This initial program launch is the catalyst for iTheatrics’ Junior Theater Project to produce 200 more “Make a Musical” programs in the fall.  In 2013, iTheatrics plans to launch an additional 200 programs and by 2014, the goal is to have 1,000 new arts programs positively impacting over one million U.S. students. NBC is underwriting the initial 20-market program rollout with Broadway master professionals going into the schools and mentoring students and teachers.

In addition to the programs in the first 20 schools, the “Smash” cast and producers asked students to encourage other schools to go to makeamusical.org to apply to be one of the 200 schools taking part in the Fall 2012 “Make a Musical” cycle.  These applications are due on March 2nd.  America will vote on the top 30 finalists, and the winners will be announced on May 7th.  In June, schools may continue to apply for the remaining 170 program slots.

Eight exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country were selected for the 3^rd annual “Broadway Welcomes America’s Teachers at the Freddie G Theatre Experience.” Teachers across the U.S. applied and eight were selected to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City in summer 2012, to collaborate with each other and work one-on-one with Broadway greats.  The event is sponsored by MTI’s Freddie (“G”) Gershon and his wife Myrna Gershon and is a thank you for all that teachers do to introduce the next generation to Broadway and musical theater. The educators who earned this honor are: Kevin Quillinan from Riverside Children’s Theater in Vero Beach, FL; Dina Slawson from Academy of Theater Arts in Williamsville, NY; Neehatima Dowdy from Wood Acres School in Marietta, GA; Rhonda Cato from Magic Curtain Productions in Orange, FL, and Albert Carter from Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School in Lynchburg, VA.  An educator from Casper Children’s Theatre in Casper, WY will take part in the Freddie G weekend as the group earned a Freddie G Technical Theater Award; a teacher from the University School of Nashville, TN, will take part as the group was selected for a Freddie G Outstanding Community Service award.  Finally, since Central Drama Players won the Freddie G Broadway Junior Spirit award, an adult representative from Central Drama Players will also attend the Freddie G Theater Experience.

The Broadway JR. All-Stars, made up of two outstanding students from each group at the festival, performed the song “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray! at the closing ceremonies.  

Disney Musicals sponsored the Saturday, January 14^th New Works Showcase in which six Junior Theater Festival groups performed new musicals for all attendees which will soon be made available for licensing by MTI.  Boothbay Region YMCA in Boothbay, ME presented selections from Disney’s Peter Pan JR.; Jeter Backyard Theater in Gibsonia, PA presented Dinosaurs Before Dark KIDS - A Magic Tree House Musical; Academy of Theater Arts in Williamsville, NY performed Disney’s My Son Pinocchio JR.; Jefferson Performing Arts Center (JPAS) KIDS, in New Orleans, LA performed Meredith Willson’s The Music Man KIDS; BATAVA in League City, TX presented Dr. Dolittle JR., and Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, Oak Park, IL performed Finian’s Rainbow JR.

The 2012 Junior Theater Festival offered an enthusiastic environment for students and teachers to interact with thousands of others who share their passion for musical theater. In addition to presenting a 15-minute selection from their musical, both students and teachers participated in interactive workshops led by Broadway and West End professionals, gained from professional development, enjoyed theatrical fellowship and attended a professional production of Annie at the fabulous Fox Theatre sponsored by NBC’s “Smash”.  In true Junior Theater Festival form, student techies worked side-by-side with festival staff in running all aspects of the festival experience.

While the Junior Theater Festival is not about creating the stars of tomorrow, many of the stars of today have played a role.  Past festival attendees have included actor Zac Efron; Stephen Schwartz (the composer of Godspell, Pippin, My Son Pinocchio, Children of Eden, Wicked, Mulan JR. and Capt’n Louie); four-time Tony nominated composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Shrek the Musical); Disney Theatrical Group President Thomas Schumacher; Broadway Director Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun, The Mountaintop), Grammy award-winning musician, producer and songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox; Broadway actors Henry Hodges (Mary Poppins), Jenn Colella (High Fidelity, Urban Cowboy), Jenifer Foote (A Chorus Line, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Christy Carlson Romano (Kim Possible, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Avenue Q); American Idol’s musical director Michael Orland and Playbill columnist and Talkin’ Broadway radio host Seth Rudetsky.

The Junior Theater Festival was founded in 2003.   In 2010 the Festival became an annual event.

Premiering on NBC on February 6th at 10 p.m. ET, “Smash” is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire -- to be a “Smash.” The cast features Debra Messing (Emmy winner, “Will & Grace”), Anjelica Huston (Oscar winner, “Prizzi’s Honor”), Jack Davenport (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films), Christian Borle (“Legally Blonde: The Musical”), Megan Hilty (“9 to 5: The Musical”), Katharine McPhee (“American Idol”), Raza Jaffrey (“MI-5,” “Sex and the City 2”), Brian d’Arcy James (“Shrek The Musical”) and Jaime Cepero (“Porgy & Bess”). The executive producers are Steven Spielberg (Emmy and Oscar winner, “ER,” “Schindler’s List”), Theresa Rebeck ("Mauritius," "NYPD Blue"), David Marshall Grant (“Brothers & Sisters”), Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (“Chicago,” “Hairspray”), Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey ("United States of Tara," "The Borgias"), Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Hairspray,” “Catch Me If You Can”).

PRESENTING SPONSOR:  Music Theatre International (MTI), www.mtishows.com, is the leading theatrical licensing agency in the world, representing the performance rights to over 350 musicals.  MTI is particularly dedicated to the idea of theatre as education and has created special collections for younger audiences including The Broadway JR. Collection®, which features 70-minute adaptations of major musicals designed for middle school children to perform, and the MTI KIDS Collection®, which provides 30-minute musicals for performance by elementary school children.  MTI recently launched MTI ShowSpace, www.mtishowspace.com - a free online community giving thespians and fans a space to connect with anyone and everyone involved in the theatrical process.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP (DTG) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre enterprises.  Through Disney Theatrical Productions, Disney on Ice and Disney Live!, DTG brings live entertainment events to a global annual audience of more than 19 million people in more than 50 countries.  Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida, TARZAN®, Mary Poppins, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, and The Little Mermaid.  Other successful stage musical ventures have included King David in concert, the national tour of On The Record, several touring versions of Disney’s High School Musical, Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame in Berlin, a critically-hailed Off-Broadway production of Peter and the Starcatcher at New York Theatre Workshop and the premiere stage adaptation of Aladdin at 5^th Avenue Theatre. Newsies, the breakout American musical, which premiered to acclaim at Paper Mill Playhouse, will play a limited Broadway engagement in March 2012.

Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice and Disney Live!  For over 30 years, Disney on Ice and Disney Live! have brought beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 50 countries worldwide through productions such as Toy Story 3, Dare to Dream, Treasure Trove, Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show and Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! In addition, DTG licenses musical titles for local, school and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International. 

PRESENTING SPONSOR NBC ENTERTAINMENT: NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network’s primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC’s quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history. NBC’s roster of popular scripted series includes such critically acclaimed comedy Emmy winners as "The Office" and "30 Rock," starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. Veteran, award-winning dramas on NBC include "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Chuck." Unscripted series for NBC include the new vocal competition hit “The Voice” as well as the popular "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice," and "America's Got Talent.” NBC's late-night story is highlighted by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently finishes among daytime’s top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. On Saturday mornings, the network broadcasts Qubo on NBC, a three-hour block that features fun, entertaining, and educational programming for kids, including the award-winning, 3-D animated series Veggie Tales.