JTF 2009: Thousands of students, teachers and directors celebrate onstage and backstage excellence in musical theatre during the international Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 16th, 17th and 18th, 2009. Produced by iTheatrics and Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars, and in association with Music Theatre International, the Junior Theater Festival is the world’s largest musical theatre festival dedicated to groups working with elementary and middle school aged-young people. ITheatrics Artistic Director Marty Johnson with Tyngsboro Middle School from Massachusettes at the 2007 JTF. The festival offers an enthusiastic environment for students and teachers to interact with thousands of others who share their passion for musical theatre. Each group performs a selection of a musical for professional adjudication by a distinguished panel of international theatre professionals. In addition groups participate ininteractive workshops lead by Broadway and West End professionals, meet celebrities ranging from Zac Efron (JTF 2007 celebrity guest) and Christie Carlson Romano (JTF 2005 celebrity guest, enjoy professional development, fellowship and attend a world-class professional production at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. (The 2009 production will be Disney’s Tarzan.)The Junior Theater Festival is a monumental celebration of musical theatre achievement, bringing together young people, Broadway professionals, teachers and directors in the ultimate musical theatre experience of a lifetime! Most importantly, the Junior Theater Festival allows people from all aspects of theatre ranging from students and teachers to professionals who work on Broadway to come together under one roof to celebrate outstanding student musical theatre productions. The Junior Theater Festival in now accepting registrations. Highlights of the Junior Theater Festival include: Adjudication: In the spirit of celebration, not competition, theatre groups perform selections from their current Broadway Junior or KIDS Collection productions for a panel of leaders in theatre and education. Each cast will receive valuable feedback about its creativity, engagement in the performance, understanding of the material and connection to the lyrics and movement. The most joyful and student-driven performances are celebrated with awards and a select few groups will be invited to perform during the closing awards ceremony for the peers. New Works Showcase:The Junior Theater Festival offers attendees a first-look at new musicals soon to be available. Past performances have included the professional premiere of Disney’s High School Musical, as well as student presentations of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka’s Junior, Seussical Junior, Godspell Junior, Disney’s Aladdin Junior, and Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS. The 2009 festival is scheduled to feature the world premier of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR., Disney’s High School Musical JR., The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Junior., and The Phantom Tollbooth Junior. New Works Showcase Groups: iTheatrics is now accepting applications from schools and educational groups that would like to perform in the New Works Showcase. Selected groups will be one of the first in the country to present a new title in their community, and will also perform the show as one of the Junior Theater Festival’s featured events. Chosen groups will also receive an in-school residency with iTheatrics’ teaching artistsat no charge. Professional Educators’ Workshops: The Junior Theater Festival workshops empower teachers and professionals to present musicals in their community. The workshops focus on different aspects of putting on a show, including the “how to’s” of starting a drama club, choreographing musical numbers and creating great looking sets and costumes on any budget. These workshops also serve as a professional exchange for teachers, giving them the opportunity to candidly address obstacles and their solutions within a supportive and creative environment. Student Workshops: These workshops inspire students to build skills that will have a positive impact on productions for years to come. Topics include master classes about auditions, backstage technical theatre skills like stage management and props, and making the most out of rehearsal time. Celebrities: Many stars of the stage and screen are drawn to the excitement of the Junior Theater Festival. Past celebrities who have attended the festival include High School Musical’s Zac Efron, Kim Possible’s Christy Carlson Romano and American Idol’s Michael Orland. Professional Production: In the spirit of inspiring young people to perform, all festival attendees will attend a professional production at Atlanta’s historic Theater of the Stars. Past shows have included Annie, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the world premier of Disney High School Musical on Stage.