🎭 Junior Theater Festival (JTF) 2026
Standing Ovation Theatre Company will be returning to the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, January 15–19, 2026!
Last year, SOTC proudly took home the Excellence in Acting Award, and Ari Hong received the All-Festival Individual Award – the biggest honor of the night! Even though SOTC isn’t about winning awards, we had an amazing time and we are so excited to have you join us for our second trip to JTF.
📝 What the Adjudicators Said
At JTF 2025, our students received incredible feedback from Broadway professionals and international theatre leaders:
Broadway Composer & Educator (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, Monstersongs)
“What a fantastic presentation, with fully lived in characters, great specifics and some truly knockout dancing. Their presentation showed that their program fosters fully committed and dedicated performers who work well as a team. These young artists captured the spirit of fun, danger and heart of the show.”
Choreographer for iTheatrics choreography videos
“The young actor, Ari Hong, that played Lydia is definitely someone to watch out for in the future. There was a maturity that you definitely don’t always see. Clear and precise storytelling in their acting, vocals and dance. They have a fantastic creative team.”
Artistic Director of the Octagon Theatre (UK) · Associate Director of Matilda the Musical in the West End & on Broadway
“I greatly admired this presentation; the students showed huge commitment and really understood the quirky, comic tone of the piece. They showcased a real range of skills including teamwork, acting, singing, dance and acrobatics. The clarity of storytelling and the quality of the performance was extremely high for this age group. Congratulations on an excellent piece. This is obviously a very strong theatre program and the staff should be commended for their work with these students. I was impressed to see so many dynamic and creative choices and look forward to hearing about what they do next.”
🌟 Why Should I Go to JTF?
The Junior Theater Festival is an incredible experience that every true “theatre kid” should get to have. The unique combination of performance, adjudication, entertainment, and friendship is something only JTF provides.
Beyond the excitement, JTF also:
- Looks fantastic on a performer’s resume
- Teaches responsibility, respect, and kindness
- Provides unforgettable memories and bonds with friends
- Creates an atmosphere so electric and inspiring that once you’ve gone, you’ll count down the days until you can return again!
🎶 Our 2026 Production: Between the Lines Jr.
This year, our JTF production edit will be Between the Lines Jr. – a brand-new release from MTI, just like Beetlejuice was last year (our 2025 production).
Eligible ages for performers: 12–18
Because this rehearsal process is intense, we want to make sure that everyone participating is truly ready to tackle the experience. All actors must submit:
- A brief video explaining why they want to attend JTF with us this year.
- A 30–60 second video highlighting their skills as a performer (examples: dancing, singing, reciting a monologue, etc.).
Show us what you’ve got and why YOU will make a great addition to our JTF squad!
🏫 Workshop Requirement
In order to be eligible for JTF, all actors must also participate in one (or both) of our fall/winter workshops. This ensures that our actors are keeping up with their skills and training throughout the next few months.
If your child is between the ages of 12–14, please reach out to us to discuss which workshop option is best.
Note: Actors who cannot participate in the workshop performances can still go to JTF! They should attend as many Sunday classes as possible, and we will keep their absence in mind. These classes will be focused on training, and the casting for the JTF performance will be done separately.
📅 Rehearsal Schedule
JTF Rehearsals:
These rehearsals are separate from the teen workshop and are focused on preparing for the JTF performance.
- Mondays, 7:00–9:00 PM at the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill
- Once the Teen Workshop concludes on December 7, rehearsals will shift to Sundays, 5:00–9:00 PM
- A full rehearsal calendar will be released soon (note: some Mondays may not have rehearsals)
💰 Cost Breakdown
Here is the estimated cost breakdown. Anyone who wants to watch or participate in the performance must pay the $350 registration fee. This includes the actors and parents/guardians.
| Item | Cost | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Festival Registration Fees - includes all workshops and performances | $350 per person | October 1st |
| Rehearsal Fee | $195 (per performer) | November 1st |
| Director’s Fee | $160 (per performer) | November 1st |
| Hotel Meals (3 meals included - mandatory participation for all) | $160 per person | Dec 1st |
| Celebration Dinner (Final Night - optional but highly encouraged!) | $75 per person | Dec 1st |
| Performance Uniform/Accessories (t-shirts, pants, shoes, etc) | $100 (estimated) | TBD |
| Hotel (4 nights - One night deposit due Dec 15th, remainder at checkout) | Approx. $304/night (taxes & fees included) | Dec 15th |
Other Important Info/Costs:
- Travel is not included. Families may choose to fly or drive (individually or with others).
- Other costs include additional meals, snacks, and transportation to Bonefish Grill.
- All performers must arrive in Atlanta by Thursday evening. Events may begin as early as 9:00 AM Friday and continue through around 10:00 PM Sunday. Most families depart on Monday morning (MLK Day).
- The $195 rehearsal fee is in addition to the teen workshop cost.
Additional Hotel Information:
- We have reserved a dedicated rehearsal and gathering space in our hotel this year. This is where rehearsal and hotel meals will be held.
- The hotel is walking distance from the convention center and multiple restaurants.
- Breakfast is included with your hotel stay.
🤝 Fundraising Opportunities
We will be holding fundraisers throughout the fall and winter to help offset costs:
- Individual Fundraisers – Any money a student raises personally will go directly into their individual JTF account.
- General SOTC Fundraisers – Proceeds are split evenly among all families.
- Final Adjustments – Fundraising totals are deducted from the final JTF payment.
- Some families may owe nothing for their last installment.
- If a family raises more than what is due, they will receive a refund for the extra.
- Families are also welcome to host their own fundraisers at any time.
- We will hold a parent fundraising meeting to discuss successful fundraising ideas.