Hoboken Middle School Junior Thespians Earn Five Superior Awards at State Theatre Festival
Hoboken Middle School Junior Thespians Earn Five Superior Awards at State Theatre Festival
Students Shine in Acting Competitions and Workshops at the New Jersey Junior Thespians Festival
Hoboken, NJ, —(May 12, 2026) Students from Hoboken Middle School showcased exceptional talent, creativity, and professionalism at the New Jersey Junior Thespians Festival held on May 9 at the OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy. The statewide event brought together middle school theatre students and educators to celebrate performance, collaboration, and arts education through workshops and competitive events.
New Jersey Junior Thespians is a chapter of the Educational Theatre Association, which sponsors the International Thespian Society (ITS). Its mission is to promote, strengthen, and advocate for theatre arts education in New Jersey middle schools by providing meaningful performance opportunities and high-level training experiences for students.
Throughout the day-long festival, Hoboken students participated in a wide range of interactive workshops designed to build technical skills, confidence, and creative expression. Sessions included Playwriting, Mamma Mia!: Dance, Improv Fun, The Art of the Toss: Juggling, Theater Games, and Unlock Your Voice: An Intro to Vocal Technique. These workshops allowed students to learn directly from theatre professionals and educators while collaborating with peers from across the state.
In addition to workshops, students competed in performance categories including Monologues, Duet Acting, Solo Musical Performance, and Group Scene. The Hoboken Middle School delegation delivered standout performances, earning five Superior Thespy Awards—the highest honor awarded for achieving perfect scores.
“These students demonstrated an incredible level of dedication, focus, and artistry,” said theatre educators PJ Benson, Aishah Tapia, and Gina Rotondi. “Their success reflects not only their talent, but also their willingness to take risks, support one another, and grow as performers.”
The festival experience also emphasized the importance of teamwork, discipline, and self-expression—skills that extend beyond the stage and into students’ academic and personal lives. Teachers noted that opportunities like the Junior Thespians Festival help students build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and develop a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts.
Superior Thespy Awards were earned in the following categories:
- Monologue: Madison McKeown
- Monologue: Doug Critelli
- Monologue: Alex Poucki
- Duet Acting: Luke Mei & Phillip Lazorchick
- Group Scene: Connor Broderick, Kelsey Broderick, Doug Critelli, Phillip Lazorchick, Jillian Mahat, Madison McKeown, Luke Mei, Carlos Pineda, and Alex Poucki
Students representing Hoboken Middle School included Nyah Beveridge, Violet Blaylock, Connor Broderick, Kelsey Broderick, Lenny Cohen, Doug Critelli, Otto Hasselberger, Phillip Lazorchick, Jaden Lionel, Jillian Mahat, Madison McKeown, Ellie Miller, Luke Mei, Carlos Pineda, and Alex Poucki.
The Hoboken Middle School theatre program continues to provide students with enriching performance opportunities throughout the school year, encouraging artistic exploration, community engagement, and student leadership. The success at the New Jersey Junior Thespians Festival highlights the program’s ongoing commitment to excellence in arts education.
About Junior Thespians
Junior Thespians is a statewide theatre education program for middle school students that provides opportunities to develop performance skills, explore creative expression, and participate in adjudicated theatre events. It operates as a chapter of the Educational Theatre Association, the organization that also sponsors the International Thespian Society. Through festivals, workshops, and performance assessments, Junior Thespians promotes theatre arts education by helping students build confidence, collaboration skills, and a deeper understanding of all aspects of theatrical production.