Students from Stuart-Hobson Middle School (410 E St. NE) earned the All-Festival Performance Award, the highest honor awarded at the 2026 Junior Theater Festival (JTF), held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Founded in 2016, the SHMS DramaPlayers provide middle school students with access to musical theatre training, performance opportunities, and arts-centered leadership experiences. The program emphasizes ensemble work, creative expression, and community engagement under the tagline “A little Broadway on the Hill.”
The SHMS DramaPlayers were one of only nine groups selected from 141 participating schools and studios nationwide. SHMS was the only public school to receive the award, during what was the program’s first-ever appearance at JTF.
The All-Festival Performance Award recognizes exceptional ensemble storytelling, vocal performance, stage presence, and overall impact. JTF is widely regarded as the world’s largest celebration of young people performing musical theatre, drawing thousands of student performers, educators, and industry professionals each year.
For many participating students, the experience represented their first flight, first national theatre competition and first time performing on a national stage.
“This award affirms what we see every day- students rising to the highest level when given access, expectations, and support,” said Ms. Tori Pergerson, Director of the SHMS DramaPlayers. “Our students represented Washington, DC with excellence, discipline, and heart.”
The SHMS DramaPlayers program has grown into a nationally recognized example of public-school arts excellence, providing students with opportunities to perform, create– and now, compete on major stages.
