Junior Theater Festival West is readying to descend upon Sacramento, California, for a weekend-long celebration of all things youth theatre. Presented by iTheatrics and Junior Theater Group, the festival has assembled a group of theatre luminaries to make special appearances at this year's event, running February 7-9.
Mainstage appearances will include cast and creative team members from the upcoming Pasek and Paul stage musical Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, including Trae Adair, McKenna Michael Bisaha, Max Antonio Gonzalez, Cori Jaskier, Jetta Juriansz, Danny Feldman, and Nina Meehan; cast and creative team members from Deaf West Theatre, including Jeff Calhoun, Adam Faison, Giovanni Maucere, and Siena Rafter, joined in performance by Morgan Siobhan Green; Steven Agdeppa (American Idiot); Sarah Jane Arnegger (AKA NYC); actor Jenna Barricklo; actor John Clay III (New York, New York); director Michael Herwitz (JOB); Academy of Pop Head of School Marty Johnson; actor and choreographer Michael Lunder; composer Daniel Mertzlufft (Ratatouille the TikTok Musical); DEI Advisor Jiana Odland; composer Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical); writer Adam Tobin (She Persisted: The Musical); and composer Deborah Wicks La Puma (She Persisted: The Musical).
This year's event will have nearly 2,500 people representing 54 groups, hailing from 16 U.S. states and five countries, including Canada, South Korea, China, and New Zealand.
“JTF West brings together young performers, educators, and industry professionals in an electrifying celebration of arts education,” says iTheatrics Founder and CEO Timothy Allen McDonald in a statement. “As someone who grew up dreaming of Broadway in rural Northern California, I’m proud to be introducing two new musicals developed in California—Elephant Shoes (Deaf West Theatre) and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: The Musical (Pasadena Playhouse). It’s proof that Broadway's reach goes way beyond New York City.”
The event will also celebrate 20 years of Disney joining MTI's Broadway Junior collection with a special performance of Disney's Dare to Dream JR., a new revue of songs from Disney's musical that premiered at Junior Theater Festival Atlanta last month and is currently available for licensing from Music Theatre International. The JTF West performance, which will close out the weekend Sunday evening, is being directed by Marty Johnson, and will feature students from Woodland Opera House in Woodland, California; Spark of Creation Studio in San Francisco, California; and Musical Mayhem Productions from Sacramento, California. Each group has choreographed its own numbers.
This year's New Works Showcase, spotlighting titles coming soon to the Broadway JR. and Kids collections, will feature Maine's Boothbay Region YMCA: YARTS! performing Shrek the Musical KIDS, Texas's Preston Center Dance performing 9 to 5 JR., Illinois' Ovation Academy of Performing Arts performing She Persisted JR., and California's Christian Arts and Theater performing Madagascar - A Musical Adventure KIDS.
JTF celebrates musical theatre and musical theatre education with a weekend of events and performances that bring Broadway and West End professionals together with educators and young students. Youth theatre companies can bring 15-minute staged selections (from titles in musical licensor Music Theatre International's Broadway Junior collection) for adjudication. Students can also attend interactive workshops. Students interested in technical theatre can participate in the tech track, which includes the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals backstage for the festival's mainstage events.
This year’s educators include Emma Bishop, Michael J. Bobbitt, Mary-Catherine Chambliss, Khalia Davis, Alexis Duermeyer, composer Zina Goldrich, director and choreographer Jeff Hall, Steven G Kennedy, Kelby McIntyre Martinez, Dean McFlicker, Cindy Ripley, Shay Rodgers, Court Watson, Julianna Babb, Isaiah Bailey, Sam Bolar, Derek Bowley, Romney Clements, Scott Goodell, Robert Hindsman, Kiana Holmes, Eve La Puma, Lisa Morrow, Rosie Jo Neddy, Nich Roehler, William Rude, Darian Sanders, Eli Weinberg, and Carol Worcel.
“For over 20 years, attending the Junior Theater Festival has been a highlight for me and my colleagues at MTI," says MTI President and CEO Drew Cohen. "Seeing the performers display their talents is a genuine thrill and speaking with them, their directors, teachers, and parents allows us to hear what we can do to best serve their needs. The weekend energizes us for the entire year ahead!”
Music Theatre International, Disney Theatrical Group, Playbill, and Broadway Media are proud sponsors of the Junior Theater Festival.
Visit JuniorTheaterFestival.com.
