Meet Whiz Kids: International Community School Acting Troupe

Name: International  Community School Acting Troupe

Accomplishment: This troupe of young performers from the International Community School in Avondale Estates recently won national recognition as winners of the 2011 Freddie G. Broadway Junior Spirit Award.

The cast won the award for their performance of selections from Disney’s “The Jungle Book” at the annual Junior Theatre Festival held in Atlanta. The festival attracted more than 2,000 students from more than 50 schools in the U.S.

The award recognizes achievements in teamwork and production excellence.  Sponsored by Disney Theatrical Productions and Music Theatre International, the festival is produced by Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars and New York City-based iTheatrics which helps develop stage works for young people. Noteworthy participants included Tony-Award-nominated “Fences” director Kenny Leon and Baayork Lee, original cast member and revival director of “A Chorus Line.”

Also, International Community School student Gezai Eta (left of the student in the green shirt) won both the "Outstanding Individual Male Performance Award," and the "Junior Slam Award."

As a result of these honors, their instructor, Shell Ramirez is one of eight educators who will attend the Freddie G. Theatre Experience in New York City this summer. The teachers will participate in classes with some of Broadway’s leading choreographers, directors, producers, actors and designers and attend workshops on topics such as musical styles, directing and vocal techniques and experience backstage tours.

Sidenote: The cast will perform selections from "The Jungle Book" Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Clarkston Community Center. Tickets are $5.