We had an AMAZING time at the 2024 Junior Theater Festival. We learned so much, and can't wait to start working on our 2025 JTF routine!
What is the Junior Theater Festival (JTF)?
The Junior Theater Festival is the world's largest celebration of young people and musical theater!
JTF brings together student musical theater troupes from all over the world for a weekend of musical theater mayhem and madness. Each troupe performs fifteen minutes from a Broadway Junior show for adjudication by a panel of musical theater experts. The weekend also features professional development for teachers, workshops for students and parents, a New Works Showcase featuring new musical adaptations soon to be released and concludes with a grand finale concert headlined by Broadway’s best!
The Junior Theater Festival is sponsored by Playbill, Disney Musicals, and Music Theatre International.
Events include: Adjudications, workshops for students and teachers, the New Works Showcase, Awards Ceremonies, specially curated mainstage productions featuring Broadway's finest, and the largest collection of musical theater lovers under one roof. Held annually in Atlanta, GA and Sacramento, CA, JTF has become a must attend musical theater event and previously has hosted the launch for Disney's High School Musical and NBC's SMASH. The festival has welcomed guests such as Disney Theatrical Productions President, Thomas Schumacher, musical theater writers such as Stephen Schwartz, Alan Menken, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Bobby Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Jeanine Tesori, actors like Cynthia Erivo, Stephanie J. Block, Ali Stroker, Sebastian Arcelus, Michael James Scott, Taylor Iman Jones, Kara Lindsay, Luca Padovan, Caissie Levy, Daniel Yearwood, Skylar Astin and many more. It is a weekend of true musical theater mayhem that is not to be missed.
Auditioning for Opening Night Theater’s 2025 JTF Team:
This is considered to be an advanced performance troupe and unfortunately we will not be able to admit everyone who auditions. If you are not selected this year, we encourage you to try out again in the future. The size of our team is also limited by our performance selection and the assigned roles within that selected production. Auditions for our 2025 team are open to students in grades 5-12 as of August 2024 (exceptions may be made for previous JTF participants).
Being a part of the JTF Team is an incredibly large commitment which requires dedicated, passionate, hard working students that are capable of working, learning and memorizing at a fast pace. Rehearsal attendance is mandatory. Team members will also be required to practice individually at home.
Being a part of this team requires the ability to be professional, kind and respectful in but not limited to all airports, on airplanes, in the hotel, at the festival, during workshops, rehearsals, backstage, performances, with adults and JTF travel chaperones. RESPECT for fellow performers, directors, production team, property and the rehearsal process is a must.
Auditioning will be a two-step process:
1) Submit a 1-2 minute video introducing yourself with the following information. Personality and enthusiasm is key:
*Your name, grade (as of fall 2024), school.
*Tell us WHY you want to be a part of our 2025 JTF team.
*Tell us WHAT you think you - as an individual and a performer - you could bring to our 2025 JTF team.
*In the spirit of PETER PAN, tell us what your HAPPY THOUGHTS are!
*Please submit a current/recent headshot along with your video.
AUDITION REGISTRATION (INCLUDING VIDEO & PHOTO) IS DUE BY WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH. THIS WILL ALLOW EVERYONE TO HAVE (AT LEAST) ONE MONTH TO REVIEW THE AUDITION MATERIALS.
2) In-person auditions will take place in North Hollywood on Saturday, June 15th, 2024. Audition materials provided by ON! Theater will include: A selection of monologues, a selection of songs from PETER PAN, and piece of choreography to be learned and performed in person.
*If your student is out of town for this audition date, other arrangements may be made.
Following the selection of our 2024-25 JTF performers, our team will begin rehearsing regularly (with some exceptions) on Saturday mornings in North Hollywood from 9am-12pm beginning in mid-August.
There will also be additional events & showcases for our team to fundraise, perform, and workshop our routine throughout the rehearsal process.
Fees & Fundraising:
Approximate cost of JTF program participation includes all JTF dues/admission to the festival, rehearsals, showcases, staff, licensing and materials, shirts & swag, festival lodging, transportation (airfare, to/from hotel), and festival meals. Hotel is based on an occupancy of (roughly) four to a room.
Families will have the opportunity to fundraise to help offset program and travel costs outlined below. Each individual selected for our team will be given a “Send Me to JTF” donation page where friends and family can contribute to their JTF program fund (see images below for an example).
TIP: Many companies offer donation matching! Since Opening Night Theater is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, many individuals have been able to raise funds by submitting donation matching requests with their companies/employers.
Key Payment Dates & Details:
Program payments have been split into monthly installments, with each month's totals varying depending on what's due (i.e. hotel fees, travel meals, etc). Included in each month's payment is $133 for staff fees, insurance, and show licensing.
Your payment totals may be significantly lower depending on the amount your team member has been able to fundraise.
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6/21/24 – Selected Team Members Notified
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Your individual fundraising page will go live on this date.
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6/30/24 – Registration Fee Due – $485
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Includes $350/per person all-access wristband for all Junior Theater Festival programming (in Sacramento)
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7/30/24 – Airfare Due – $485
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If booking your own fight, only the monthly fee of $133 is due. Flight must be booked by this date.
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8/30/24 – Hotel Payment Due – $397
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9/30/24 – Prepaid Sacramento Meals – $495
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Budgeted for (3) daily meals per person + snacks in Sacramento.
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10/30/24 – $133
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FOR CHAPERONES ONLY – Fee of $1,334 (JTF access + hotel + meals) due.
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11/30/24 – Cast Shirts/Swag & Materials – $243
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12/30/24 – Rehearsal Venues & Facility Fees – $315
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February 6-20, 2025 – The Junior Theatre Festival in Sacramento, CA
Rehearsal Schedule:
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Rehearsals begin Saturday, 8/24/24 from 10am-1pm at Lankershim Performing Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91601.
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August: 8/24/24, 8/31/24
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September: 9/7/24, 9/14/24, 9/21/24, 9/28/24
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October: 10/5/24, 10/12/24, 10/19/24, 10/26/24
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November: 11/2/24, 11/9/24, 11/11/24 (Veterans Day - No School. Extended Rehearsal), 11/16/24, 11/23/24
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December: 12/7/24, 12/14/24 (potential winter break rehearsals)
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January: 1/4/25, 1/11/25, 1/18/25, 1/20/25 (MLK Jr Day - No School. Extended Rehearsal), 1/25/25
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February: 2/1/24
Showcases & Events:
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HOLD for Larchmont Fair Performance & Fundraiser: Sunday, 10/27/24
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Showcase Rehearsal: Friday, 1/24/25 from 4:30pm-7pm
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Showcase Performance Day: Saturday, 1/25/25 from 12pm-6pm (performance at 6pm)
JTF Trip:
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Leave for JTF (Sacramento): Thursday Evening, 2/6/25
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JTF Sign-In & First Festival Day: Friday, 2/7/25
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Full Festival Day & Adjudication Performance: Saturday, 2/8/25
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Full Festival Day & Depart for Home: Sunday, 2/9/24
Thanks for registering to audition for our 2024-25 JTF team!
