Pilot Program
WORKSHOP A BRAND NEW MUSICAL!
Our Pilot Workshop program offers you the chance to perform a brand new adaptation of a musical in a workshop setting. Each year in the week leading up to the Junior Theatre Festival Australia, a different title is selected and directed by industry experts and our partners at iTheatrics (NY). Shows are selected by the various musical theatre licensing companies including Music Theatre International Australasia. For each new show students will rehearse the music, choreography and dialogue in a workshop environment with an informal presentation at the end for an audience made up of the authors, creators, families and JTF Australia participants.
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You’ll be performing with kids from all over Australia who love musicals as much as you do. Because we are performing musicals that are actively being developed, we focus on storytelling not production value. Our shows are performed script-in-hand and rehearsals are fast paced and intense. You’re going to learn a lot about being in a professional musical, and you’re going to learn it very quickly! So if you think you’ve got the passion to perform in one of our workshops, you may like to approach your teacher or director and have them nominate you for this program. Only registered groups for JTF Australia may nominate students for the Pilot program which runs before JTF Australia. Our Pilot programs run at all other times during the year are open to all students from across the country.
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Past pilots have included:
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2024 PILOTS
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NEWCASTLE
Prince of Egypt JR.
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A musical based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film and featuring music by Stephen Schwartz.
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NEWCASTLE
Once Upon a One More Time JR.
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Powered by the chart-topping hits of Brittney Spears, Once Upon a One More Time turns our favourite fairytales upside down with a clever twist.
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Monday, October 21 – Friday, October 25
Civic Theatre - Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW
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MELBOURNE
Mean Girls JR.
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Based on the brutally hilarious musical adapted from Tina Fey's hit 2004 film.
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Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26
Bunjil Place - Narre Warren, VIC
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​2023 PILOTS
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NEWCASTLE
How to Train Your Dragon JR.
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A new musical based on the 2021 DreamWorks animated feature film.
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NEWCASTLE
Between the Lines JR.
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Based on the novel by international bestselling author Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer, featuring a book by Picoult and Timothy Allen McDonald
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Monday, October 23 – Friday, October 27
Civic Theatre - Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW
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2022 PILOTS
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NEWCASTLE
9 to 5 JR.
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With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, based on the seminal 1980 hit movie.
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NEWCASTLE
Beetlejuice JR.
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Based on the edgy and irreverent musical comedy based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film.
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Monday, October 24 – Friday, October 28
Civic Theatre - Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW
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2021 PILOTS
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ADELAIDE
Dot and the Kangaroo JR.
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Based on the Ethel Pedley's 1899 Australian classic children's book, Dot find her way home with the help of a mother kangaroo who has also lost her young Joey.
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Sunday, January 3 – Thursday, January 7
The Arts Hub - Herbert Rd, Adelaide, SA
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BRISBANE
[MYSTERY TITLE] JR.
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This one is so fresh, it's under wraps from public announcements.
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Monday, January 11 – Friday, January 15
Brisbane, QLD
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NEWCASTLE
Mean Girls JR.
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Based on the brutally hilarious musical adapted from Tina Fey's hit 2004 film.
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Monday, January 18 – Friday, January 22
Civic Theatre - Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW
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MELBOURNE
Something Rotten JR.
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Based on the 2015 TONY winning Broadway Musical, two brothers set out to write the world's first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and Broadway.
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Monday, April 12 – Friday April 16
South Oakleigh College, VIC
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2020 PILOT
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NEWCASTLE
Something Rotten JR.
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Based on the 2015 TONY winning Broadway Musical, two brothers set out to write the world's first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and Broadway.
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Monday, October 26 – Saturday, October 31
Civic Theatre - Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW
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2019 PILOTS
NEWCASTLE
Disney Moana JR.
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Based on the hit 2016 annimated Disney film featuring original music by Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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NEWCASTLE
Disney's Finding Nemo KIDS.
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Based on the beloved 2003 Pixar movie, with new songs written by award-winning composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and EGOT-winner Robert Lopez.
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Monday, September 16 – Friday, September 20
Civic Theatre - Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW
2018 PILOT
NEWCASTLE
Sister Act JR.
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Based on the hit 1992 film featuring original music by Tony- and eight-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken.
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Monday, October 22 – Friday, October 26
Civic Theatre - Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW
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2017 PILOT
NEWCASTLE
Disney's Newsies JR.
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Based on the 1992 musical film “Newsies,” inspired by the Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. The musical features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and a book by Harvey Fierstein.
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Monday, October 23 – Friday, October 27
City Hall - King St, Newcastle, NSW
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