NINTH ANNUAL JUNIOR THEATRE FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA RETURNS TO NEWCASTLE, HEADLINED BY STARS OF & JULIET

NINTH ANNUAL JUNIOR THEATRE FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA RETURNS TO NEWCASTLE, HEADLINED BY STARS OF & JULIET

Festival to Showcase New Broadway Junior Musicals and Feature Global Theatre Experts

Newcastle, NSW - October 25-26, 2024 - The Junior Theatre Festival Australia (JTF Australia) is set to return to the Civic Theatre Newcastle for its Ninth Annual Festival, bringing together some of the best young musical theatre talent from across Australia and New Zealand. This year's festival promises to be the most spectacular yet, featuring exciting performances, workshops, and special appearances by some of the industry's top talent.

Headlining the event are the two stars from the international hit musical & Juliet: 26-year-old Aboriginal and South Sea Islander musical theatre performer Lorinda May Merrypor, who played the title role of Juliet, and Māori & Swedish actor, singer and dancer, Blake Appelqvist, who portrayed Romeo. These two celebrated performers will share their experiences with the students, and headline the weekend's festivities. Both Lorinda and Blake have become icons of Australian musical theatre, and their presence at the festival is sure to inspire the young performers attending.

In addition to these local stars, JTF Australia will welcome a number of international theatre professionals. The festival will feature workshops and guidance from New York-based iTheatrics team members Mary-Catherine Chambliss and Daniel Mertzlufft, both experts in youth theatre and musical theatre education. Also in attendance will be Stuart Hendricks, Managing Director of Music Theatre International Australasia, Chief Operations Officer and Director of Development and Education from MTI in New York, John Prignano, and Ryan Macaulay from Music Theatre International Europe. This team of theatre heavyweights will provide invaluable insights into the world of musical theatre, helping both students and teachers elevate their craft.

Daniel Stoddart, CEO of Stoddart Entertainment Group and author of the Broadway Junior musical Dot and the Kangaroo JR, will return to host the festival. Stoddart is a driving force behind the Junior Theatre Festival movement in Australia, and he is excited to continue supporting young talent through this event. "JTF Australia is a place where students can immerse themselves in the art of musical theatre, learning from industry leaders and each other. This year's festival is especially exciting with Lorinda, Blake, and our global guests bringing their expertise to the table," said Stoddart.

The festival will draw outstanding student groups from schools and academies all across Australia and New Zealand. Known for its celebratory atmosphere and dedication to education, JTF Australia offers young performers the opportunity to showcase their skills, participate in hands-on workshops, and gain real-world feedback from top industry professionals.

A major highlight of this year's event will be the New Works Showcase, where attendees will get an exclusive preview of brand-new Broadway Junior musicals that are being piloted for the first time. These include DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt JR., a new adaptation by legendary composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), as well as Once Upon a One More Time JR., based on the hit musical featuring the music of Britney Spears. These two highly anticipated new works will be showcased to Australian audiences for the first time.

The New Works Showcase will also include updates on other exciting new musicals available for licensing, including the reworked Disney's Alice in Wonderland JR., Elephant and Piggie's We Are in a Play JR., and Hans Christian Andersen JR., offering a sneak peek into the future of youth musical theatre. 

This showcase will provide a platform for these new works to be experienced by students, teachers, and directors eager to bring fresh content to their communities.

Throughout the festival, students will participate in a range of workshops and exclusive live panel discussions. Teachers and directors will have the chance to network and receive professional development, further enriching their experience at the festival. Pop-up celebrity performances will also surprise and delight audiences, keeping the energy high across the two-day event.

Hayley Stoddart, the Event Coordinator, emphasised the importance of JTF Australia in the development of young performers. "JTF Australia is more than just a festival—it's a stepping stone for these young artists as they grow in their craft. To be able to bring in top-tier talent from across the globe, and to offer these students the chance to premiere new musicals, is something truly special."

Stuart Hendricks, Managing Director of Music Theatre International Australasia, expressed his enthusiasm for the festival: "JTF Australia is a vital platform for nurturing the next generation of performers and theatre-makers. We're incredibly excited to be part of this event and to share some thrilling news with the festival participants during our special announcement." 

With student performances, teacher workshops, celebrity appearances, and an exciting showcase of new works, the Ninth Annual Junior Theatre Festival Australia is set to be an unforgettable celebration of musical theatre.

ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE INTERNATIONAL: MTI is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 70,000 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide. MTI's global headquarters is in New York City, with additional offices in London (MTI Europe), and Melbourne (MTI Australasia). 

"On behalf of everyone at MTI, I'm thrilled that Australia is sharing the magic of Broadway Junior. One of MTI's primary goals is to ensure all educators and young people have access to arts education, and there is nothing else quite like the transformative power of musical theatre. It allows students to develop life skills, including collaboration, team-building, and problem-solving. They give every participant the chance to be part of the global theatre community, which has never been more important than it is today. Chookas!" Drew Cohen, President and CEO of Music Theatre International. 

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Available for Interview 

Daniel Mertzlufft 

Daniel Mertzlufft is a NYC based composer/arranger most known for his viral sensations The Thanksgiving Musical on The Late Late Show with James Corden, launching the TikTok Ratatouille musical movement, and was the Executive Producer, Composer and Music Supervisor for For You, Paige, the first ever TikTok commissioned musical. Daniel also served as Music Supervisor, composer and arranger for Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, a live streamed concert that raised over $2 million for The Actor's Fund. Original works include: Fashion Show, Breathe, and Dot and the Kangaroo, commissioned by MTI Australasia and iTheatrics. @danieljmertzlufft

Mary-Catherine Chambliss

Mary-Catherine started with iTheatrics at the first Junior Theater Festival and now serves as Education Director. She oversees partnerships like the Shubert Foundation/NYC Department of Education and Jumpstart Theatre, adapts and directs for the iTheatrics Academy, produces the iTheatrics Teaching Intensive, and creates educational resources for ShowKits. She also develops the educational curriculum and professional development track for JTF. Mary-Catherine has authored Broadway Study Guides for & Juliet, Water for Elephants, and Back to the Future. Previously, she was Education Director for Manhattan Youth and was named New Teacher of the Year at Blackmon Road Middle School.

Daniel Stoddart

Daniel is the CEO of Stoddart Entertainment Group, producing the Australasian tour of "The Play That Goes Wrong" in 2025. Based in NSW Australia, Daniel is a producer, director, actor, and librettist. He founded Hunter Drama, an award-winning youth academy, and co-created OzTheatrics, which produces the Junior Theatre Festival Australia and the Junior Theatre Celebration Melbourne. His extensive producing/directing credits include Puffs, Shrek The Musical JR., and many others. A multi-award-winning actor and Freddie G Fellowship recipient, Daniel has also received keys to a U.S. city for his contributions to the arts. He's currently adapting The Pajama Game for the Broadway JR. collection and is the author of Dot and the Kangaroo JR.