Te Awamutu College Year 12 student Stevens was one of 31 students from nine countries selected for the international team. Photo: montephoteaux
It was a quarter of an hour Denzel Stevens won’t forget.
The 16-year-old Te Awamutu College student took part in the Junior Theatre Festival International All-Stars, training and performing in the United States last month.
At the festival, groups perform 15-minute excerpts from Musical Theatre International broadway junior shows for a panel of adjudicators. Broadway junior shows are 30-minute versions designed to be performed by 13 to 18 year olds.
Year 12 student Stevens was one of 31 students from nine countries selected for an international team which included two other New Zealanders – Ava Grace Fickling from Auckland and Jemima Riley-Duddin from Oamaru.
Drama teacher Morag Carter said Denzel is always looking for ways to improve. Photo: montephoteaux
The trio were the second contingent of New Zealanders to make the International All-Stars team to perform in Atlanta, and Denzel was the first male from New Zealand.
“We all met in New York. We hadn’t met before. We had three and a half days to rehearse a 15-minute adjudication to perform at JTF Atlanta,” Stevens said. “On the first day, we had two hours of auditions to figure out who was getting all the leads and then who was ensemble.
“We performed Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: The Musical JR. We were the first people to perform the public viewing of the show that wasn’t a pilot.
“It was my first time doing any type of performance other than local theatres. It was a massive jump.”
Drama teacher Morag Carter had sent Denzel the original All-Star information and recorded his audition.
Denzel sang Mama Says from Footloose – a show he performed with the Te Awamutu Light Operatic Society accompanied by music teacher Barry Cullen on piano.
“My recorded audition was right before the opening night of Footloose. A few weeks later, I was offered the position as an International All-Star,” Denzel said.
“It was exciting, but also very busy. We had three and a half days, so we had about an hour to work on each song for vocals and then an hour for each dance.
“It was fast paced, but it was so amazing to see such a big city as New York.
“Then going to JTF Atlanta, seeing such a big community that are all interested in the same thing. It was good to get to know a large number of them. “
The group also attended workshops with the Broadway cast The Outsiders Musical.
They learned “Grease Got a Hold” from the musical and Cameron Burke from the cast taught them the Broadway choreography as well.
“We got to watch Hell’s Kitchen, Moulin Rouge and Operation Mincemeat on Broadway too.”
Denzel has been performing for three years.
“I enjoy the community and working with people. I also really enjoy getting to be on stage and showing my talent,” he said.
“When I was Year 9. I didn’t know what to do in high school and I saw that The Addams Family was on. I’d done a small show when I was little and thought it looked fun.
“I auditioned, got the part as Fester and since then, it’s been part of my life.”
Carter said Denzel has talent, works hard and looks for opportunities to develop.
“He looks for ways that he can improve himself. When you get someone like Denzel, you want to find other opportunities to help them grow because he’s looking for those himself.”
It was Denzel’s first time doing any performance other than small town Te Awamutu theatre. Photo: montephoteaux
