Snow Hill - Greene County’s Kids on Stage (KOS) theatre group recently participated in the 2023 Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) in Atlanta this past weekend. The group presented scenes from Disney’s Moana Jr. Kids on Stage won a Freddie G Excellence in Acting award and Alexander Suggs received a Freddie G Outstanding Individual Performance award.

According to Artistic Director/Founder Parker Harris, “In previous years, KOS has been awarded the right to do Disney’s Aladdin JR as a part of Disney’s Pass The Lamp Initiative (JTF 2018), the Freddie G Inspiration Award (JTF 2019), & the Freddie G Excellence in Acting Award (JTF 2021).

Last year, Jaiya Thompson was awarded the Freddie G Outstanding Individual Performance award for her performance as Young Simba in our adjudication performance of Disney’s The Lion King JR.”

Kids On Stage presented Disney’s Moana JR. to actor Brion Watson (Hamilton, national tour, Wicked, national tour); Nina Meehan, Bay Area Children’s Theatre (BACT) founding CEO; and Peter Avery, director of theater for the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). Each of those adjudicators shared some great compliments with the KOS team. 

Avery said about Kids On Stage, “Kids On Stage’s presentation featured really lovely ensemble work. This cast is filled with strong performers across the board!”

Meehan said about Kids On Stage, “There is so much passion and energy in this ensemble! This program is clearly helping kids share their heart.”

Watson agreed regarding Kids On Stage, “Everyone was so committed to the story they were telling, which allowed for a wonderful theatrical experience. Their presentation showed how much they pay attention to details. It’s a testament to the leadership guiding this group.”

The group was chosen by audition in the Fall of 2022 and worked tirelessly together to pull off the awesome performance. Several members of the team posted on social media about the awesome experience it was to perform at JTF. Longtime KOS star Stacie Hubbard said via Facebook, “Two years in a row Kids On Stage has won excellence in acting. It is a privilege to be a part of this team and have a great relationship with each of my team members. Thank you, Parker Harris, for another opportunity to come and compete!” 

KOS Choreographer and Dream Team Member Shana Ruth shared via Facebook, “JTF 2023 was a spectacular weekend full of amazing people, incredibly inspiring, thoughtful, talented kids, and some wonderful memories! And KOS got to top it all off with an award - Excellence in Acting for the 2nd year running! Absolutely honored to work with such amazing young storytellers! No one showed more heart this weekend! This team is unbelievably special!”

Harris Shared, “I love being at JTF. We get to bring the best of the best to an international festival and show the world what Eastern North Carolina is made of. While we do perform in a competition, that is not all JTF is. While there, our kids get to meet people from around the world who participate in musical theater back home. They participate in workshops led by Broadway professionals and get to see some amazing performances.”

He went on to share that, “Winning Excellence in Acting is a true testament to the work we have done together as an organization. My number one goal when we do a musical is to tell a story, so to be awarded this honor at such a prestigious festival is an attribution to the great things that are happening at KOS.“

Kids on Stage’s next performance will be this March when they debut a brand new musical called “May We All”.