Y Arts performers are bound for the annual iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta Jan. 16-18. For this year’s adjudication piece, a cast of 30 will perform “Elf the Musical Jr.” based on the the film starring Will Farrell. The performance is directed by Emily Mirabile. There are five musical numbers included in their 15-minute adjudication performance. Most of the Y Arts group, and chaperones, are traveling Wednesday, Jan. 14 or Thursday, Jan. 15.

The cast: Trey Tibbetts as Buddy, Sophia Mansfield (Santa), Sofia Michaud (Jovie), Anderson Pierpan (Walter Hobbs), Reese Achorn (Macy’s manager), Sarah Harris (Charlotte Dennon), Natalie Flagg (Emily Hobbs) and Oscar Mirabile (Michael Hobbs). The cast of Elves New Yorkers and Macy’s employees: Reese Achorn, Sloan Nelson, Iris Adams, Violet Baldwin, Jonathan Bernier, Lily Billings, Scout Martin, Fiona Bishop, Collin Cantillo, Kyliegh Cole, Natalie Flagg, Agatha Harris, Ford Harris, Sarah Harris, Lucie Hollon, Laila Lufkin, Sophia Mansfield, Evelyn Michaud, Sofia Michaud, Lina Minzner, Oscar Mirabile, Lydia Mitchell, Penelope Navarrete, Grace Olcott, Anderson Pierpan, Hamilton Pierpan, Finn Sullivan, Isla Sullivan and Jessie Ullo.

Sarah Harris, a senior at Boothbay Region High School (BRHS), has attended nine Junior Theater Festivals (JTF). She assisted Mirabile with choreography for the last two years, but this year she is lead as student choreographer as well as the news reporter Charlotte Denon in “Elf Jr.”

“I had someone with me last year, and now I’ve taken on a lot more, like the bigger dance numbers, and so it's been very exciting. It was definitely tricky at times, just like trying to figure out moves,” Harris said. “I’ve taken inspiration for this show from old Broadway, especially for the big dance break. I wanted it to be super grand, a big cumulative moment in our piece and the first time everyone's up dancing. And one of our numbers is with Buddy the Elf exploring New York. I took a lot of inspiration from the Rockettes in that number, like the small, intricate movements that they do combined with the big, grand movements of old Broadway, trying to make each section of dance that we do different but still cohesive.”

This is year three for Oscar Mirabile, who really enjoys the performing, and trading bracelets with other groups. Each group, from the world over, and across the U.S. brings themed bracelets representing its show. In this year’s adjudication piece, he plays Michael in the family Buddy the Elf visits while looking for his father. Young Mirabile’s favorite role to date is Marty the zebra from “Madagascar Jr.,” Y-Arts’ Showcase performance in 2025 at the Junior Festival West in Sacramento that earned the group an Outstanding Performance Award, as well as a trophy for “Excellence in Music” for theiradjudication piece, "Finding Nemo JR.”

How does Oscar, a third grader at Boothbay Region Elementary School (BRES), memorize his lines, considering he’s also memorizing them for the Community Y Arts show, “Alice In Wonderland” at the Opera House in March? “In my brain, I have, like, different books with the different scripts,” he replied.

Jonathan Ford is a seventh grader at BRES whose background in dance began at age 2. His roles are as an elf and a Macy’s employee. Ford found Y Arts a few years back. He’d found summer break to be a bit boring until he heard about Y Arts summer camp and decided to try it. “And I liked it. This will be my first JTF and I’m super excited. l've never been to Atlanta before and it's going to be fun because all of my friends are going with me. So yeah, that's what I'm most excited for, like, being able to have that experience.”

Ford Harris, an eighth grader at BRES, has performed at JTF since 2019. In “Elf Jr.” he plays an elf and a New Yorker. “Some people really want the lead roles, but when you have all these different roles you can really have fun with it because you're not playing the same person. When you're like an elf, you're jolly and happy and your voice is a little bit more high-pitched, but a New Yorker is a regular person living a regular life. So you kind of have to really sell that you're this (character) exactly.”

The Y Arts group has performers of all levels – some began at a very young age while others have just begun learning about dance and acting. Director Mirabile noted every festival performance showcases the talents of the kids performing – kids who are baseball players, Minecraft lovers, cheerleaders and swimmers.

“Our kids pour their heart into our piece, and that, combined with our very varied age levels, makes for a wonderful collaboration,” Mirabile said. “Regardless of whether they are a lead, in the ensemble, or working backstage, keeping theater alive is important for youth because it builds confidence, creativity and strong communication skills. It also gives young people a safe space to express themselves and to truly belong, helping them grow both emotionally and socially.”

The adjudication performances are Saturday, Jan. 17. The judges represent various disciplines within the performing arts.