Mattie Winburn’s recent role starring as Elle Woods in Spark Theater Company’s upcoming production of Legally Blonde, Jr., shows just how far she has come since joining Swamp Gravy in Colquitt when she was 5.

Winburn, 16, grew up in Bainbridge with a love for theatre, and has graduated from Swamp Gravy and Bainbridge Little Theatre to performing with the Spark Theatre Company in Dothan.

Recently, she won “Excellent Individual Female” at ITheatric’s Junior Festival in Atlanta. Spark Theater took 19 students to perform a 15-minute Broadway Jr. show. Winburn and company performed a 15-minute version of Legally Blonde, Jr.

“That was one of the most challenging aspects of it,” she said.

Last weekend, Spark Theater Company performed Legally Blonde, Jr. at the Alabama Youth Theater Experience in Guntersville, Alabama. The team brought home many awards, including the competition’s top award, and Winburn was awarded best actress of the competition.

Winburn said she would like to continue with musical theatre through college and will consider it as a possible career choice, but she also is interested in studying law.

For youth in Bainbridge interested in acting on stage, Winburn encouraged them to give BLT or Swamp Gravy a shot.

“It’s definitely worthwhile to get involved,” she said. “You can start small at BLT and you can take it to the next level, or participate in companies like I wanted to do. You can take personal lessons. You can do Swamp Gravy.”

Folks in Bainbridge can see Winburn as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Jr. this weekend at the Dothan Cultural Arts Center. From Thursday, Feb. 23, to Saturday, Feb. 25, the show will be put on at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 a piece.

To learn more about Spark Theater Company, visit sparktheatercompany.com.