Encore Junior members honored at Theater Festival

At the festival, each group performed 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior musical for adjudicators.

Encore Theatrical Company presented Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach JR. to Broadway actor Jacob Brent (Cats, Broadway) who is the University of the Arts Musical Theatre program director; director and choreographer Kikau Alvaro (UArts); and Retired Alliance Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth & Families, Rosemary Newcott.

Brent said about Encore Theatrical Company, “I love when a performance surprises me in a good way and this whole show surprised me.”

Added Alvaro about Encore Theatrical Company, “We all loved Encore Theatrical Company’s emphasis on creating fun characters and moments on stage. They did a great job working as an ensemble! This is an excellent group with an understanding of how to tell a story through song.”

Newcott said about Encore Theatrical Company, “Encore Theatrical Company’s cast showed us amazing character and physical metaphor work including James disappearing into a giant human-made peach. It was brilliant! Also we enjoyed their powerful singing and dance. This presentation left me wanting more, which is a sign of excellence.”

Called a “rousing celebration of theatre” by the New York Times, the Junior Theater Festival applauds and empowers young people and educators creating student-driven musical theater around the globe.

The 2023 JTF Atlanta was an incredible weekend of singing, dancing, acting, and learning. There were 125 groups from 28 states, as well as Washington DC, Canada, and Australia, participating in the festival.

The weekend included panels and performances from the original Mean Girls Broadway cast members Krystina Alabado, Erika Henningsen, Grey Henson, Kate Rockwell, & Kyle Selig; Katy Geraghty (Into the Woods, Broadway); Taylor Iman Jones (SIX, Broadway); Daniel Yearwood (Hamilton, Broadway), and Pasek & Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman). Thomas Schumacher, president & producer, Disney Theatrical Productions delivered the festival keynote.

Additional talent appearing at the festival and cheering the young artists were director, choreographer and producer Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Broadway); actor Cori Jaskier (Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, TheaterWorksUSA’s Charlotte’s Web); lyricist and librettist Kate Leonard (Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, Breathe, For You, Paige); composer and music supervisor Daniel J. Mertzlufft (Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, Breathe); Michael Wordly (Kinky Boots, Chicago); actor Luca Padovan (Newsies, Broadway); New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult (Between the Lines, Off-Broadway), and Wren Rivera (Jagged Little Pill, Broadway).

Groups enjoyed a New Works Showcase of performance selections from upcoming Broadway Junior musicals presented by JTF groups, and other mainstage performances featuring powerhouse Broadway guests and took part in workshops.