JTF 2026 Informational Meeting
Exciting News, Grandstreet Theatre School Families!
We are thrilled to announce our Informational Meeting for Junior Theatre Festival 2026! If you’ve ever dreamed of being part of this unforgettable experience, now is your chance to learn more. Join us on Monday, February 24th, at 6:30 PM in the Studio located at 328 N Fuller Ave, to hear all about this incredible opportunity, open to all students. This meeting is purely informational—there is no commitment to join by attending. We just returned from an amazing trip to Sacramento, where we made lifelong friends, created unforgettable memories, and brought home several awards! Don’t miss this chance to explore what JTF is all about—see you there!
We are making plans to attend the Junior Theatre West Festival in Sacramento, CA February 6-10, 2026 and we want you to join us!
The Junior Theater Festival is a festival produced by iTheatrics for children ages 8-18 held every year in Sacramento, CA and Atlanta, GA. Organizations from all over the world attend each year and present a 15 minute condensed version of a Broadway Jr. show under the license of Music Theatre International or Disney Musicals. The weekend festival includes the show presentation, workshops, guest speakers, awards, and a ticket to a Broadway-style performance. All of this is available for the organization presenting their show, the directors, and the parent chaperones.
We will be putting a cast together for this project. Students who want to be involved in the cast must sign up and pay the $150.00 deposit by May 15th. All students in the cast will be involved in a show from the Music Theatre International Junior collection and that cast will be considered the “JTF26 cast”. After we know how many kids will be participating, we will pick the show and cast it using the young actors in the “JTF 26 cast”. This is a great opportunity for our kids to do a production, meet other kids from around the United States and beyond who love musical theatre, see working professionals and take workshops.
The JTF26 cast will have a rehearsal schedule based on their conflicts. The cast will also have fundraisers and do a send off performance for Helena audiences.
FAQ
How many will be in the cast?
16-40 participants will be cast.
What will we do at the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF)?
Groups perform a 15 minute selection from one Broadway JR or KIDS collection show for adjudication, participate in workshops, participate in other fun events such as “tech Olympics”, watch outstanding performances by their peers.
How old do you have to be?
8-18 years old.
Does this take the place of my regular theatre school class?
No, this is a separate event that meets outside of regular class times. A discount is given to those enrolled in our regular classes.
Will there be chaperones?
Yes, we will need one chaperone for every four students attending the festival.
Do the chaperones travel for free?
No, unfortunately they have to pay for the Festival and their hotel and transportation. We do give a small stipend for food to chaperones (not parents attending without chaperoning).
Can parents and friends attend?
Yes, if you would like to attend as a guest (not a chaperone) you will pay registration, hotel and transportation.
Does it cost money?
Yes. See the expense details at the end of this document.
Will there be fundraising involved?
Yes, unless you want to pay for the entire trip yourself and forget the fundraising. Fundraising is parent driven.
Will there be scholarships available?
Yes, there will be several ways to obtain a scholarship. 1. Audition on May 3rd for our “scholarship auditions” 2. There will be a need based opportunity as well.
Can I use frequent flyer miles for airfare?
Yes. You can make your own airfare or transportation plans as long as you have a parent with you.
When will you be casting?
July 2025.
Can I make payments?
Yes! All students and chaperones will be asked to put down a non-refundable $150.00 deposit by May 15th to be considered. This will be applied to the $875.00 class (1000.00 for students not enrolled in Session 1 and/or 2 of Theatre School) After that you can make payments per month through January 15, 2026, or you can pay in a lump sum by January 15, 2026.
Airfare (if you choose to have us arrange this and TBD) is due November 15th
Hotel (TBD usually around $215 per person in a quad room) is due January 1st.
What is the rehearsal schedule like?
We usually have some rehearsals mid-late August to learn music. We may have one or two rehearsals in Oct-Dec but most of the rehearsals will be in January. We will meet Sunday-Thursday nights beginning January 5th but we will take January 16-21st off and start again on January 22nd.
Expenses
Student Expenses
Fee: $875.00 (1000.00 for those not signed up for Session 2 of Theatre School classes) which includes the following:
Script
T-shirt
Production staff
Fundraisers
Supervision at rehearsal, performance and festival
meals
Competition performance at JTF in Sacramento
An official festival T-shirt
Adjudication and feedback
Professional development workshops for directors
Performance workshops for students
Technical theater workshops for students and teachers
Celebrity talk-back with special guests
A ticket to see a Broadway-style concert/show
all meals except travel days
PARTICIPATING CAST MEMBER COSTS
A-
*All inclusive current theatre school cast members
DBL-1890.00
TRP-1747.00
QUAD-1675.00
B-
*All inclusive non theatre school cast members
DBL-2015.00
TRP-1872.00
QUAD-1800.00
C-
NO AIRFARE OR TRANSFERS-current theatre school cast members
DBL-1305.00
TRP-1162.00
QUAD-1090.00
D-
NO AIRFARE OR TRANSFERS-non theatre school cast members
DBL-1430.00
TRP-1177.00
QUAD-1215.00
PARTICIPATING NON-CAST MEMBER COSTS
A-
*All inclusive
CHAPERONE EXPENSES
DBL-1360.00
TRP-1217.00
QUAD-1145.00
B-
*All Inclusive
NON-CHAPERONE EXPENSES (FAMILY AND FRIENDS)
DBL-1460.00
TRIP-1317.00
QUAD-1245.00
C-
NO AIRFARE OR TRANSFERS-
chaperone expenses
DBL-775.00
TRP-632.00
QUAD-560.00
D-
NO AIRFARE OR TRANSFERS-
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
DBL-875.00
TRP-732.00
QUAD-660.00
*This cost could go up or down depending on the price of airfare
