SOTA Theatre wins coveted Shuler Award

Our production of HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION was awarded BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION at the Georgia High School Theatre Awards (Shulers)!

OTHER AWARDS:

• BEST FEATURED PERFORMER: Justin Kimbro
• STANDING OVATION AWARD
• AURORA THEATRE INTERNSHPS: Jolene Braswell & EmJ Fulford
• CARLOS FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP: Josué Martinez
• Honorable Mention: BEST TECHNICAL EXECUTION

SOTA Theatre was nominated for 10 awards, including:

• BEST LEADING ACTOR: Josué Martinez & Richard Appenzeller
• BEST LEADING ACTRESS: Rhylee Mirus
• BEST DIRECTION: Lillliangina Quiñones
• BEST MUSIC DIRECTION: Imani Quiñones
• BEST ENSEMBLE
• BEST LIGHTING DESIGN: Jolene Braswell
• BEST COSTUMES: Emily McClain
• BEST SCENIC DESIGN: Michael Tarver

The award ceremony was broadcast live on PBS on April 17, 2025.

WATCH THE CEREMONY HERE

Justin Kimbro wins Shuler Award

The 11th grader took home the statue for BEST FEATURED PERFORMER at the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (Shulers) for his portrayal of "Hermes" in HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION

2025 State Literary Winner

Hannah Robiel: Personal Essay

2025 GMEA Composition Competition

11th grader, Emerson Green, had an original orchestral composition featured at the GMEA Composition Competition Recital

2025 GMEA Music Tech Showcase

Three Music Tech students were featured at the GMEA Music Tech Student Showcase: 9th grader Kenard Elien for Audio Production, 10th grader Milo Hadley for Digital Composition, and 12th grader Edwin Hernandez for Digital Composition. Milo was named the winner for Digital Composition! 

2025 Literary Competition Region Runners-Up

4th year in a row!

Hannah Robiel 1st Place - Personal Essay

Cayla Plummer 3rd Place - Literary Analysis

Vianca Luna 3rd Place - Argumentative Essay

Trinity Maybank 2nd Place - International Extemporaneous Speaking

Dallis Doss 3rd Place - Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking

Anneleise Dunn 2nd Place - Humorous Interpretation

Moira Dean 3rd Place  - Dramatic Interpretation

Logan Liphart & Drew Olds 3rd  Place - Duo Interpretation

Denise Keeton 2nd Place - Girls Solo

Jordan Zarwea 2nd Place - Boys Solo

Hannah Robiel, Denise Keeton, & Vianca Luna 2nd place (tied for first, 1 point) - Trio

Justin Kimbro, Richard Appenzeller, Derix Paloade, & Jordan Zarwea 2nd Place (tied for first, 0.5 point) - Quartet

2025 National High School Dance Festival

Our Dance Conservatory travelled to Point Park University in Pittsburgh PA. While there, they performed "UnEarthed," choreographed by Darrell Moultrie.

2025 Scholastic Gold Key Winner

Ethan Young for his sculpture "Stone Breaker"

Ethan also received an Honorable Mention for his painting "Caught"

2025 GHP Semi-finalists

Art: Andre Salas Carrascal, Aoi Kawanishi, Aaryn Middlebrooks, & Jeslyn Thomas

Dance: Kemeel Basden & Adrianna Molinet

Piano: Carly Juarez-Ortiz

Theatre: Samuel Bredland & Ava Shaffren

Voice: Denise Keeton & Victoria Penaloza Avila

2024 Region One-Act Play Champions

Our production of THE PENELOPIAD wins 1st place overall at Region One-Act Play Competition!

2024 GHP Finalists

Gavin Crosby & Ethan Young, Visual Art

Justin Rubalcava & Autumn Cannon, Dance

Richard Appenzeller, Voice

2024 State Literary Winner

Denise Keeton, Girl's Solo

2024 All-State Orchestra

Congratulations to Senior, Faith Meshida. She has been selected for Georgia All-State Orchestra for the 4th consecutive year! 

GHP 2024 Semifinalists

Congratulations to the 2024 GHP Semifinalists:

Art & Design

Gavin Crosby

Leila Mitchum

Faith Pascual

Ethan Young

Dance

Autumn Cannon

Justin Rubalcava

Theatre

Moira Dean

Voice

Richard Appenzeller

Denise Keeton

Alexis Oliver

All-State Artist, 2024

Ethan Young, 2024 All-State Artist

Ethan is a Junior Art & Design Conservatory major

2023 State One-Act Play Competition Runners-Up

On Nov. 11, our production of HEAD OVER HEELS wins Runner-Up at State One-Act Play Competition! The cast, crew, and creative team was honored at the Lawrenceville City Council meeting on Nov. 15, 2023.

Additional awards included: All-Star Cast (Brock Duncan and Josue Martinez)

2023 Region One-Act Play Champions

Our production of HEAD OVER HEELS wins 1st place overall at Region One-Act Play Competition, Oct. 27, 2023! 

Additional awards include: Best Overall Crew, Best Supporting Actor (Josue Martinez), All-Star Cast (Kenya Perry and the 7 Snakeheads: Cici Bechthold, Jacob Kim, Erin Moore, Audbrey Dunbar, Kyana Roberson, Juliana Hurtado, and Josue Martinez)

4th Place in 2023 National Vocal Competition

Congratulations to 10th grade voice student, Denise Keeton, for being named 4th place overall in the national William Warfield Classical Vocal Competition. 

GHP 2023

2023 GHP Finalists:

Hannah Robiel & Jordan Zarwea (Voice)

Faith Meshida (Orchestra)

Paige Fuller (Art)

Connor Schenke, & Ava Mize (Theatre)

Ande Hayes & Victoria Pena (Dance)

2023 GHP semi- finalists:

Sophia Rodriguez (Art)

Tomi Fawehinmi (Theatre)

EMMY Choreographer teaches masterclass at School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High Schol

Spencer Liff, Emmy-nominated choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance and Broadway performer, taught a masterclass on behalf of the organization Broadway Dreams for School of the Arts (SOTA) Theatre Conservatory students at Central Gwinnett High School. Mr. Liff also auditioned 30 students for the Broadway Dreams 2023 Summer Intensives program. 21 students received scholarships for the 2023 Broadway Dreams Summer Musical Theatre Intensive, totaling over $15,000! Broadway Dreams is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit performing arts education organization with year-round programs that inspire students to awaken their highest potential. They are awarding ten full scholarships to SOTA Theatre students to attend their 2023 Summer Intensives.  Broadway Dreams hold Summer Theatre Intensives in 13 cities around the country and internationally. Last year, three SOTA students who attended Broadway Dreams were selected to perform in their Broadway Dreams Fall Showcase in NYC! 

2023 National Deaf High School Theatre Festival

Josue Martinez and Titi Odupolu - 1st in ASL Artistic Expression

2023 All-State Art Symposium Art Throw Down

Katie McConnell - 2nd Place Drawing as Performance

Paige Fuller - 1st Place Graphic Design (Paige's logo will be used to promote next year's competition!) 

True Colors Theatre Next Narrative Monologue Competition

Moira Dean - Semi-Finalist (Sweet 16)

2023 ShutterSense Photography Competition

2023 Literary Competition Region Runner-Up

2023 All-State Chorus

9 students were selected for Georgia All-State Chorus: Eric Clayton, John Campbell, Jordan Zarwea, Richard Appenzeller, Derix Paloade, Abby Thublin, Hannah Robiel, Vianca Luna, and Jaye Geyer.

2023 All-State

Theatre - Rhylee Mirus (10th Grade)

Orchestra - Faith Meshida (11th Grade)

Art - Paige Fuller (11th Grade) & Kingston Clarke (9th Grade)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre 2023 Summer Intensive

Congrats to Alana Crearer (9th Grade), Gabby Royal (10th Grade), and Stella Houchins (11th Grade) for being accepted into the 2023 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Summer Intensive in NYC. 

2023 Dogwood Festival

Congrats to our three students selected for the 2023 Atlanta High School Art Exhibit at the 2023 Dogwood Festival:

Kennedy McNeal, 12th grade

Tethering

Paige Fuller, 11th GRade

We are Fall

Eden Giday, 9th Grade

Sloth

Region One-Act Play Champions

The 2022 production of Side Show is the Region One-Act Play Champion!

Region:

1st Place

Aubrey Dunbar - Best Actor

Vanessa Shinault & Erin Moore - Best Featured Role

Tsumari Patterson & TJ Groce and - All-Star Cast. 

State:

4th place overall

Erin Moore and Rhylee Mirus - All-Star Cast 

2023 State Literary Champions! Boy's Quartet

Eric Clayton

Connor Schenke

Jordan Zarwea

Aubrey Dunbar

2022 Bates Dance Festival Scholarship Winners

Ande Hayes, 10th Grade

Anara Hawthorne, 10th Grade

GHP State Semi-finalists

Congratulations to Tsumari Patterson for being named a 21-22 State Finalist for GHP Theatre and Faith Meshida for being named 21-22 State Finalist (Alternate) for Music!

Congrats to our 21-22 semi-finalists:

Dance

Stella Houchins

Music

Mirabelle Azemar, Piano

Faith Meshida, Violin

Theatre

Tsumari Patterson

Jacob Turner

2022 All-State Orchestra

Faith Meshida, Violin

10th Grade

2022 All-State Artists

Rosslyn Babcock, 9th Grade

Paige Fuller, 10th Grade

Sophie Rodriguez, 10th Grade

Gavin Crosby, 9th Grade

Soledad Delacruz, 10th Grade

2022 All-State Chorus

Kaitlyn Horn, 9th Grade

Abby Thublin, 9th Grade

Jordan Zarwea, 9th Grade

2022 Literary Competition

2022 Georgia Thespian Conference Play Selection

The Night Witches by Rachel Bublitz

Directed by Emily McClain

2022 Shutter Sense Photography Winners