solo Musical - Bella Pina (7th)
  5. Solo Musical - Nate Colton (7th)
  6. Solo Musical - Mia Martin (7th)
  7. Solo Musical - Kylie Frankel (7th)
  8. Solo Musical - Avery Horowitz (7th)
  9. Monologue - Neil Viradia (8th)
  10. Monologue - Dhruv Patel (8th)
  11. Monologue - RJ Hager (7th)
  12. Scene Writing - Kylie Frankel (7th)
  13. Scene Writing - Neil Viradia (8th)
  14. Scene Writing - Ruth Kominsky (8th)
  15. Makeup Design - Bella Pina (7th)
  16. Makeup Design - Avery Horowitz (7th)
  17. Publicity Design - Skylar Levine (7th)
  18. Publicity Design - Maia Alvarez (7th)