#JTF14
So what in the world is #JTF14? You may have been asking that question if you’ve been interacting with the people in this picture over the last week or so. The Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta wrapped up on Sunday, January 19, 2014 with an amazing 2 hour concert from the stars of Disney’s Broadway musicals. The night before the show, The Biz Kids ran into Heidi Blickenstaff (Ursula in The Little Mermaid), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Josh Strickland (Tarzan) Merle Dandridge (Aida) and Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa in The Lion King). Sunday’s Broadway and Beyond concert, presented by Disney Theatrics, was an outstanding show to cap an awesome weekend for these 17 members of The Biz production of Into the Woods Jr.
Even though it was great to be inspired by spectacular performances, the Biz Kids also participated in acting, singing, and dancing workshops. Their directors, Craig Whitcombe and Jeff VanParis participated in workshops for directors. The camaraderie of the event was exceptional with a chance for the kids to interact with other talented groups from across the country. Nearly 4000 people attended the 3 day festival.
The main event at JTF was the adjudication. The Biz Kids performed a 15 minute selection from Into the Woods Jr. for a crowd of nearly 200 peers and 2 Broadway caliber judges. After the performance, they were adjudicated or given notes on their performance. This was outstanding experience for these kids and something they will never forget. The Biz is already making plans to attend its second JTF in 2015. Stay tuned!
