February 6, 2025
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
Oakland Middle School students recently attended the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta.
The overall award, Excellence in Pod, went home with the Chargers.
Alice in Wonderland, Jr. was the performance Oakland was adjudicated on.
Oakland competed against 12 other middle schools in the following categories: Best in Music, Best in Acting, Best in Ensemble, and Best in Dance.
The Junior Theater Festival is an event where 6,800 musical theater students take part in workshops and seminars with Broadway professionals.
Oakland’s Zach Kowalski (Mad Hatter) and Brooklyn Tyler (Queen of Hearts) were recognized as all-star performers from the event.