Music Theatre International Europe announces Junior Theatre Celebration 2018

Music Theatre International Europe is to return with its Junior Theatre Celebration Initiative.

For the second year in a row, the licensing company will stage the day-long festival featuring 18 schools and youth groups from across the UK and Ireland. Participants aged between seven and 18 will present excerpts from shows that include Singin' in the Rain, Legally Blonde, Annie, and Disney's Aladdin.

The afternoon will feature special guests including George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and workshops presented by teaching practitioners from the West End productions from Mamma Mia! and Shrek the Musical. In the evening, there will be a concert performed by Wicked star Rachel Tucker.

The initiative is based on the American version – Junior Theater Festivals – which are dedicated to student-driven musical theatre. The shows chosen are from MTI Europe's roster of Broadway Junior musicals, which have been developed from classic shows by educators and designed to suit school assemblies.

Curve Theatre in Leicester hosts the day for the second time, on 3 June. Participating groups spend half the day presenting scenes from their productions in front of a panel which includes Andrew Wright, Anthony Drewe, Debbie Isitt, George Dyer, Lotte Wakeham.

Drew Cohen, President and CEO of MTI said: "The Junior Theatre Celebration is a unique opportunity for young performers of all experience levels to share their talents in a positive and nurturing environment over the course of a fun-filled day, while receiving constructive feedback from industry professionals."