Junior Theater Festival 2027
An incredible weekend celebrating and educating young performers in musical theatre — thousands of kids from across the country and around the world, one 15-minute piece, and a chance to represent SOTC.
If you've reviewed all the information on this page, and are interested in JTF, please fill out the interest form.
Training, teamwork, and growth
Our SOTC group prepares a 15-minute adjudication piece from a Broadway Junior musical to perform for a panel of theatre professionals — performers, directors, choreographers, and educators working throughout the industry.
After performing, students receive direct feedback and coaching from the adjudicators. It's about so much more than being judged or winning an award — it's a chance to learn, grow, and be challenged as performers.
Adjudication is only one part of the weekend. Above all, JTF is about confidence, friendship, and the experience of being surrounded by thousands of kids who love musical theatre as much as your performer does.
- — Workshops & master classes with Broadway/theatre professionals
- — Performances from talented groups across the country and around the world
- — Special opportunities for selected performers to participate in auditions
- — Special events featuring Broadway professionals
- — A huge community celebrating educational theatre
What a JTF weekend looks like
A busy, exciting, and very full weekend — our group moves through the festival together.
Rehearsal schedule
No added weekday rehearsals this year. An occasional Saturday evening may be added if we lose a rehearsal or need extra prep time.
October
- Oct 258:30–9:30 PM
November
- Nov 18:30–9:30 PM
- Nov 87:30–9:30 PM
- Nov 157:30–9:30 PM
- Nov 227:30–9:30 PM
December
- Dec 66:30–9:30 PM
- Dec 136:30–9:30 PM
- Dec 206:30–9:30 PM
January
- Jan 34:30–9:30 PM, with dinner break
- Jan 95:00–9:00 PM, only if needed
- Jan 103:00–9:30 PM · final performance & parent meeting
Attendance & commitment
- Ages 12–18 by audition. Ages 10–12 may be considered based on experience, behavior, and audition.
- Maximum of two rehearsal absences permitted. Know you'll miss more? Contact us before registering.
- All December and January rehearsals are mandatory — this is when the piece gets cleaned, staged, and performance-ready.
- Every performer must be staying with an adult for the duration of the trip.
- Our piece is only 15 minutes long, so every performer matters to the whole group.
Cost breakdown
JTF is a real financial commitment, and we want to be transparent about it from the start. We've worked to keep costs as low as possible compared to past years.
Tentative payment due dates — Performer: Oct 1 ($400) · Nov 1 ($245) · Dec 1 ($245) · Jan 10 ($325)
Parent w/ conference: Oct 1 ($400) · Jan 10 ($325) · Parent, no conference: Jan 10 ($300)
Hotel
Approx. $525/room for all 4 nights (king room, sleeps up to 3). Room block link sent after registration — reserve by early December. Every room must have a parent or chaperoning adult staying in it.
Airfare
Not included. Performers need to arrive by Thursday evening — we'll likely start rehearsal early Friday morning.
Extra meals & transport
Most meals are covered, and we'll provide airport-to-hotel transportation as much as possible. Families arriving/departing significantly off-schedule may need their own rideshare.
Questions
Is JTF a competition?+
Who can participate?+
What if my performer will miss rehearsals?+
Is the hotel included in the cost?+
Is airfare included?+
What if my performer is attending without a parent?+
Ready for JTF 2027?
Review the rehearsal schedule and cost breakdown as a family to see if this is the right fit for your performer. Submit an interest form to let us know you're considering JTF 2027 — audition information will be sent out once your interest form is completed.