History At–A-Glance ACT 1, MTI EDUCATION: The iTheatrics legacy began in 1997, when Timothy A. McDonald was recruited by Music Theatre International’s (MTI) CEO Freddie Gershon to develop MTI Education, the first educational division in a musical theatre licensing firm. For ten years, Tim worked side-by-side with theatrical greats like Cameron Mackintosh and Stephen Sondheim to create age-appropriate versions of classic musicals – including Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, Into the Woods, Les Misérables, Seussical and Ragtime – as well as corresponding educational resources for MTI Education’s Broadway Junior, School Edition and KIDS Collections. The company collaborated with Disney Theatrical Productions to adapt Disney animated titles like 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book and Mulan for the stage, virtually creating the “direct to licensing” musical theatre market. Through MTI Education’s partnership with MacMillan/ McGraw-Hill, “bite size” Broadway musicals were featured in textbooks nationwide. With Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars, Tim and his team created the Junior Theater Festival, which celebrates elementary and middle school musical theatre groups. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine with Tim and Music Theatre International during the filming of the documentary, Children Will Listen By the time Tim left to form iTheatrics, over two million young people had been part of a MTI Education production. ACT II, iTHEATRICS: In 2006, with Gershon’s encouragement, Tim formed iTheatrics, an independent, creative, education-based company. In its New York City laboratory, the iTheatrics team continues to develop student versions of MTI and Disney Theatrical Productions shows, including RENT School Edition, Thoroughly Modern Millie JR., A Year With Frog and Toad KIDS, Disney’s High School Musical JR., Disney’s High School Musical 2 JR. and Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR. iTheatrics is also creating musical stage versions of beloved cultural properties, Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach and Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter. Seeing an opportunity to raise the bar of theatre presented to young audiences at performing arts centers across the country, iTheatrics directed and developed in conjunction with Work Light Productions five new touring shows: Broadway Junior on Tour, Disney’s Discover Theater, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Frankly Ben and The Ant and the Elephant. The company also works with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), MTI and the Shubert Foundation on a landmark musical theatre mentorship program, which allows educators at New York City public schools to build self-sustaining musical theatre programs. The iTheatrics Junior Teaching Intensives offer professional development opportunities for teachers. Stephen Schwartz with iTheatrics Junior Theater Academy’s presentation of Captain Louie JR. iTheatrics continues to use the transformative power of the arts to make the world a better place for children and theatre. iTheatrics’ endeavors are designed to celebrate, inspire, and ignite the imagination. Download the full history of iTheatrics here.