Welcome to the world of the Majestic Spotlight Players (MSP), where young talents come together to shine in the realm of musical theater. Founded in 2023, this dedicated team of performers is raising the bar for local theater students. Here's a glimpse into the vibrant community and the exciting journey that awaits them, especially as they gear up for the Junior Theater Festival (JTF) 2027.
Table of Contents
I. Director Intros
II. Team Values
III. Last Year Highlights
IV. Rehearsal Schedule
V. The Junior Theater Festival
VI. Financial Breakdown
VII. Auditions
VIII. Fundraising
Director Introduction
Artistic Director and Choreographer
Alexis Ruby
At the helm of MSP is a seasoned veteran in theater education with over 13 years of experience across Georgia and Connecticut, Alexis brings a wealth of experience from working with iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Festival. This is her 11th JTF this year! She is a passionate director, keen on student collaboration and mentoring future theatre educators.
Team Values
At MSP, the focus is on nurturing a kind and supportive environment where young performers can express themselves and explore their potential. It’s not just about the accolades; it’s about the journey and the memories created along the way.
Last Years Highlights
Majestic Spotlight Players at The Junior Theater Festival 2026
Excellence in Music 2026
In 2026, MSP wowed audiences with a performance of James & The Giant Peach Jr., earning top
honors for Excellence in Music. All-Star awards were bestowed upon Joshua Ferrell an Ryan Wade,
marking a year of impressive achievements for the team. Additionally, one of our graduating seniors
Cooper Costantino was aware the rare privilege of Outstanding Individual Performance. Finally, all
four of our students sent to the dance auditions received callbacks for potential New York filming
opportunities. Congrats Adriana, Reagan, Cooper and Isla.
Schedule
The Junior Theater Festival
What competition is like:
Student groups perform 15 minutes from an MTI Broadway Junior® show (30-minute or 60-minute) or One-Act Edition for a small panel of professional theatre artists (aka adjudicators) and other festival attendees.
Groups are rated in key areas of music, acting, dance, and overall performance.
The adjudicators offer constructive criticism to encourage further learning and growth.
Workshops for Students and Teachers
Broadway professionals and master teachers from across the country offer interactive workshops! Workshops are offered for both teachers and students in all aspects of musical theater performance and technical theater.
JTF All-Stars
Selected student performers and student technicians are chosen as festival All-Stars. All-Stars participate in exclusive performance or technical workshops and sometimes get the opportunity to perform in the Freddie G Awards Ceremony.
Video Auditions
Select students from each participating group are invited to audition for Broadway Junior ® Resident Choreographer Steven G. Kennedy for future Broadway Junior • video shoots that take place in New York City over the summer.
New Works Showcase
Be the first to experience the exciting new Broadway Junior® titles soon to be released. Invited troupes from the previous year perform 2-3 numbers from a new Jr. show releasing soon. Direct From Broadway
Growin' Up Broadway
One-of-a-kind mainstage events hosted by Junior Theater Festival creator, Timothy McDonald, featuring conversations and performances with professionals from across the theatrical industry about their unique journeys and remarkable accomplishments.
Tech Olympics
Four students from each group compete in this fun, high-energy tech obstacle course designed to get everyone pumped up about technical theater!
Freddie G Awards Ceremony
Named in honor of Music Theatre International's Music Theatre International's CEO and Tony Award Honoree Freddie Gershon, the Freddie G Awards Ceremony is a celebration of the weekend's accomplishments. Featuring over 50 different awards, the ceremony also highlights performances by the festival All-Stars and 9 All Festival Outstanding Performances. There is also 1 Excellence in Pod winners PER Pod. All teams attending are splits into different pods with 8-10 groups per pod.
JTF Headline Concert
We invite the best of the best to headline a special concert curated just for our JTF audience! Past concert headliners include Caissie Levy, Michael James Scott, Ali Stroker, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Lindsay Mendez, Stephanie J. Block & Sebastian Arcelus, Arielle & Adam Jacobs, and more.
Financial Breakdown
- Monthly tuition includes over 70 hours of instruction, media fees, team swag and studio space.
- **Hotel fee is determined by what hotel we are able to book and the rates at the time of booking.
This number is based on previous years in the $150 a night range. Hotel is not provided and is on the
team members to book. We will have a room block with a group discount but that is all we provide.
**** If you pay off your entire account before September 1st receive your t-shirt and weekend meals FREE. - ***** Chaperoning is optional but means you cannot attend the festival with your student. The
wristband is $$400 per person to get in. Optional Chaperoning of an Additional student is needed for
anyone who’d like to volunteer. Your chaperone fee includes your T-shirt and JTF meals.
If fees associated with the festival go up that is out of our control. Any additional fees with be divided
by the team. You are required to have black jazz pants and black jazz shoes.
Auditions
The Junior Theater Festival Info
Majestic Spotlight Player Auditions:
May 16th, 2026 | 10:00am-12:00pm | 12:30pm-2:30pm.
Additional Competitions
- Access Broadway - Date TBD (approx end of February)
- Turn It Around - Date TBD (approx end of March 2026)
- These competitions are optional. If we attend you’d pay tuition for the additional months after JTF
and you’d compete 2 group numbers from our show competed at JTF. - If you’d like to compete a solo or small group you’d pay À la carte for those numbers.
- Pricing varies from the $75-$200 range depending on number of pieces competing.
- Inquiry form for these will go out after auditions the end of May.
For inquiries, contact us.
