The Junior Theater Festival Info
JTf Jan 17-19
Excitement is building as our talented students prepare to perform Matilda Jr. at the upcoming JTF! They’ve been rehearsing diligently, perfecting every line, movement, and scene to bring this beloved musical to life.
This performance is not only an opportunity to showcase their skills but also a chance to build confidence, foster teamwork, and experience the joy of being on stage.
We’re incredibly proud of their dedication and can’t wait for you to witness the magic they’ve created.
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 and
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.
