Feature: Opportunity for young New Zealanders to work with New York professionals in Auckland Showcase

Young New Zealand performers across the country have an exciting opportunity to collaborate with New York City theatre professionals on the new '18 and under' edition of the well known Broadway hit musical Newsies JR.

A cast of over 40 young New Zealanders will take part in an exciting week-long pilot of Newsies JR., a new student version of the 2012 Tony-winning Disney Theatrical Productions Broadway production.

The select group of participants will experience an intensive workshop from Monday 29th October - Friday 2nd November 2018, the week leading up to the second annual Junior Theatre Celebration New Zealand (JTCNZ) event, which will be held in Auckland on Saturday 3rd November 2018.

Newsies JR is a 60-minute version of the highly successful Broadway stage musical, and is based on the 1992 Disney musical film Newsies, inspired by the Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City."

Now in its second year, the 2018 Junior Theatre Celebration New Zealand (JTCNZ) provides an opportunity for young Kiwi's ages eight to 18 years to celebrate their love of musicals and experience the transformative power of theatre. The event is produced by AMICI Trust's Junior Theatre NZ, in collaboration with international partner iTheatrics and sponsors Music Theatre International (Australasia).

Emma Bishop is the national coordinator of Amici Trust Junior Theatre NZ and says,
"We are so excited and grateful that Disney and Music Theatre International has allowed us permission to workshop their show,"

The workshop culminates in a staged presentation of the show as part of the Celebration opening on Friday 2nd November.

Applications are now open for those interested in being involved. However, please be aware that priority will be given to students who are part of a Community Theatre or School group attending.

The programme will be directed by Timothy Allen McDonald, (musical theatre author of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, Between the Lines) and iTheatrics Director of Education and Resident Director, New York.

This year we are thrilled to announce that the role of the choreographer is to be filled by Hamish Mouat, Resident Choreographer for the National Youth Theatre Company and Kristin School, Auckland. Hamish has also had three years of international experience as Guest Staff Director and Guest Artist for the Metropolitan Educational Theatre Network, Southern California. iTheatrics is the leading international authority on musical theatre for young people, headquartered in New York City.

Timothy Allen McDonald founded iTheatrics in 2001 as a way of making theatre more accessible for young people and, in turn, leads a dynamic and talented group of artists and educators who are indeed changing the world through the transformative power of musical theatre.

For further information please visit www.Amicitrust.org.nz

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