Playwright and founding chairman of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group Timothy Allen McDonald opens the Junior Theater Festival.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Timothy Allen McDonald, founding chairman of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group talks to the 5,832 participants at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Susan Fuller, Lindsay Lupi, Marty Johnson, Steven G. Kennedy, Tammy McDonald, Laura Jo Schuster, Rob Rokicki, Jakob Plummer, Daniel Mertzlufft, Cynthia Ripley and Timothy Allen McDonald
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
iTheatrics’ resident choreographer Steven Kennedy leads teachers in a rehearsal for an upcoming surprise dance performance of “Watch Me (Whip/NaeNae)/Uptown Funk”
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Andrew Keenan-Bolger book signing
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
iTheatrics Resident Choreographer Steven G. Kennedy holds student auditions for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be-released Broadway Junior musicals.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Community Theatre of Greensboro in Greensboro, NC presents Madagascar JR. at the New Works Showcase, which previews new musicals which will soon be available for licensing.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Bradley Academy Musical Theatre in Murfreesboro, TN, Roy Waldron Elementary Drama and University School of Nashville in Nashville present Peter Pan JR. for 5,800+ festival attendees as part of the New Works Showcase, which previews new musicals which will soon be available for licensing.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Playwright and founding chairman of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group Timothy Allen McDonald and New York Times best-selling author Mary Pope Osborne introduce Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre in Fairhope, AL, for their performances of Magic Tree House: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens JR. at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. Ms. Osborne penned the internationally best-selling Magic Tree House book series.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre in Fairhope, AL, perform Magic Tree House: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens JR. at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. The soon-to-be-released musical is based on a book in Mary Pope Osborne’s best-selling Magic Tree House series in which Jack and Annie travel through time to Victorian England.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! Program in Oak Park, IL; Harris County Carver Middle School in Hamilton, GA; P.S. 124 Theatre Club in New York City; and Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans perform in a medley of Broadway Junior songs at the Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students cut loose at the JTF Dance Party
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students cut loose at the JTF Dance Party
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Hundreds of students serenade Music Theatre International CEO and theater impresario Freddie Gershon and his wife Myrna Gershon at the culmination of a New Works Showcase performance honoring the 20th anniversary of Broadway Junior.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
A cake honoring the 20th anniversary of Broadway Junior.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students dressed as characters from Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior titles of musicals present a cake honoring the 20th anniversary of Broadway Junior.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
students join iTheatrics educational director Marty Johnson, iTheatrics founding chairman Timothy Allen McDonald, Music Theatre International CEO Freddie Gershon, Myrna Gershon, Music Theatre International’s Senior Operations Officer John Prignano, Music Theatre International President Drew Cohen, iTheatrics and Music Theatre International Lead Educational Consultant Cindy Ripley and Music Theatre International Director of Marketing Jason Cocovinis.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
J.D. Daw (Forever Plaid, California Musical Theatre and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera House) performs “You Already Are” from the new musical “Between the Lines” written by songwriting team Kate Anderson and Elyssa Samsel and bookwriter Timothy Allen McDonald at a Pop-Up Concert at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. “Between the Lines” is based on the book by New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Timothy Allen McDonald and New York Times Best-Selling Author Jodi Picoult discuss the new musical Between the Lines based on the book on Picoult’s New York Times best-selling book at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival Pathways, a Q&A event in which Broadway talent talk candidly about their experiences and presents works from new shows.”Between the Lines” is written by songwriting team Kate Anderson and Elyssa Samsel and bookwriter Timothy Allen McDonald.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Megan Rozak (winner of national If/Then contest) performs “Allie McAndrews” with Janice Landry (If/Then), at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival Pathways, a Q&A event in which Broadway talent speak a little bit about their individual musical journeys and how they got to where they are now.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Ryann Redmond (If/Then, Bring it On the Musical) performs “Princess” from Sing on Through Tomorrow by Matthew Lee Robinson during Pathways, a Q&A event in which Broadway talent talks candidly about their experiences and presents works from new shows.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) discusses and performs from Dear Evan Hansen and his path to becoming an actor during Pathways at the Junior Theater Festival, an event in which Broadway talent speak a little bit about their individual musical journeys and how they got to where they are now.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Composer/lyricist Matthew Lee Robinson (Atlantis, Happy People) performs “Princess” during Pathways at the Junior Theater Festival, an event in which Broadway talent speak a little bit about their individual musical journeys and how they got to where they are now.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
iTheatrics and Junior Theater group Founding Chairman Timothy Allen McDonald, songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and Ben Platt discuss Dear Evan Hansen at Pathways, a Q&A session in which Broadway talent discuss their artistic journeys.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Corey Cott performs “Good Kid” by Rob Rokicki at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival’s Pathways, an event in which Broadway talent speak a little bit about their individual musical journeys and how they got to where they are now.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
New York Times Best-Selling author Jodi Picoult signs books at the Junior Theater Festival. The festival also previewed Between the Lines, a new musical based on Picoult’s book written songwriting team Kate Anderson and Elyssa Samsel and bookwriter Timothy Allen McDonald.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from P.S. 124 in Chinatown, NY perform “Do You Love Me” from Fiddler on the Roof JR. during The Broadway Junior Retrospective honoring the 20th anniversary of Broadway Junior.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO! program in Oak Park, IL perform “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” from Annie JR. during The Broadway Junior Retrospective. Broadway Junior alumni joined students in performance to honor the 20th anniversary of Broadway Junior.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
A student from Play on Players in Griffin, GA performs a song from West Side Story High School Edition during The Broadway Junior Retrospective. Broadway Junior alumni joined students in performance to honor the 20th anniversary of Broadway Junior.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Cory Lingner (Broadway’s On The Town) joins Justice Smith and students from Boothbay Region YMCA and Jeter Backyard Theater to perform “All For the Best” from Godspell JR. during the Broadway Junior Retrospective.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Broadway Junior and Junior Theater Festival alumna Joi Pierre joins Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School’s BRAVO program to perform “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin JR. Broadway Junior alumni joined students in performance for the Broadway Junior Retrospective, honoring the 20th anniversary of Broadway Junior.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
The Broadway Junior All Stars, made up of outstanding performers attending the festival, perform “Children Will Listen” for all 5,800 festival attendees during the Broadway Junior Retrospective.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students perform during the Broadway Junior Slam, a theatrical challenge in which students and teachers who do not know each other must stage and perform a song from a show in one hour.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
iTheatrics Director of Education Marty Johnson and Lead Educational Consultant Cindy Ripley announce the 2016 Freddie G Fellows. Six exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country were selected for the seventh annual “The Freddie G Fellowship,” in which the teachers will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to collaborate with each other and work one-on-one with Broadway greats. Each winning teacher will also receive a $5,000 grant to put towards his or her theater program. The event is underwritten and hosted by Freddie and Myrna Gershon and is a thank-you for all that teachers do to introduce the next generation to Broadway and musical theater.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
iTheatrics Director of Education Marty Johnson and Lead Educational Consultant Cindy Ripley announce the 2016 Freddie G Fellows. Six exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country were selected for the seventh annual “The Freddie G Fellowship,” in which the teachers will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to collaborate with each other and work one-on-one with Broadway greats. Each winning teacher will also receive a $5,000 grant to put towards his or her theater program. The event is underwritten and hosted by Freddie and Myrna Gershon and is a thank-you for all that teachers do to introduce the next generation to Broadway and musical theater.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Ohlook Performing Arts Center from Grapevine, TX, perform Xanadu JR. for all festival attendees during the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient the University School of Nashville performs Disney’s The Lion King JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Gwendolyn Brook’s Middle School’s BRAVO program from Oak Park, IL perform Seussical JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Broadway at the Rose from Omaha, NE perform Into the Woods JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Conwell Kidz Drama Program in Jersey City perform Disney’s The Lion King JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Uptown Music Theatre in New Orleans performs Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Inspiration Stage in League City performs Disney’s The Lion King JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Play On Players in Duluth performs Guys and Dolls JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Community Theatre of Greensboro students performs Shrek the Musical JR. at the Freddie G Student Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Broadway’s Andrew Keenan-Bolger and NY1’s Frank DiLella present the Freddie G Award for Excellence in Music at the Freddie G Students Awards
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Cory Lingner (On the Town) and Corey Cott (Newsies) present the Freddie G All Festival Performance Female Award to Emma Lord from Ohlook Performing Arts Center in Grapevine, TX.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Justin Paul, Ben Platt and Benj Pasek announce the Freddie G Award for Excellence in Ensemble Work
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Darren Criss was the headliner of the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. He performed a concert for all attendees featuring songs from his Broadway and television career.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Darren Criss was the headliner of the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. He performed a concert for all attendees featuring songs from his Broadway and television career.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Darren Criss was the headliner of the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. He performed a concert for all attendees featuring songs from his Broadway and television career.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Darren Criss was the headliner of the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. He performed a concert for all attendees featuring songs from his Broadway and television career.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Darren Criss was the headliner of the 2016 Junior Theater Festival. He performed a concert for all attendees featuring songs from his Broadway and television career.
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Darren Criss meets students backstage before his concert at the Junior Theater Festival
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Ben Platt, Jodi Picoult, Benj Pasek, Ryann Redmond, Rob Rokicki, Janice Landry, Timothy Allen McDonald, Kate Anderson, Justin Paul, Amanda Flynn, Matthew Lee Robinson, Megan Rozak, Cory Lingner, Elyssa Samsel and Corey Cott
Marcus Woollen/Music Theatre International
Students and teachers from 115 educational musical theatre groups representing 28 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia participates in the Festival, it was held January 15-17 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.
Produced by the Junior Theatre Group in partnership with iTheatrics, a leading educational theatre company which works to ensure students everywhere have access to quality theatre programs, the Junior Theatre Festival is the world’s largest festival celebrating young people and the transformative power of musical theatre. This year’s title sponsors are Music Theatre International (MTI), Disney Theatrical Group, and Playbill®.
