For the fifth consecutive year, Playbill was an official sponsor of the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival, the world’s largest festival celebrating young people and the transformative power of musical theatre. JTF Atlanta, which attracted 6,000 participants from across the U.S., took place January 12–14 at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
Highlights from this year’s event include a special appearance from Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, on hand to introduce the new student edition of his biblical musical Children of Eden JR; a performance by Tony nominee Megan Hilty; and the announcement of new shows now available for young performers including Aladdin JR and Chitty Chitty Bang Band JR.
Flip through photos of JTF Atlanta 2018 below:
iTheatrics Founding Chairman Timothy Allen McDonald welcomes 6,000 attendees to the Junior Theater Festival.
Marcus Woolen
Team iTheatrics welcomes directors to the 2018 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta.
iTheatrics Founding Chairman Timothy Allen McDonald welcomes 6,000 attendees to the Junior Theater Festival.
Directors rehearse a dance number to Vogue which they will perform for all festival attendees at the award ceremony.
Spotlight Theatre Productions (Sarasota, FL) students Samantha Crawford, Emma Diner, Sarah Johnson sing the national anthem for all attendees at the Kick-Off opening event at the 2018 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta opening ceremonies.
New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult interviews leading psychologist Ms. Abigail Baird about how the brain develops in youth and teenage years and the implications of what that means for young people’s behavior and learning.
Stephen Schwartz answers questions at the 2018 Junior Theater Festival.
Doug Berlon, Deputy Executive Director, Education and Content introduces the NBC’s Rise America grant program in which 50 high schools will receive $10,000 dollars each to enhance their theater program.
Student Mya Bryant representing Inspiration Stage in Sugar Land, TX, sings “Spark of Creation” from Children of Eden JR. to Stephen Schwartz and all 6,000 festival attendees
Stephen Schwartz (left) answers a question from student Chaise Anderson (pictured right) who traveled to the festival with Broadway Bound Kids, as Marty Johnson, iTheatrics Director of Education, Junior Theater Festival Director of Programming moderates, at the 2018 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta.
Cindy Ripley (pictured), Junior Theater Festival Director of Professional Development and iTheatrics’ Lead Educational Consultant and iTheatrics founding chairman Timothy Allen McDonald present a workshop to teachers and directors pulled from The iTheatrics Method, the world’s very first textbook dedicated to building quality musical theatre programs for young people, published by GIA Publications.
Playbill’s Tyler Mount interviews young Broadway stars Luca Padovan (Newsies, School of Rock) and Isabella Russo (School of Rock).
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School BRAVO (Oak Park, IL) students perform Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School BRAVO (Oak Park, IL) students perform Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School BRAVO (Oak Park, IL) students perform Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
Inspiration Stage in Sugarland, TX presents Children of Eden JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
Inspiration Stage in Sugarland, TX presents Children of Eden JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
NWS Spotlight Theatre Productions (Sarasota, FL) students perform Disney’s Aladdin JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
NWS Spotlight Theatre Productions (Sarasota, FL) students perform Disney’s Aladdin JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
NWS Spotlight Theatre Productions (Sarasota, FL) students perform Disney’s Aladdin JR. during the JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase in which select groups perform songs from new or updated musicals that will soon be made available for licensing by Music Theatre International.
Composer, performer, and songwriter Paul Williams (Bugsy Malone, “Evergreen,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Rainbow Connection,”) reacts when students from Ohlook Performing Arts Center in Grapevine, TX, and Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre in Fairhope, AL, perform “Give a Little Love” from Bugsy Malone JR. in celebration of Williams receiving the Junior Theater Festival Legacy Award.
Cass Morgan (Mary Poppins, Memphis) performs “When The River Meets the Sea” from Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.
Young Broadway stars Luca Padovan (Newsies, School of Rock) and Isabella Russo (School of Rock) perform “No Two People” from Hans Christian Andersen JR.
Morgan Siobahn Green and Krystina Alabado perform “When You’re the Enemy Of Allie McAndrews” from the new musical Between The Lines.
MTI Chairman Freddie Gershon announces five exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country who have been selected for the ninth annual “The Freddie G Fellowship,” in which the teachers will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City for four days of master classes Broadway greats and a $5,000 grant to put toward his or her theater program. The event is underwritten and hosted by Music Theatre International’s Freddie Gershon
Students from Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation, DMR Adventures, Stage Door Productions, Columbus Children's Theatre, Boothbay Region YMCA: YARTS!, Uptown Music Theatre, Red Phoenix Theatre Company, The Anthony School and Porter Ridge Middle School sing “Rainbow Connection” to honor Paul Williams.
The Augusta Jr. Players win the 2018 Playbill Community Service Award
Marcus Woollen
The teachers dance to the song “Vogue” for all 6,000 attendees.
MTI Chairman Freddie Gershon announces five exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country who have been selected for the ninth annual “The Freddie G Fellowship,” in which the teachers will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City for four days of master classes Broadway greats and a $5,000 grant to put toward his or her theater program. The event is underwritten and hosted by Music Theatre International’s Freddie Gershon and his wife Myrna Gershon. Onstage are past Freddie G Fellowship recipients.
Outstanding Production award recipient Boothbay Region YMCA: YARTS! from Boothbay, Maine performs “Seussical, It’s Possible,” from Seussical JR. for all 6,000 attendees at the Freddie G Award Ceremony.
Outstanding Production award recipient Collection Theatre Company from Flowery Branch, Georgia performs “Status Quo” from High School Musical JR. for all 6,000 attendees at the Freddie G Award Ceremony.
Outstanding Production award recipient Caryl Crane Youth Theatre from Huron, Ohio performs “Circle of Life” from Disney’s The Lion King JR. for all 6,000 attendees at the Freddie G Award Ceremony.
Outstanding Production award recipient Forsyth Academy Performing Arts Junior Company from Cumming, Georgia performs “Big Red Plane” from Captain Louie JR. for all 6,000 attendees at the Freddie G Award Ceremony.
Outstanding Production award recipient Jackson Elementary of the Arts from Jonesboro, GA performs “Ugg-A-Wugg” from Peter Pan JR. for all 6,000 attendees at the Freddie G Award Ceremony.
Outstanding Production award recipient Ohlook Performing Arts Center from Grapevine, Texas performs “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat,” from Guys and Dolls JR. for all 6,000 attendees at the Freddie G Award Ceremony.
Outstanding Production award recipient University School of Nashville from Nashville, Tennessee perform “Freak Flag” from Shrek JR. for all 6,000 attendees at the Freddie G Award Ceremony.
Junior Theater Festival Atlanta Headliner Megan Hilty Performs in Concert for all 6,000 festival attendees.
Junior Theater Festival Atlanta Headliner Megan Hilty Performs in Concert for all 6,000 festival attendees.
