#jtfatl

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Meet Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School, EPMS – Wolfpack Performing Arts!

Name:  Micaela Muro Dimos

Location: Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School, Elk Grove Unified School District, Elk Grove, CA.

What show will you be bringing to JTF West? Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR.

What inspired when you directed your very first musical?

I have loved and been involved with musical theatre since my teens and earned both my BA and MA in theatre arts. I directed my very first musical in San Diego in 1987, the spring of my first year of teaching, so I could share my love of musical theatre with my students. I taught high school theatre arts for eight years, then became a mom and took time off from directing school shows so I could be fully present for my daughter during her young years. Four years ago, I began teaching acting, acting coaching, and directing for Musical Mayhem Productions (MMP), and two years ago transferred to EPMS to begin their theatre program. 

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

Working from a perspective of a coach, cultivating team-spirit from day one, and helping the students recognize their important place on our team. Also keeping humor and fun alive throughout our rehearsal process.

Tell us a little bit about your theater!

EPMS opened in 2008, but has only offered theatre arts since I was hired to start the program there in fall 2015. This will be our third year offering theatre arts classes and fall productions on our site. We join forces with our sister high school, Cosumnes Oaks High School, in the spring, and produce full-length Wolfpack Performing Arts musicals with cast and crew from both the middle and high school campuses. 

We are fortunate at EPMS to have wonderful students who are hard working and excited to be involved in our iTheatrics JR. productions. 

Is this your first time attending JTF West? If so what are you looking forward to?  

I attended the PD Track in February, but the 2018 JTF West will be my first time with a group of students. I'm looking forward to witnessing my students experience all the many fabulous layers of creative learning and overall fun throughout our JTF West weekend. 

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Meet GADA Playhouse!

Name: Sally Reyes

Location: Round Rock, TX

Social Media Handles: #greateraustindance #gada10 #gada #musicalmayhem

What inspired you when you directed your very first musical?

The magic that happens when the lights go down and the story begins. 

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

Be open to always trying new things and thinking outside the box.

Tell us a little bit about your theater!

The Greater Austin Dance Academy (GADA) serves serious dance students grades 3- 12 who want to push their singing and acting as well as dancing potential. Students work on productions, mini-revues and other material while performing many times throughout the season. GADA emphasizes the experience of dance as an art form and strives to teach students to dance expressively from the heart, while also encouraging them to improve their technique and overall skill as a dancer.

If you have been before, what is your favorite part of JTF West?  

We LOVED the Pasek and Paul performance of course - BUT overall the feedback and pod morning was such a great, growing experience. We can't wait for my kids to experience that again!

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Meet Christian Arts and Theatre (CAT)!

Name: Cyndi Monroe

Location: Corona, CA

Social Media Handles: CAT of Corona, CATCorona

What show will you be bringing to JTF West? Disney’s The Lion King JR.

What inspired you when you directed your very first musical?

I was inspired by an utter and complete fear of failure. Every rehearsal, every production meeting, every dress rehearsal I was certain it was going to be the worst show ever produced in the history of time but I just kept going. The best thing I can say is that it wasn't completely terrible.

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

I learned to live by the phrase, "Its just the way we like it!" Sets aren't done? Its just the way we like it. Lead has Chicken pox? Its just the way we like it. Show opens in 2 days and we haven't sold any tickets? Its just the way we like it. No matter what, nothing that happens in a staged musical production, especially one involving youth, is going to change the history of the world. The attitude I show the cast, the parents, the volunteers can have a long term effect. Staying calm, kind and optimistic despite all odds has proven to be a winning combination with long term benefits.

Tell us a little more about your group!

Christian Arts and Theatre of Corona (CAT) is an after-school theater and visual arts educational program for students ages 5-18. CAT is committed to building up kids through excellence in the arts. CAT’s aim is to enrich the life of individuals, families, and the community through experiences in the arts within an atmosphere of positive Biblical values.

At the 2017 iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival West, Christian Arts and Theatre won a Freddie G Excellence in Music group award, and student Josh Higbee won a Freddie G Excellent Individual Performance by a Male award.

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Meet The Center Stage Studio!

Name: Tracey Ann Ball

Location: Aliso Viejo, Ca 

Social Media Handles:

Instagram - the_centerstagestudio

Twitter - @thecenterstage

Facebook - TheCenterStageStudio

What show will you be bringing to JTF West? Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR.

What inspired when you directed your very first musical?

I FELL IN LOVE WITH ANNIE!  Being raised in group homes you can imagine why! 

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

Listening is my best asset... listening to the kids, the parents, the teachers, fellow directors and staff… it helps me decide so much. In order for kids to be at my studio they need to be inspired, and I need to listen to what then need in order for me to continue that. 

Tell us a little more about your theater!

The Center Stage Studio's mission is to inspire a love for the arts at a young age and encourage its students to achieve new levels of artistry and performance. Its curriculum trains and empowers students who may consider a performing arts discipline as a major or minor in college to a pre-professional level with a competitive edge. The Center Stage works to make possible a young performer's dream to pursue a career in theatre, dance performance, or as a performing arts educator.

The program has recently had two kids perform on Broadway and in Broadway tours: Amaya Braganza (Annie, The King and I) and Adrianna Braganza (The King and I). Other alumni include Emmy Perry, who is starring in her first feature movie Scales; Noah Munk, who has acted in iCarly, and Mary Desmond, who has appeared on American Idol Hollywood and Mia Kaplan in her first movie Fat Camp that just premiered. 

In 2017 Center Stage Studio attended the iTheatrics JTF West and students won a Freddie G Excellence in Music Group award. Furthermore, student Mia Kaplan won a Freddie G Excellent Individual Performance by a Female award.

What is your favorite part of JTF West?

TO BE HONEST - the kindness and professionalism that is displayed from every part of your festival. The ushers, the teachers, the directors, the guests the adjudicators. The kids had a blast. 

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Meet Grandstreet Theatre School!

Name: Marianne Adams

Location: Helena, Montana

Social Media Handles:

Instagram - @gstheatre

Facebook - @gstheatremt

Twitter - @GSTheatreMT

What show are you bringing to JTF West? Godspell JR.

What inspired when you directed your very first musical?

I was given the opportunity to direct my first musical when I took the position of Director of Education at Grandstreet Theatre in 1993.  I had directed a few non-musicals but was so thrilled to be able to dive into the world of musical theatre and I've been there ever since.

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

Hire well and trust the people that you bring in to collaborate with you to do their job.  Be honest with them and with yourself.

Tell us a little bit about your theater!

Our students are all members of our after-school program. They range from advanced actors to young actors just beginning this process. Our program focus's on acting but the students also get some classes in musical theatre and technical theatre. We have a school year program with approximately 200 kids and a summer program with 300 plus students. We have 31 students attending this year. 10 boys and 21 girls. Eighteen of those 31 students went last year. The youngest is a 3rd grader and the oldest is a junior in High School.

Grandstreet is Montana’s premier community theatre, with over 40 years of continuous service. Sustained by volunteers from an exceptionally talented population, Grandstreet also trains over 400 K-12 students each year in its nationally recognized Grandstreet Theatre School. Grandstreet’s goal is to brighten the city of Helena and elevate the human spirit through live theatre and theatre education.

The group has earned considerable recognition at past Junior Theater Festivals. At the 2017 iTheatrics JTF West, Grandstreet Theatre School won a Freddie G Outstanding Ensemble award, and student Emma Ackerman won a Freddie G Excellent Individual Performance by a Female award. Additionally, student Rayne O’Bryant was one of six students named to the Tech Theater All-Stars. Each group attending the festival was allowed to nominate two students, who took part in technical theatre workshops designed to help develop their talents.

Our motto is "Talent Doesn't Mean Anything If You're a Jerk"

If you have been before, what is your favorite part of JTF?

We loved the concerts and meeting young actors from around the United States.

The "cool down" talk after our performance, was so wonderful and cathartic. I just thought it was brilliant to have someone who saw their performance and heard the feedback, be able to listen to the young actors afterwards and let them talk about what had just happened. By the time they left that room they were ready to move on with their day and enjoy and learn from the afternoon workshops. That was the most enlightening for the faculty and from several students that I spoke with afterwards.

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Meet Meigs Junior Thespian Troupe, Meigs Academic Magnet Middle School!

Name: Jamie Kirkland

Location: Nashville, TN

Social Media Handles: @meigsmstheatre

What inspired you when you directed your very first musical?

I saw a school with so much talent and potential but few opportunities to shine on the stage (Talent Show, Evening With The Arts, a scene show here or there). With the Broadway Junior collection, it was easy to get 50-60+ students involved and onstage. I started small with my 8th/Advanced class and produced Seussical JR. in winter 2013, then I opened it up to the full school to create the Cavaliers On Stage musical theatre program with Disney’s High School Musical JR. in the spring of 2014.

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

The students. I have ideas and think about the logistics, but I love hearing what the kiddos think about certain aspects of blocking, choreography, costumes, props, set, everything. I have students as assistant director, stage manager, run crew, costume crew, lights, sounds, mics, assistant choreographers, and assistant music directors. They are my most valuable resource, and all of their work helps them own what they do on and off the stage.

Tell us a little bit about your theater!

Meigs Junior Thespian Troupe is part of the drama department of Meigs Magnet Middle School in Nashville, TN. At the 2017 iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival West students from Meigs Junior Thespian Troupe in Nashville won a Freddie G Outstanding Ensemble award, and student Abby Cannon won a Freddie G Outstanding Student Director and Choreographer award.

What is your favorite part of JTF West?

Being with other students and teachers who are as passionate about excellence in performance as I and my students are.

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Meet Carnegie Schools Whittier!

Name: Julie Sundman

Location: Whittier, California

Social Media Handles: Carnegie Performing Arts

What show will you be bringing to JTF West? Disney’s The Lion King JR.

What inspired you when you directed your very first musical?

After being involved in some capacity in more than 50 musicals, I simply realized that I “knew how to do it” and could share the fun with a new generation.

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

Kids are magical to watch, and you can’t really fail to entertain if you put them on stage. I pick a show with a large ensemble, which guarantees a large audience as all parents rightfully consider each child a star. Guaranteed success!

Can you tell us a little bit about the students traveling to JTF West?

The majority of our students are new to theater, without previous experience in performance. Many are naturally talented and a few have previous dance, vocal or gymnastic experience. We enjoy the process of putting on a show together a bringing it to a competitive level. 

Tell us a little more about your theater!

Carnegie Schools Whittier is a private school that is building an outstanding performing arts program, unique to our area. It is our hope to continue to expand and to stage productions beyond our wildest dreams.

The group has enjoyed considerable success at past Junior Theater Festivals.  At the 2017 iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival West the group picked up a Freddie G Excellence in Music group award.

At the 2016 Junior Theater Festival Whittier Christian Schools won a Freddie G Excellence in Acting award, and educator Julie Sundman was one of six teachers selected for the Freddie G Fellowship.

 At the 2015 Junior Theater Festival, student Esther Oh was one of 110 performers who made it to the final call-back for future Broadway Junior shoots for “how-to” choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway Junior musicals. She attended the choreography DVD filming session in New York City 2015. At the 2106 Junior Theater Festival, student Gia Avichouser also made it to the final cast for choreography DVD filming and attended the summer session in NYC. At JTF West, our school continued this tradition as Naomi Kwan was selected for the same honor and was recently a part of the filming of Disney’s Aladdin Kids choreography DVD in NYC. 

What is your favorite part of JTF?

Our favorite part of JTF is being in the big room and seeing the show cases. My students enjoy the impromptu student sing-a-longs and meeting other kids like themselves.

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Meet Poison Apple Productions!

Name: Noelle Arms​

Location: Martinez, California​

County: Contra Costa​

What show will you be bringing to JTF West? Elf JR. & Singin’ in the Rain JR.​

What inspired you when you directed your very first musical?

​The love of storytelling!​

What is the most useful tool or wisdom that helps you as a director/producer?

​Writing everything down!​

Tell us a little bit about your theater!

​They come from all over Contra Costa County and share a love for performing and storytelling. They are hardworking and dedicated and diverse. We are honored to work with them all and watch their growth throughout the theatrical process. ​

Playwright and director Noelle Arms founded Poison Apple Productions 18 years ago as a backyard theater company with a mission to promote understanding of and participation in live theater. The organization remains strongly committed to achieving those aims, and provides an affordable source of entertainment for all members of the community, including children, families, senior citizens, and disabled persons.

The group has enjoyed considerable success at the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival. Poison Apple Productions won a Freddie G Outstanding Production award at the 2017 iTheatrics JTF West. As one of just six schools from across the country to win a Freddie G Outstanding Production award, PAP students performed a song from their production for all 1,500 attendees at the Junior Theater Festival closing ceremonies. Additionally, student Dawson McDonald won a Freddie G Excellent Individual Performance by a Male award.

​We are SO excited to return to JTF West to continue sharing our love for theater arts with our larger community. ​

What is your favorite part of JTF West?​

All of our kids LOVED the live performance of Pasek and Paul last year - we can't wait to see who comes to JTFWEST this year! #sohelpmesondheim