JHStheaterarts Mission Statement

The Jenkintown High School Theater Arts Program is dedicated to nurturing and developing the talents of the Jenkintown High School student body and providing a safe and creative environment where the artists can cultivate their craft within a supportive and caring community.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

CLUE FUNDRAISER!!!!!! OCTOBER 20TH 7:00 p.m.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS


SNAP RAISE FUND RAISER

LAUNCH DATE

OCTOBER 20TH

7:00 p.m.

VIRTUAL GATHERING ON GOOGLE CLASSROOM


ALL JTA MEMBERS MUST PARTICIPATE!!!!


WE ARE IN NEED OF:

COSTUMES

BULDING MATERIALS

SET DESIGNER

OUTDOOR HEATERS

(JUST TO NAME A FEW ITEMS)

EACH CAST MEMBER WILL NEED 20 

(YES! 20) 

EMAIL CONTACTS FOR THE FUND RAISER!!!!

Celebrate the ARTS!!!!




Sunday, October 4, 2020

Jenkintown Theater Arts (JTA) presents. . . .

 

Jenkintown Theater Arts

Fall/Winter Mystery/Comedy

CLUE

"Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery.




Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. 

The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. 

When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by the Wadsworth – the butler, Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. 

Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out…WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT! 


Tuesday, June 9, 2020

2020 JTA Celebration


Friends,

Today we celebrated the JTA community and celebrated our Seniors.

Each season, we all continue to raise the bar of excellence.

We work countless of hours, rehearsing, singing, acting, setting props, setting light cues, working on transitions (just to name a few tasks that is part of our theater routine).

With each step we take, we move closer to that moment when we gather together to share the experience of "live" theater.

Seeing you all today, brought me strength and love.   I am always filled with joy and gain energy from our times shared.

I adore you all.  I miss you all.  

Laura, Delene, Bella, Henry, Michael, Siobhan, Maya, Yusra!

Please know we are always here for you....to laugh, to cry, to share in your accomplishments  on your next journey.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Lys and the entire JTA family!



https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EKPTw4n27jdQYn5n2LuDCioL5ip11nig/view?usp=sharing

JTA TALENT SHOWCASE -HOT OFF THE PRESS!

2020 JMHS TALENT SHOW- LULU PETTIT
JHS’s 2020 Talent Show was full of amazing performers from the 
MS/HS student body and teachers alike.

The first section was middle school, opened up by the singing 
seventh grader Maya Williams, who perfectly stunned the audience 
with her voice in “Love Like You” from Steven Universe. Next was 
Natalie Munson playing “Pachelbel Canon” on the piano
 (spoiler alert: everyone loved it).

Munson was followed by the talented Celia DeFazio singing/playing 
ukulele “I Go Crazy,” then Gigi Payne playing her violin. 
All four girls were incredible and clearly musically gifted. 
Third place went to Maya Williams, second was Natalie Munson, 
and for first -- we had a tie! Gigi Payne and Celia DeFazio tied for first, 
an award that they definitely both deserved.
Then the high school portion began, which was equally impressive. 

The opener for high school was freshman Jackie Drozd 
(who you might recognize as one of the Gangsters in last fall’s production of 
The Drowsy Chaperone) singing an operatic song I can’t even begin to spell. 
She was insane and won herself third place. 
Next was Breah Sandre and Hannah Boyle, both sophomores, 
performing a hilarious scene from Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew 
(which high schoolers know more commonly as the
inspiration for the 90s rom-com classic 10 Things I Hate About You).
After, sophomore Aden Dubin sang “Corduroy Dreams” 
while accompanying himself on guitar. 

Succeeding Aden Dubin was our first teacher performance! 
Mrs. Hackett read an original poem, 
which was absolutely amazing! After Mrs. Hackett, a trio of sisters, 
the Smith Sisters, sang “Helplessly Hoping” entirely a capella. 
They blew everyone away and tied with Drozd for third. 
Next Hannah Boyle performed a solo soliloquy from Hamlet, 
capturing all of us with her strong serious acting. 
Following Boyle, Jenkintown junior Marielle Zakrzwski sang 
the best “Suddenly Seymore” I’d ever heard, earning herself second place. 
After Zakrzwski our second participating teacher, 
SeƱor Detweiler played a recorder that he learned after getting a 
too-loud bagpipe (a story you should ask him for the rest of). 

Bella Smith then sang “People Help the People” on her own, 
which everyone adored. After, senior Cynthia Klingensmith blew 
everyone’s minds with her piano skills by playing a song by 
Rachmaninoff, winning first place. Just the Guys then sang an a 
capella version of “Uptown Girl” with Lucas Pacuraru singing lead. 
The final performance was Sophie Pettit who blew the house down with 
her rendition of Wonderland’s “The Mad Hatter.”

After all of our incredibly talented performers, 
Sophie Pettit and James Gans, the comical emcees of the event, 
played a game with audience participants while the judges decided the winners. 

Pettit called up three volunteers -- Phineas Hackett, Ava Bartlett, and Chris Higham --
To compete against Gans in a relay. In the end, 
Gans lost and the three each won a ticket to JTA’s Almost, Maine. 

The judges weren’t prepared yet, so an impromptu stand-up 

 comedy by none other than audience member Andrew Schiller began. 
 
He had told three jokes when the judges came back to announce the winners.
 
The event wouldn’t have been possible without Lys Davidson, our commander-in-chief. 
 
The event was organized by Sophie Pettit, James Gans, Charlotte Steinhauer, and myself. 
 
Thank you to our judges: Dr. Maluk, Mrs. Hackett, Mrs. Tresnan, and Ms. Toye. 
 
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the Jenkintown Theater Department 
 
and all of our performers. 
 
That’s a wrap on the JHS Talent Show 2020!​

 

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Congratulations Lulu!!!!

The JTA is proud to share with you the latest  Greater Philadelphia Cappies Award recipient  for best critique of Sense and Sensibilities performed by PA Leadership Charter School.

The review by Lulu Pettit of Jenkintown High School is being forwarded to Philadelphia Inquirer Website for publication!!
Congratulations to Lulu!  

We are so proud of you!

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Friday, April 3, 2020

JTA News!

Dearest Friends,

So nice to see you all during this week.

I miss being in our space, enjoying and creating.

Some members of you JTA community have already begun creating and sharing videos.

Please start working on  your material to share with the community. 

If you are able to review your lines for Almost, Maine that would be great.

It is our hope that we will, at some point, be able to perform the show.

Keep it fresh!!!

Much Love,

Lys







Sunday, March 29, 2020

JTA Projects

Dearest Friends,

Thank you for gathering today. So much energy shared, so much laughter.  I think we miss being together. 

We did manage to create a list of projects that the JTA community can offer as a respite from the stressors of the day, homework, etc.

Please find a monologue/scene/song by this Friday.
Share your material with me.  
We will schedule work sessions to prepare your material for recording.  
It is my hope to get a few projects published by next week.

I think that for those who are preparing a scene/monologue/song can pause from doing Concert Choir/Honors Chorale work the next few weeks. 

Your sole purpose right now, is to work on what we discussed today.

Get motivated and know that you have the ability to entertain and lift the spirits of so many!!!

Montage
Tanner

Monologues
Laura
Marielle
Chris
Henry
Aden
Delaney
Steele
Daniel
Jess


Two person Scene
Merrick/Charlie
Lucas/Zach

Singing
Bella

If there is someone who may want to be added to the list, please let me know.

Love to all,
Lys

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Actors/Tech/Crew Update

Friends, 
(this is for crew/tech folks as well)
We will meet on Sunday (TOMORROW) 
at 2:00 p.m.
I hope to see you then!!!
Lys

Connecting...sharing....creating!

Dearest Friends, 

I was wondering if you had a moment to meet this Sunday evening? 

I 'd like to share a thought with you.  

The JTA is a  community whose talents and creativity lift the spirits of so many. 

Now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to help Jtown and provide moments of humor, sensitivity, and to shift the focus, if just for the moment, on the arts and how integral it is to our lives.

Please think about ways we can share our love of theater with others.  

Maybe it is by . . .

1. Sharing different monologues and recording them for all to enjoy.

2.  Perhaps it is writing our own short play. The topic (s) could be fantasy, mystery, current events, sci-fi.

3.  Create our own Spoken Word (which I love).

If you are not familiar with this medium, please take a look at the links below.  

We could write our own Spoken Word.

Perhaps it looks like this. . .

(a)We all take part in creating our Spoken Word piece.  Findng a topic and working on a google doc together.
(b)Each actor would recite a few lines.
(c) We would record each actor individually, and sequentially, in regards to the material.
(d) We would share it with our community.

So...Can we find a time to meet?  Lets tay connected!!  

There is strength and love within the JTA!!!

Lys

Just take a look at these few links:

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Philadelphia Independence Awards!!!!



Congratulations to Everyone!!!!!

Philadelphia Independence Awards
2020 Outstanding Achievements Recognition

2020 Philadelphia Independence Awards
Outstanding Achievements in School Performances


September, 2019-March 12, 2020 *listed in alphabetical order by category
Outstanding Achievements by a Lead Actress
Gianna Branca, Mamma Mia Mount Saint Joseph Academy 
Mackenzie Cannon, The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School 
Noel Guidetti, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School


Outstanding Achievements by a Lead Actor
Henry Gifford, The Drowsy Chaperone , Jenkintown High School 
Jack O'Leary, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School 
Ethan McKellar, The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School


Outstanding Achievements by a Supporting Actress
Julia Dani, Les Miserables , Friends' Central School
Halle Jacobson,
Songs for a New World , Abington Friends School 
Sophie Pugh, Songs for a New World , Abington Friends School

Outstanding Achievements by a Supporting Actor
Zachary Ford, Songs for a New World, Abington Friends School 
Jake Pensabene, Mamma Mia , Mount Saint Joseph Academy 
Matt Tomlinson, Mamma Mia , Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Outstanding Achievements by a Featured Actress
Katie Brady-Gold, Songs for a New World, Abington Friends School
Pammie Cobaugh,
James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School Devyn Costello-Henderson, Songs for a New World , Abington Friends School

Outstanding Achievements by a Featured Actor
Will Bozman, Les Miserables , Friends Central School
Michael Selfridge,
James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School 
Joey Tangridi, Into the Woods, Archbishop Ryan High School

Philadelphia Independence Awards
2020 Outstanding Achievements Recognition
Outstanding Achievements by a Vocalist Actress
Gianna Branca, Mamma Mia , Mount Saint Joseph Academy 
Grace Ireland, The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School 
Sophie Pugh, Songs for a New World , Abington Friends School

Outstanding Achievements by a Vocalist Actor
Zachary Ford, Songs for a New World, Abington Friends School 
Jack O'Leary, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School 
Patrick McGlyn, Thoroughly Modern Millie , St. Huberts High School

Outstanding Achievements by a Small Ensemble
Featured Dancers, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School 
Gangsters 1 and 2, The Drowsy Chaperone, Ridley High School 
Waltzers, Cinderella (Broadway), Upper Dublin High School

Outstanding Achievements by an Ensemble
James and the Giant Peach Ensemble, James and the Giant Peach, Haverford High School Mamma Mia Ensemble, MammaMia, Mount Saint Joseph Academy
The Drowsy Chaperone Ensemble,
The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School

Outstanding Achievements by a Solo Dancer
Cole Burwell, The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School
Alex Kafrissen,
Chicago: School Edition, Germantown Academy 
Tyler Motlasz, The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School

Outstanding Achievements by a Dance Ensemble
Featured Dancers, Chicago: School Edition , Germantown Academy 
Featured Dancers, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School 
Waltzers, Cinderella (Broadway), Upper Dublin High School

Outstanding Achievements by an Orchestra
Abington Friends School Pit Band, Songs for a New World, Abington Friends School 
Archbishop Ryan High School Orchestra, Into the Woods, Archbishop Ryan High School 
Upper Dublin Pit Orchestra, Cinderella (Broadway) , Upper Dublin High School

Philadelphia Independence Awards
2020 Outstanding Achievements Recognition

Outstanding Achievements by a Shift Crew/Stage Management
Haverford HS Run Crew/ASMs, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School 
Ridley HS Shift Crew/Stage Management, The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School 
Upper Dublin Crew, Cinderella (Broadway), Upper Dublin High School

Outstanding Achievements in Sound
Harry Mirabile and David Savidge, Chicago: School Edition , Germantown Academy 
Mount Saint Joseph Academy Sound, Mamma Mia , Mount Saint Joseph Academy 
Upper Dublin Sound, Cinderella (Broadway), Upper Dublin High School

Outstanding Achievements in Lights
Abington Friends School Light, Songs for a New World , Abington Friends School 
Jenkintown High School Light, The Drowsy Chaperone , Jenkintown High School 
Upper Dublin Light Crew, Cinderella (Broadway), Upper Dublin High School

Outstanding Achievements in Scenic Design
Nazareth Academy HS Scenic Design, Mamma Mia, Nazareth Academy High School Upper Dublin Scenic Crew, Cinderella (Broadway) , Upper Dublin

Outstanding Achievements in Makeup
Jenkintown High School Makeup, The Drowsy Chaperone , Jenkintown High School 
Upper Dublin Makeup, Cinderella (Broadway), Upper Dublin
Ross Weiner, James and the Giant Peach, Haverford High School

Outstanding Achievements in Costumes
Archbishop Ryan High School Costumes, Into the Woods , Archbishop Ryan High School 
Raquel Coren & Ciaran Scott, Carousel, The Haverford School
Haverford High School Costumes,
James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School

Outstanding Achievements in Marketing & Publicity
Haverford HS Marketing & Publicity, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School Jenkintown HS Marketing & Publicity, The Drowsy Chaperone , Jenkintown High School 
Upper Dublin Marketing & Publicity, Cinderella (Broadway) , Upper Dublin

Philadelphia Independence Awards
2020 Outstanding Achievements Recognition

Outstanding Achievements in Creative Leadership
Gabe Brown, Thoroughly Modern Millie, St. Huberts High School 
Georgia Evans, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School 
Noah Vinogradov, Songs for a New World , Abington Friends School

Outstanding Achievements in Creative Effects
Grazia LaRosa, Shane Leinhauser, Michael Selfridge, Aiden Mastronardo, and Pammie Cobaugh/Insect Pup, James and the Giant Peach , Haverford High School
Upper Dublin Props, Cinderella (Broadway), Upper Dublin
Upper Dublin Transformation Team,
Cinderella (Broadway) , Upper Dublin

Outstanding Achievements in Song
"Impossible", Cinderella (Broadway) , Upper Dublin
The Winner Takes It All,
Mamma Mia , Mount Saint Joseph Academy 
Toledo Surprise, The Drowsy Chaperone , Ridley High School

Outstanding Achievements in overall Show
James and the Giant Peach @ Haverford High School 
Songs for a New World @ Abington Friends School 
The Drowsy Chaperone @ Ridley High School

Monday, March 23, 2020

Things to do and look at. . . .




Hello Friends,

Here are some links to check out from our neighbors down the street!

Our colleagues from AFS!

Also...try and keep your parts fresh and new.  

Think positive!  

Think Spring and blossoms!

Missing you all so very much!




5 Broadway plays and musicals you can see at home