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Fests

For a decade, Inspiration Stage has participated in, established a history of national excellence at, and been offered coveted live showcase performances and unreleased pilot show productions as a result of its continued success at Junior Theater Festivals.

JUNIOR THEATER FEST
and
NATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FEST

Company Member Commitment and Eligibility

Performers must be 8-18 years old as of January 2024.

Representing Inspiration Stage at JTF requires dedication, hard work, teamwork, and homework to maintain a caliber of excellence and development. Practicing at home and being prepared for rehearsals is paramount to our success. Performers must lead with respect and be able to make good choices while traveling out of state as well as through an intense and inspired rehearsal process.  Respecting directors, fellow actors, volunteers, chaperones, and festival coordinators with professionalism and a positive spirit is a must.

Audition Info for Both Companies

Create an audition video — DUE JULY 28

What to Submit for Your Video Audition

SLATE

      • Say your name, age, and grade in Fall ’23. Follow with a brief introduction telling us about yourself and why you’re interested in JTF and/or NPAF (10-60 seconds).
      • Don’t try to be “perfect.” Be yourself. Let your personality shine through.
      • IMPORTANT – Tell us if you’re interested in JTF, NPAF, or both.

SING

      • Prepare two contrasting songs, 16-32 bars each (±30-90 seconds). Contrasting songs might include Classic/Contemporary, Hopeful/Lost, Adult/Child, Villain/Hero, ROCK/Musical Theater. Be creative!
      • Briefly state the name of the show from which your song originates.
      • We recommend selecting songs you haven’t performed for us before (in a show or otherwise).
      • Sing with an instrumental track for your audition – there are lots of karaoke / instrumental tracks on YouTube.
      • Note: small speaker will have better sound quality than playing the music directly off your laptop/phone
      • We love to hear songs from the shows we will be adjudicating.

How to Prep and Submit Your Audition Video

Pro Tips: Rotate your camera and record HORIZONTALLY (in landscape orientation vs portrait orientation), on a PLAIN BACKGROUND, and position the camera lens at EYE LEVEL.

      • SELECT audition material that excites you and spend time preparing so you feel comfortable.
      • RECORD your audition.
      • EDIT multiple audition clips / songs / takes into one file
      • UPLOAD your audition videos. (We’ll supply an upload link soon.)

What’s Next

Important dates that follow initial auditions:

      • Sunday, August 6: callback lists posted
      • Sunday, August 13:  2:30-8:30 p.m. callbacks for Junior Theater Festival (bring schedule conflicts)
      • Wednesday, August 16: 5-9 p.m. callbacks for National Performing Arts Festival (bring schedule conflicts)
      • Saturday, August 19: Cast lists posted

National Performing Arts Festival

Take to the stage February 14-19, 2024, at Universal Orlando Resort. Join talented young artists from across the globe during this signature theatre event which combines the best of performances, feedback clinics led by professional actors, and workshops led by professional theatre artists. This annual theatre festival unites young actors, dancers, and singers for days of creativity and inspiration. Four Universal days and one Disney day are included.

NPAF Companies, Shows, and Rehearsals

Two companies perform a 20-minute adjudication cut.

      • ELITE TEEN COMPANY – Rock of Ages
      • ALL-AGES COMPANY – The SpongeBob Musical
      • Rehearsals: Wednesdays
      • 76 total rehearsal hours

NPAF Rehearsal Schedule

SPONGEBOB — Wed August 23 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Wed August 30 5:30-8:30 p.m.
SPONGEBOB — Wed September 6 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Wed September 13 5:30-8:30 p.m.
SPONGEBOB — Wed September 20 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Wed September 27 5:30-8:30 p.m.
BOTH — Wed October 11 5:30-8:30 p.m.
BOTH — Wed October 25 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Wed November 8 5:30-8:30 p.m.
SPONGEBOB — Wed November 15 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Wed December 6 5:30-8:30 p.m.
SPONGEBOB — Wed December 13 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Wed January 3 5:30-8:30 p.m.
SPONGEBOB — Wed January 10 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Wed January 17 5:30-8:30 p.m.
SPONGEBOB — Wed January 24 5:30-8:30 p.m.
TEEN — Sun January 28 2:30-8:30 p.m.
BOTH — Wed January 31 5:30-8:30 p.m.
SPONGEBOB — Sun February 4 2:30-8:30 p.m.
BOTH — Wed February 7 5:30-8:30 p.m.
BOTH — Sun February 11 2:30-8:30 p.m.

NPAF Showcase and Party

An at-home, pre-competition showcase prior to the Florida fete will feature adjudication, solos, and an after-party at Inspiration Stage Sunday, February 11 at 7 p.m.

NPAF Travel Dates

February 14-19 (Presidents’ Day weekend)

NPAF Attendance

Regular attendance of all rehearsals is mandatory. Students are limited to TWO scheduled conflicts only.  Final three rehearsals and showcase performance are mandatory.

NPAF Tuition

$750 rehearsal tuition fee to Inspiration Stage (those in both JTF and NPAF pay JTF tuition only).

$150 NPAF swag fee – includes four company shirts plus adjudication attire.

Payments for Inspiration Stage for tuition can be made in full or via payment plan. Each troupe member and parent/family will be responsible for NPAF fees paid directly to NPAF via a portal (includes NPAF registration, hotel, daily breakfast, 3 Universal and One Disney park passes). We love our parents and families to attend this festival. There’s plenty of time to spend in the parks. Each family will choose how they travel to Orlando and be responsible for those fees.

For NPAF travel / tour package rates and details, download this information packet.

Junior Theater Festival

Join Inspiration Stage for our sixteenth JTF, January 11-15. JTF is the world’s biggest and best celebration of young people performing musical theatre. The festival brings together student musical theater troupes from all over the world for a weekend of musical theater mayhem and madness. Each troupe performs fifteen minutes from a Broadway Junior®️ show for adjudication by a panel of musical theater experts. The weekend also features professional development for teachers, workshops for students and parents, a New Works Showcase featuring new musical adaptations soon to be released and concludes with a grand finale concert headlined by Broadway’s best!

JTF Show and Rehearsal Overview

      • Children of Eden JR
      • Rehearses Sundays
      • 75 total rehearsal hours

JTF Company Role Callback Auditions

Sunday, August 13 2:30-8:30 p.m.

JTF Rehearsals

Sun, August 20 2:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, August 27 2:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, September 10 2:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, September 17 2:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, September 24 2:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, October 15 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, October 29 2:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, November 12 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, November 26 2:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, December 3 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, December 10 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, December 17 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Tue, January 2 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Thurs, January 4 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Sun, January 7 5:30-8:30 p.m.

JTF Rehearsal and Conflicts

Regular attendance of all rehearsals is mandatory. Students are limited to TWO scheduled conflicts only. Final three rehearsals and showcase performance are mandatory.

JTF Showcase and Party

An at-home, pre-festival JTF showcase performance and after-party will be held at Inspiration Stage on Friday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m.

JTF Travel Dates

January 11-15

JTF Tuition

      • $750 rehearsal tuition fee to Inspiration Stage (those in both JTF and NPAF pay just JTF tuition).
      • $150 JTF swag fee – includes two company shirts and a warm up jacket
      • Company members and parent attending will be responsible for the $350 JTF Registration Fee, Hotel and Flights.

If you have any questions please email mandy@inspirationstage.com or text/call 713-302-5329.

Shows

  • October 13, 2023

    All Shook Up

    ABOUT THE SHOW — Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley, All Shook Up is set in 1955, in a square little town, in a square little state. In rides a guitar-playing young roustabout who changes everything and everyone he meets. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy will have you jumpin’ out of | Read More

  • November 3, 2023

    The Big One-Oh! JR

    ABOUT THE SHOW — Charley Maplewood has never been one for parties. That would require friends, which he doesn’t have … well … unless you count his monster friends. But they’re only imaginary. Charley’s turning ten — the big one-oh — so he decides to throw a birthday party for himself, complete with a “House of Horrors” theme. Of course, | Read More

  • December 1, 2023

    Hans Christian Andersen JR [Pilot]

    ABOUT THIS SPECIAL PILOT PRODUCTION — Countless generations of children have been raised on the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. From “The Ugly Duckling” to “The Little Mermaid,” these stories have sparked many young imaginations for centuries. Now with music by legendary composer Frank Loesser, Hans Christian Andersen JR is a musical storybook that brings the timeless tales — | Read More