We're beyond thrilled to be returning to Sacramento in February 2027 for the *4th time* with this new, incredibly talented team of performers for the annual Junior Theater Festival!

We had an AMAZING experience last year at the 2026 Junior Theater Festival - where our team was awarded "Outstanding Ensemble" and one of our performers was recognized for their "Standout Individual Performance" - and in 2025 - where we came away with the award for "Excellence in Acting."

Since the beginning, our goal at Opening Night Theater has been to build confidence, community, and character in our young performers through the power of musical theatre. We've always aimed to challenge our performers and help them rise to that challenge. This will be an invaluable educational opportunity for this group, and an unforgettable experience.

But we need YOUR help to get there!

What IS the Junior Theater Festival?

The Junior Theater Festival is the world's largest celebration of young people and musical theater! JTF 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!

The Junior Theater Festival is sponsored by Playbill, Disney Musicals, and Music Theatre International.

Events include: Adjudications, workshops for students and teachers, the New Works Showcase, Awards Ceremonies, specially curated mainstage productions featuring Broadway's finest, and the largest collection of musical theater lovers under one roof. Held annually in Atlanta, GA and Sacramento, CA, JTF has become a must attend musical theater event and previously has hosted the launch for Disney's High School Musical and NBC's SMASH. The festival has welcomed guests such as Disney Theatrical Productions President, Thomas Schumacher, musical theater writers such as Stephen Schwartz, Alan Menken, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Bobby Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Jeanine Tesori, actors like Cynthia Erivo, Stephanie J. Block, Ali Stroker, Sebastian Arcelus, Michael James Scott, Taylor Iman Jones, Kara Lindsay, Luca Padovan, Caissie Levy, Daniel Yearwood, Skylar Astin and many more. It is a weekend of true musical theater mayhem that is not to be missed.

The 2027 JTF Festival will take place in Sacramento from February 5th-7th.

What does it mean to be on a JTF team?

Being a part of the JTF Team is an incredibly large commitment which requires dedicated, passionate, hard working students that are capable of working, learning and memorizing at a fast pace.

Our team rehearses weekly from August through February to put together a 15-minute routine, complete with scenes and musical numbers, from a Broadway Junior title -- in this year's case, we're returning to the kingdom of Duloc and letting our freak flags fly with SHREK JR.

In addition to their weekly rehearsals, our team will have various opportunities to showcase their progress in front of audiences large and small.

What does my donation go towards?

The Junior Theater Festival is a special but costly experience. Donations go towards offsetting the costs for our team families.

Costs such as: JTF program fees, travel, lodging, and additional trip expenses.

Opening Night Theater is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations made are tax-deductible.

Many companies offer donation matching! Since Opening Night Theater is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, we highly recommend submitting a donation matching request to your company/employer.

Junior Theater Festival 2027

Help send our dedicated ON! Theater team to the 2027 Junior Theater Festival in Sacramento!

Team Members