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TCTA is thrilled to announce our participation in our second Junior Theater Festival (JTF) - a major event celebrating young performers and musical theater! Organized by iTheatrics and Music Theatre International (MTI), it is held annually in different locations.  The largest festival, which we will attend, takes place in Atlanta, Georgia January 16-18, 2026.

What Happens at JTF?
  • Adjudications: Student groups (ages 8-18 in our category) perform a 15-minute selection from a Broadway Junior show and receive feedback from a panel of professional adjudicators.
  • Workshops: Students, teachers, and directors participate in workshops on acting, singing, dancing, and technical theater.
  • Special Performances: Broadway performers, writers, and industry professionals make appearances and perform.
  • Awards & Recognition: Outstanding groups, individuals, and performances receive awards.
  • New Show Announcements: JTF often debuts upcoming Broadway Junior titles.
JTF also includes an optional technical theater component, providing opportunities for students interested in behind-the-scenes aspects of theater production.
  • Tech Olympics: A competition where tech students race to complete theater-related challenges, such as quick costume changes, lighting focus, sound setup, and prop management.
  • Technical Workshops: Hands-on sessions led by industry professionals covering lighting, sound design, set construction, costuming and stage management.

Who Can Attend?
  • School, community, and youth theater groups performing Broadway Junior musicals.
  • Theater educators and directors looking to learn from professionals.
JTF is a high-energy, exciting experience that provides TCTA performers a very special opportunity to showcase their talents, receive valuable feedback from industry professionals, and immerse themselves in a weekend of musical theater celebration.

TCTA performers will have opportunities to spend time with other groups from around the world at our hotel and at the festival.  We bring special TCTA wrist bands to trade!

Plans for our 2026 trip were underway within a week of this year’s festival!  Any changes to this year’s format are the results of our 2025 experience and post-festival family feedback we received through our survey.

Auditions & Commitment Deadline
Auditions for JTF will be held the evenings of April 28 and May 5 in a workshop format. TCTA participants entering grades 5-12 in the 25-26 school year, with at least one season of TCTA experience are eligible to audition.  All interested performers must attend the audition workshops to be considered for the team.

Once audition decisions are announced, we require final commitments from families by June 1 to secure our registration and begin preparations.

Please be sure to review all schedule and financial commitments before this deadline.

Schedule Requirements
Preparing for JTF requires dedication and consistent attendance at rehearsals. Attendance is mandatory, with exceptions made only for illness.  Please ensure that your child is available for all JTF rehearsals and events, as full participation is essential to our team experience.  A preliminary rehearsal schedule is as follows:
  • Team meetings and fundraising events: Starting in June
  • Sunday evening 90-minute rehearsals: Begin in late August
  • Sunday 4-hour rehearsals: December 14 thru January 4
  • January: expect two or three 4-hour rehearsals per week including Saturday and Sunday evenings

Financial Commitment
Participating in JTF requires a financial investment that covers registration fees, lodging, program/equipment costs, and meals. A breakdown of estimated costs is as follows:
  • Festival Registration: $350 per person
  • Lodging: $1300 per room (4 nights)
  • Program Fee: $200 per performer
  • Meals: $500 (one adult, one performer)
  • Apparel: $140-$280 (one adult, one performer)
  • Travel: airfare and travel to/from airports arranged and paid for by each family

Fundraising & Payments
To assist families, we will organize fundraisers to offset costs.  There are changes to our fundraising structure: participation in fundraising events will be mandatory in order for you to receive group funds raised, and we will provide new opportunities to fundraise through other SPR events. Key deadlines to note:
  • First Payment Due: July 15 (registration fees $350 per person)
  • Fundraising: June through December – bulk of fundraising done July-October
  • Final Payment Due: December 15
Please note: all details in this document are subject to change.

We will be hosting a mandatory parent information meeting on Monday, April 7 at 6:00pm at the Saco Community Center to go over our plans in more detail and answer any questions.  Families who attended JTF in 2025 are also required to attend.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for TCTA! We can’t wait to return to this unforgettable experience with our talented young performers.

Additional Forms and Files:
Register Activity Ages Grades Days Date/Time Fees
 
  No Registration Required
JTF 2026 - Parent Info Night 
N/A N/A Tu  04/07/2026
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Community Center 		$0.00 R
Mandatory meeting for any family interested in attending JTF 2026.
* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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