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Boothbay performers win top honors at Junior Theater Festival

Performers with Y-Arts at Boothbay Region YMCA won top honors at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, Georgia out of 116 groups.

BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- A group of young performers in Boothbay Harbor had their hard work pay off in January.

Y-Arts at the Boothbay Region YMCA rehearsed their performance of Seussical for a year. The group thought the musical was perfect considering the fact that their ages range from 8 to 18.

"With our kids we thought it would be more fun to do an energetic silly show," said performer Rick Hilscher.

Y-Arts goal was to make it to the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. They made the trip in January, performing five songs from Seussical in front of two judges according to Y-Arts director Emily Mirabile.

"Out of 119 groups they pick nine outstanding groups and we were one of the nine outstanding groups," said Mirabile.

After finishing their performances, each group waited for results in different areas. The festival posted the winners on a phone application that performer Jackie McLoon couldn't take her eyes off of.

"One of the dads came down from his room on his eye iPad and he said we won and we all didn't believe it because none of our phones were refreshing," said McLoon.

McLoon and Hilscher were both chosen as festival all-stars. That combined with the top nine win that Y-Arts received made for a big celebration among the Boothbay performers. They've worked hard to receive such good news after attending the Junior Theater Festival for several years without a win.

"Every time the kids thought maybe we'll win and this was the first time that I feel this group would have been totally ok if they didn't win," said Mirabile. "In my heart that's even more deserving."

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