May 15, 2017
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Photos of JTF West by Marcus Woollen.
https://www.hive.co/contests/contest/7308/spotlight/
The Educational Theatre Association partnered with iTheatrics, which runs a successful Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta. The two organizations jointly conducted JTF West, a new theatre festival for middle school students, at the Sacramento Convention Center February 10-12, 2017. The new event began with a day of activities exclusively for Junior Thespian Troupes. They participated in Junior National Individual Events (NIE), workshops, and other Thespian-only activities with Friday evening culminating with the showcase of the top NIE participants and will be attended by all JTF participants. Additionally, all student groups had the opportunity to present 15 minutes from a musical in Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior library of titles for adjudication by a panel of leaders in education and theatre. They received feedback on their connection to the material, storytelling, movement, music, acting and ensemble work.
Photos by Marcus Woollen.
💖Thank You Newcastle 💖 #jtcoz #itheatrics #ayt @timmcdonaldnyc (at Newcastle, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcwqloAe8R/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=122y9md439zi
Following the Future: iTheatrics Alums
Name: Kate Semmens
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Where are you now? I will be attending Princeton University in the fall and hope to major in either History or Economics. I will also be taking advantage of their certificate programs in Theatre and Dance.
What iTheatrics Workshop and/or Choreography DVD have you been a part of?
I have done 8 workshops including Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS (Narrator), Crazy For You Young Performers’ Edition (Polly), Anything Goes Young Performers’ Edition (Reno), Getting to Know… The King and I (Anna), Getting to Know... Once Upon a Mattress (Jester), Magic Tree House: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens JR, Disney’s Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) and A Chorus Line High School Edition (Bebe). I did the combined choreography DVD filming for Getting to Know... Oklahoma, Singin’ in the Rain JR, Crazy For You Young Performers’ Edition and Getting to Know... Once Upon a Mattress and I also did the choreography DVD for A Chorus Line High School Edition.
What are your favorite memories of working with iTheatrics? I have so many fond memories of working at iTheatrics. I especially loved getting to know each member of the iTheatrics faculty. I learned something different from having each of them as a director, musical director, or choreographer. I also met so many talented kids from all over the country (sometimes from all over the world). When I did the workshop of A Chorus Line High School Edition the cast was so lovely and tight-knit. A lot of us are are still in touch to this day!
How do you think your experiences working on musicals have shaped you? Working on musicals at iTheatrics allowed me to play a variety of incredible parts and work on iconic shows. Throughout middle school iTheatrics gave me a place to be a part of amazing ensembles of performers and truly discover my love of musical theater. The musical workshops also taught me how to focus, take direction quickly and remain flexible throughout a fast paced rehearsal process.
What was your favorite Broadway Junior show? I love Disney’s Mary Poppins JR. It is a wonderful cut of the full length show.
What is your dream role to play? The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods
10 years from now: Where will you be? What will you be doing? And what song will you be still listening to?
Whether through acting, producing, directing, teaching or writing I hope that I will still be involved in theater in some way. I also hope to be pursuing my various entrepreneurial ideas. I will definitely still be a major Sondheim fan!
Do you have any advice for future iTheatrics Alums?
Following the Future: iTheatrics Alums
Name: Dana Grossman
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Where are you now? I’m in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania studying at The University of the Arts for my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.
What iTheatrics Workshop and/or Choreography DVD have you been a part of?
I’ve been in three iTheatrics Academy shows: Xanadu JR, Shrek The Musical JR, and Getting To Know... Oklahoma! and eleven (!) iTheatrics Choreography DVDS: Hairspray JR, Xanadu JR, Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs before Dark KIDS, Fiddler on the Roof JR, Elf The Musical JR, James and the Giant Peach JR, Thoroughly Modern Millie JR, School House Rock JR, Peter Pan JR, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR and Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR.
What are your favorite memories of working with iTheatrics? I was recently reunited with the lovely iTheatrics family this past JTF Atlanta (2018). Steven Kennedy asked me to help with the Choreography DVD auditions - which I adored. It was insightful to see the audition process from the other side. I had a blast cheerleading to Legally Blonde JR. Seeing everyone was heartwarming, and I realized how much I missed everyone, but we all talked as if no time had passed. Picking up where we left off made me realize that the iTheatrics team is full of life-long friendships.
How do you think your experiences working on musicals have shaped you? Having the experiences from past iTheatrics/MTI workshops in my toolbox have shaped me into who I am today as an artist, collaborator, and triple-threat. With the help of these past DVDs and script readings, I walk confidently into a production room with ideas for devising and collaboration. My skills with picking up choreography fast were heavily stemmed from the DVDs I was involved with, and I have created long-lasting connections with the iTheatrics team and fellow summer artists.
What was your favorite Broadway Junior show? My favorite Broadway JR show I have worked on is probably Shrek the Musical JR. I was able to be the shortest character in the show and didn’t even have to get on my knees! I loved working on the shows first stages in NYC, bringing these kooky fairytale creatures to life, then turning around and performing the show again in North Carolina. I went from a short man, to a tap dancing ogre, to a comedic, energized donkey. I will never forget Tim McDonald’s words at the showing with Jeanine Tesori, David Lindsay-Abaire, and parents: “Dana is our weapon of mass comedy.” A fantastic experience, with talented peers and an amazing production team, creating memories forever.
What is your dream role to play? A role that I would absolutely love to play is Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family. Her comedic timing is like no other, having to be very evil and a bit monotone here and there, but still comedic with a lovable flare. Being able to belt, be witty, and go through a huge arc in her story (in terms of the show), playing Wednesday would be an exciting challenge. I also look up to Krysta Rodriguez, who originated the role of Wednesday for the 2010 Broadway run with a versatile, comedic, and captivating energy.
10 years from now: Where will you be? What will you be doing? And what song will you be still listening to?
In 10 years, I will be wherever success takes me, doing what I have always loved: performing. My ultimate goal for my future is to be successful, whether that means I am in the big city on Broadway, Off-Broadway, touring, cruise ships, professional community theatre, movies, and more. Performing and giving the chance for people to escape from their lives and enter the one we have created is rewarding beyond words. But, I have to say, the song that I will still be singing ten years from now will be anything from Seussical JR, most likely “Oh The Thinks you can Think!,” “Notice Me, Horton,” and yelling “BOIL IT!” randomly. That was my first ever Broadway JR Show, and first ever musical I was in (summer of 6th grade). It will always have a special place in my heart because that whole experience solidified my future of wanting to perform and stay involved with musical theatre.
Do you have any advice for future iTheatrics Alums?
Following the Future: iTheatrics Alums
Name: Logan Farley
Hometown: Belvidere, NJ
Where are you now? I am still in Belvidere, NJ finishing up my senior year of high school. I will be attending Western Connecticut State University in the fall to get my BFA in musical theater.
What iTheatrics Workshop and/or Choreography DVD have you been a part of?
I have been apart of eight different choreography DVDs including James and the Giant Peach JR, Elf JR, Into The Woods JR, Madagascar JR, Captain Louie JR, A Year With Frog and Toad KIDS, Dear Edwina JR, and Disney’s Aladdin JR! I also was Kurt Kelly in the Heathers The Musical (High School Edition) workshop and was apart of the all-star cast for the special Chicago John Kander Celebration performance.
What are your favorite memories of working with iTheatrics? My favorite memories with iTheatrics have got to be living in the greatest city in the world and all the amazing people I’ve met. iTheatrics is truly a family environment and I have met so many amazing and talented kids and educators along the way!
Working with iTheatrics gave me a new-found passion for theater education that I didn’t know I even had. Seeing all the amazing things this company has been doing bringing theater to schools all across the world really inspired me to try and bring more theater to younger audiences in my own community as well!
How do you think your experiences working on musicals have shaped you? Working on musicals has definitely taught me a lot of discipline. It is hard work having to be a great singer, dancer, and actor! It also taught me to find the joy in the work though. Being in shows has shown me that the fun can be found in the hard work!
What was your favorite Broadway Junior show? I absolutely LOVED James and the Giant Peach JR! It was so much fun and is still one of my most favorite musicals today!
What is your dream role to play? I have so many dream roles but I would love to play: Princeton in Avenue Q or Leaf in Spelling Bee!
10 years from now: Where will you be? What will you be doing? And what song will you be still listening to?
Hopefully I will still being doing theater! Anything performance-based - I am open to whether it be Broadway, film, or even theater education. As long as I’m still performing I’ll be happy! I will be in either New York City or LA! And I will still be listening to the James and the Giant Peach soundtrack!
Do you have any advice for future iTheatrics Alums?