JUNIOR THEATER FESTIVAL
AWARDS
- 2024 Outstanding Production, JTF Sacramento (Shrek JR)
- 2024 Outstanding Choreography, JTF Atlanta (Newsies JR)
- 2024 Outstanding New Works Showcase, JTF Atlanta (Hans Christian Andersen, JR)
- 2024 Outstanding Performance by an Individual, JTF Atlanta (Oliver Schnizlein, Newsies JR)
- 2023 Outstanding Performance, JTF Sacramento (Music Man, JR)
- 2022 Outstanding New Works Showcase, JTF Sacramento (Broadway Junior Revue: Pure Imagination)
- 2022 Excellence in Music, JTF Sacramento (The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, JR)
- 2022 Outstanding Performance by an Individual, JTF Sacramento (William Daly, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, JR)
- 2021 Outstanding Production, JTF Atlanta (Seussical KIDS)
- 2021 Excellence in Dance, JTF Atlanta (Shrek, JR)
- 2021 Overall Best Male Performer, JTF Atlanta (Alejandro Medina, Shrek JR)
- 2020 Excellence in Dance, JTF Australia (Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR)
- 2020 Outstanding Production, JTF Sacramento (Disney’s The Aristocats KIDS)
- 2020 Overall Best Male Performer, JTF Sacramento (Mateo Haro, The Aristocats, JR)
- 2019 Excellence in Dance, JTF Atlanta (Disney’s Peter Pan JR)
- 2018 Excellence in Music, JTF Atlanta (Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR)
AUDITIONS FOR JTF 2024-25 WILL BE DUE JULY 1, 2024.
Junior Theater Festival (JTF) is the world’s biggest and best celebration of young people performing musical theater.
JTF Company Members are selected for their talent, commitment, and desire to grow as performers together. They are an advanced competition-level team, and represent Ovation in the community.
The Junior Theater Festivals in Atlanta and Sacramento bring together performers from all over the world for a weekend of musical theater mayhem and madness. Each team performs fifteen minutes from a Broadway Junior or KIDS show for adjudication by a panel of musical theater experts.
The weekend features workshops for students, directors 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.
In 2025, Ovation Academy is attending JTF Atlanta in January and JTF West in February.
Becoming a JTF Company Member
AUDITIONS FOR JTF 2024-25 ARE DUE JULY 1
JTF MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
To become a Company Member:
- Performers must be 8-18 years old as of Summer 2024. Younger performers will be part of the Sacramento team; older performers will be part of the Atlanta team.
- New members must submit an audition video by July 1, 2024. Returning JTF members do not need to submit a video, but may choose to in order to demonstrate growth.
- All new and returning members must attend in-person Callbacks on August 17, 2024. JTF Company Members will be announced in late August.
- If selected, Company Members must commit to yearlong participation in Ovation/Encore programming:
- A minimum of two Ovation productions between 2024-2025 (includes summer camps), OR one Encore production between 2024-2025;
- A minimum of two Ovation technique classes throughout the ‘24-25 school year, and/or regular private lessons;
- JTF Rehearsals throughout Fall and Winter 2024-25; and
- Represent Ovation Academy at local and regional events including PorchFest, BarrieFest, and What’s Blooming on Harrison, pending availability.
- Some exemptions may be approved; contact the Ovation staff with any questions.
Company members will have the honor of representing Ovation Academy at either the 2024 Junior Theater Festival in Sacramento, CA or the 2025 Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA.
REHEARSAL COMMITMENT:
- JTF Callbacks – August 11, 2024
- Fall Broadway Academy Production (rehearsals 2-3x weekly, September-October) or ENCORE participation in Spring or Summer
- JTF Adjudication Rehearsals:
- November: approx 2-3x weekly
- December: approx 2-3x weekly
- January: daily including weekends
- A maximum of 3 absences are excused during the JTF rehearsal process. More than 3 conflicts could result in an inability to participate, or a change in role.
EXPECTATIONS:
Company Members represent Ovation Academy on a world stage. They commit to working hard, developing their skills as performers, and comporting themselves maturely and professionally at all times. They set the example for less experienced students to aspire toward, and understand that membership in the JTF Company is a privilege that must be earned.
Parents/families play a big role in the JTF process, and we cannot be successful without their dedication and commitment. Families have the opportunity to get to know one another through JTF social events, volunteer to help with the festival trip, and support these talented young performers on their journey. They are expected to prioritize getting their child to rehearsals consistently and on time, reading and responding to required trip-related communications, and being actively engaged in their child’s JTF membership.
Several informational meetings are held to familiarize new families with the JTF process at various points throughout the Fall and Winter. If you have questions about JTF on behalf of your child or your own role, please reach out at any time.
As we always say, “it takes a village!”
2024-2025 AUDITIONS
AUDITION FOR JTF 2024-2025
Click the button above for detailed instructions, then:
PUBLISH YOUR VIDEO: Publish your video to YouTube and with the privacy settings set to “UNLISTED”. Click here to learn more about Youtube privacy settings and how to list your videos
SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION: When you have your video link ready to go, please fill out the audition form below and share with us the urls of your youtube audition videos. Click here for help finding your youtube urls.
Returning Company Members: You DO NOT need to submit a video, but you DO still need to complete the Audition Form below,
so that we know you plan to return.
AUDITION SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July 1, 2024
JTF 2024-2025
The 2024-25 JTF Companies will participate in:
JTF in Atlanta, Georgia – January 16-20, 2025
JTF in Sacramento, California – February 6-10, 2025
Company Members will rehearse throughout Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 to prepare a 15-minute adjudication piece to perform at the festival. Performers will undertake challenging choreography, music, and character development.
Company Members will then travel with their chaperones for a 4-day musical theater festival experience. The group will perform their 15-minute piece, watch other groups’ performances from around the world, and attend a variety of workshops and master classes taught by industry experts.
Company Members will develop musical theatre skills to create and strengthen ensemble-driven works guided by Ovation directors specializing in dance, voice, and creative, imaginative storytelling. We complete our competition-level training by traveling together to the Junior Theatre Festival where leading professionals critique the team’s performance of an excerpt from our show. Imagine taking a bow at a national theatre festival after performing for other world-wide musical theatre students, teachers, and Broadway professionals!
The Junior Theatre Festival brings students, teachers, and outstanding musical theatre professionals from all over the world to celebrate and learn from each other. Produced by the Junior Theater Group and iTheatrics, the festival attracts thousands of participants each year. Student groups perform a 15-minute selection from a Broadway Junior Collection® musical for adjudication, participate in workshops, learn by watching other groups perform, and enjoy performances by Broadway and Disney stars.