Sara Faris has been a dedicated thespian with Carroll Theatre for four years, earning her National Honor Thespian rank this May.  She has performed in

as Elle Woods and Brooke Wyndham in 2012. In preparation for the parts, Sara worked a strict schedule that included private ballet lessons and an exercise regime specifically designed to build performance endurance.

Recently, Sarah was nominated for the prestigious Schmidt and Jones Awards hosted by Lyric Stage is a tremendous opportunity for her as it is part of the fifth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards. Faris received a nomination for Best Actress for her role in last fall’s production of Legally Blond The Musical. Click here to read more and vote for Sara. Should she win, Faris will take part in the National competition next month at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway.  A panel of judges will choose two students for the coveted the Jimmy™ Awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress.  The program will also include a week-long theater intensive in New York City later this summer.

Sara’s passion for the performing arts started at the age of two. Upon visiting her older sister’s dance classes, the teacher noticed her enthusiasm for the choreography and music and suggested that she be enrolled in a tap, ballet, and jazz class. From there, she was hooked. She fostered an intense infatuation with the stage, which was only strengthened when she performed a solo part in her first musical at the age of seven. This was the beginning of her vocal and theatrical career. She began writing songs participating in a local community theatre, STARS at the age of eight. After a few years and many performances with STARS, Sara auditioned for a performing arts group called “Superstar Express” that promoted health and wellness at local schools and other venues through music and performance, and even opened for bands like the Jonas Brothers. At the age of twelve, Sara was inducted as the youngest member in the history of the older group, working very hard to keep up with the fast paced and physically demanding rehearsals. The ultimate payoff was her eight-show stint at Walt Disney World at the age of thirteen. From there, Sara continued to explore her music passion with a quirky pair of producers, Mike and Mark Stitts, who offered to work with her to produce her own self-written album. Never refusing a challenge, Sara accepted and began the two year task that would come to be known as “Painting Poetry”. Seeking a more focused atmosphere to work on her recording, Sara decided to spend her sophomore year of high school at the DFW Performing Arts Conservatory. She took classes in dance, music, voice, and acting, marking the beginning of what would become a habit of working very hard to improve her craft. Upon the completion of “Painting Poetry”, Sara decided to go back to public school to give musical theatre a try for the first time since her time in STARS and will graduate next month.  For now, Sara continues to work on her music featured on her YouTube channel,  “saradaisyy” and plans to attend Belmont University as a commercial music major next year.

The festival hands out “Runner-Up Best in Class”, “Best in Class”, and “Grand Champion” awards for the boys and girls choirs.  In addition to receiving ratings for the choir performances, the boys choir also received the Best in Class award.

On Saturday, May 4 the choir students journeyed to the actual Hurricane Harbor for a day of fun in the sun. 

Starting Thursday, May 23 artwork will be on display inside the Art Center during school hours through Wednesday, May 29 The Carroll Senior High Art Center is located on campus at 1501 W. Southlake Boulevard. Visitors must check in at the front office.

Earlier this month, the DMS Concert Band competed at the Beach Within Reach Festival. The event was held on Friday, May 3 at Haltom High School.  With help from some members of the DMS Symphonic Band, DMS Wind Ensemble and even students from the EIS Beginner Band the DMS Concert Band performed “General Greene March” by John Edmondson, “Egyptique” by William Owens and “Ghost Dancing” by Brant Karrick. The program was the most difficult any DMS Concert Band has attempted.  According to the judges, the band performed marvelously and received straight ones . The students also finished fourth out of 15 sub non-varsity groups to compete at the festival.

Carroll Theatre Department, under the direction of Roald and Stacie Martinsen with Orchestral direction by David Lown, has been honored with 15 nominations for the Schmidt and Jones Awards for the department’s fall performance of Legally Blonde The Musical.

“We are so honored to have had the opportunity to participate in the Schmidt and Jones Awards, hosted by Lyric Stage.  Their commitment to improving artistic excellence in high school theatre departments is a welcome change to financial burdens and cuts that all educational organizations are facing each year.  We are proud of our students, our staff, our administrators, and our supportive parents for dedicating themselves, their time, and their hearts to making Dragon Drama a great place for kids to grow in their journey as artists and citizens,” said Directors Roald and Stacie Martinsen.

In addition, the Schmidt and Jones Awards are part of a national competition called NHSMTA, along with Casa Manana and Dallas Summer Musicals.  Carroll’s best actress nominee, Sara Faris, will travel to New York City to compete in the National Competition if she wins on Awards Night, May 23. 

Lyric Stage, Dallas County’s only locally produced professional musical theatre company, is hosting the third annual Schmidt and Jones Awards honoring excellence in high school musical theatre in North Texas. The awards show will be Thursday, May 23 in the Carpenter Performance Hall at the Irving Arts Center.

The awards are named after Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, native Texans and creators of The Fantasticks, the longest running show in the history of the American theatre. The original off-Broadway production played 42 years and 17,162 performances. Throughout the years, Lyric Stage has had a strong relationship with the duo, and in 2005-06 produced Schmidt and Jones: A Celebration. The festival included productions of The Fantasticks and 110 in the Shade, and staged readings of Celebration and Philemon. The Schmidt and Jones Awards will be an opportunity to honor North Texas Theatre students in a gala atmosphere with a Tony Award© feel.  Any Dallas, Tarrant or Collin county public or private high school which performs a musical is invited to participate.

Please congratulate the following students on their nominations, along with Carroll Theatre Department and the Musical Orchestra:

BEST MUSICAL

• Legally Blonde -  Carroll Senior High School

BEST ORCHESTRA

• Carroll Senior High School

EXCELLENCE IN CHOREOGRAPHY

• Heather Wang, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

• Sara Faris, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• John Harvey, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School 
• Daniel Scandura, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Kaylyn Buckley, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School 
• Ashley Nordahl, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

BEST ACTOR IN A MINOR ROLE

• Colton Hess, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINOR ROLE

• Devin Berg, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School 
• Kristine Lahde, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

BEST MALE ENSEMBLE PERFORMER

• Mason Kuhn, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School 
• Steven Riedel, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

BEST FEMALE ENSEMBLE PERFORMER

• Giselle Drake, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

EXCELLENCE IN COSTUME DESIGN

• Jordan Jones, Legally Blonde, Carroll Senior High School

Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1 and Thursday, May 2 inside the Dawson Middle School cafeteria located at 400 S. Kimball Avenue. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students. Carroll ISD faculty receive free admission.

For more information call the DMS Box Office at 817-949-5556.

The music will range from classics by Duke Ellington and Count Basie to modern compositions by UNT composers. The concert will also feature guest artists Stockton Helbing and Micah Bell. Mr. Helbing was formerly the drummer and musical director of the Maynard Ferguson Jazz Orchestra, and is currently the drummer for Doc Severinsen and his Orchestra. Micah Bell is a trumpeter and former member of the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band. The concert will be held in the CSHS Auditorium.

For more information about the Carroll Jazz program, please visit www.carrolljazz.org.

All DMS art students received 4 (superior) ratings. In total, Dawson students were awarded 10 metals for superior ratings. The proud art teacher is Emily Trammell.

4 (superior) Rating Winners

• Eerika Aro
• Shalon Forman
• Soumya Kovela
• Mandira Misra
• Gavin Mullally
• Sarah Mullally
• Amelia Rusli (2 IVs)
• Megan Yao (2 IVs)

CMS students also shined in the competition.   In total, CMS students were awarded 10 metals for superior ratings. CMS also boasts a Silver Medal winner.  Shang Wang was selected from all other 7^th grade artworks that received a IV (superior) rating as part of the top 10% in that group! The proud art teacher is Bethany Acosta.

3 (excellent) Rating Winners

• Claire Noorhasan
• Olivia David

4 (superior)Rating Winners

• Jared Deleon
• Ian Mckinzey
• Madison Talley
• Shang Wang
• Audrey Sloane
• Audrey Gow
• Vasu Polavarapu
• Katie Paulsen
• Meg Camele
• Tilda Niemenen

Silver Medal Winner

• Shang Wang

The Jr. VASE program is the only art event of its kind in the nation. Students are provided the opportunity to bring artworks created in their art classes to a regional event where they are interviewed by a certified juror who evaluates their work based on a standard based rubric and their understanding of the art processes involved in the development of their artwork. The jurors look for originally of concept, technical expertise, understanding of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and the interpretation of the student’s stated intent.

Medals are awarded to those students receiving a superior (Rating 4) rating in each division at the regional event. These students’ artwork will be featured at the CISD K-12 Art Show during the 2013 Art in the Square event in Southlake Town Square April 26-28.

The Symphonic Band under the direction of Rebecca Bailey scored a Superior rating in concert performance and  an Excellent rating in Sightreading. The Symphonic Winds and Wind Ensemble, both under the direction of Ken Johnson, scored Superior ratings in Concert and Sightreading. The Wind Symphony under the direction of Jay Bach scored a Superior rating in both Concert and Sightreading. 

Based on combined performances notably, with the Wind Symphony achieving the Superior ratings in the Concert and Sightreading Contest and Dragon Marching Band receiving Superior ratings in UIL Region Marching competition in the fall, the Dragon Band was awarded the Sweepstakes Award for the 2012-2013 school year.

For more information about the Dragon Band, visit the band website or click here.