The Carrollwood Cultural Center recently announced the creation of OVATION, a new performing theatre troupe for teens and young adults, according to a news release.
“We have worked with a lot of amazing young talent over the years,” said event coordinator and MAS Theatre show director Aaron Washington. Many have “earned leading roles in large musicals at the center,” he said.
The original members of OVATION include Rhett Ricardo, Robbie Hipkins, Kaileen Barreto, Joseph Conrad, Brilee Gold, McKinnley Nelson, Rylie Nelson, Keira Osborne, Alexandra Sterling, Zachary Trenkle and Elijah Zurek.
“These young performers possess professionalism and passion beyond their years….they inspired us to create OVATION,” Washington said.
OVATION is more than a group of young adults who perform together. The members are encouraged to share their outside experience with school performances, auditions and other community/professional projects with the rest of the group.
Also, members will receive master class opportunities, and can receive hours toward Bright Future Scholarships. They also will be called upon to perform in various staged and outreach performances for the center.
“Needless to say, COVID-19 has made it difficult for these performers to get out and perform,” Washington notes, “but they’ve been in touch with one another and have recorded a few things while social distancing, which has kept them engaged.”
Washington said that the center hopes to “help these young performers build life experience that will be instrumental in pursuing a career in the performing arts.”
For more information, email Aaron Washington at .
To see OVATION’s recordings, visit CarrollwoodCenter.org and click on Clubs and Groups.
Published August 19, 2020
