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 2026, Ovation Academy is attending JTF Atlanta in January and JTF West in February.

AUDITION FOR JTF 2026-2027

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.

Auditions are due Wednesday, July 15.
Callbacks are TBD in August, 2026

WHAT IS JTF?

The Junior Theater Festival is the largest celebration of musical theater for young people and is produced by Music Theater International and iTheatrics.

WHEN IS JTF?

JTF Atlanta is January 15-17, 2027 in Atlanta, Georgia
JTF West is February 5-7, 2027 in Sacramento, California

WHAT IS THE REHEARSAL COMMITMENT FOR COMPANY MEMBERS ATTENDING JTF?

• Sep/Oct – Participate in Fall Production, Training Class or Private Lessons (unless exemption approved)
• Nov/Dec – JTF Rehearsals begin (1-3x wkly – off several weeks for Nov/Dec holidays)
• Jan/Feb – JTF Rehearsals (3-4x wkly, at least 2 for the full company + additional principal/small group rehearsals)

**This varies depending on if your group is going to ATL or SAC.

WHAT DOES A GROUP DO AT JTF?

Groups perform a 15-minute selection from one Broadway JR or KIDS Collection show for adjudication, participate in workshops specifically designed for student performers, and watch outstanding performances by their peers and musical theater elite.  We’ve enjoyed performances by Brittany Mack (Six), Stephanie J Block (Wicked), the original cast of Mean Girls, Cynthia Erivo, Pasek and Paul, Ben Platt, Adam Jacobs, Michael Wordly and so many more incredible folks!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JTF?

JTF gives everyone who attends the opportunity to experience the transformative power of musical theater through watching performances, attending workshops, and making connections with other musical theater groups from around the world. Ovation Team Training and Company Membership pushes all actors to work hard, work together, polish and hone their artistic skills and strive for excellence. We become a family!

WHO ATTENDS JTF?

Any elementary, middle, or high school, after-school, private academy or community theater group that has done or is planning to do a Broadway JR. or KIDS collection show. All shows must come from the Broadway JR or Kids Collection. Parents are encouraged to attend as chaperones – your child must stay with you or you can arrange for another adult to chaperone your child. Ovation does not provide any overnight supervision for performers.

WHAT SHOWS WILL OVATION ACADEMY’S COMPANIES BE PERFORMING IN 2027?

This will be announced later, as we are waiting on some information from the festival organizers that will impact our final show selections. Thank you for your patience!

ARE THERE OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF JTF MEMBERS?

JTF member is expected to complete a minimum of two meaningful experiences between Fall ’26 and Summer ‘27. One must be with Ovation, the second may be from outside of Ovation but must be communicated to us for our records. There are several ways to fulfill this requirement:

• 2 Broadway Academy or Encore Productions or Summer Camps, OR
• 1 show + 1 training class, OR
• 2 training classes, OR
• 1 show + 8 or more private lessons, OR
• 16 or more private lessons
• 1 school production + 1 Ovation show, camp, or 8 private lessons 
• 1 professional theatre or television credit 

We also encourage JTF members to attend Ovation performances and be enthusiastic supporters of their peers!

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF JTF?

JTF is a 5 day, 4 night trip (Thu PM – Mon AM). Families are responsible for purchasing airfare, discounted hotel rooms through Ovation, meals and their JTF festival fee. Company Member costs for travel and tuition have historically totalled approximately $2,500, encompassing ALL training, festival and travel fees. Payments are typically spread out across 6 months, and we do everything we can to create a payment plan that works for your family. 

IS THERE A ONE-DAY PASS?

No, there is not a one day pass available. Everyone who plans to attend the festival must pay the full entrance fee for a festival wristband in order to attend any and all events throughout the festival, including adjudication.

HOW STRICT IS FESTIVAL SECURITY?

Every person who attends JTF is required to wear a wristband at all times at the festival. This allows festival staff to ensure only those registered with a group gain access to festival events, maintaining the safety of all in attendance.

WHEN WILL SPECIFIC ROLES FOR THE PERFORMANCE BE ASSIGNED?

Likely in October or November when rehearsals begin for the 15-minute adjudication. Every student selected to attend JTF plays an important role.  We believe strongly at Ovation that you learn just as much being in the ensemble as you do in a principal role.