HPCT will hold auditions for THE TROUPE 2027 on Saturday July 11 at 1:00pm at Centennial Station (121 S. Centennial Street, High Point). YOU MUST SIGN-UP FOR AN AUDITION TIME at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4EA5AB2DA0F49-64587582-troupe

The Troupe is HPCT’s award-winning Junior Theatre Festival competition team. Admission is based upon a vocal and dance audition, as well as written recommendations.

~What is the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF)?~
The Junior Theater Festival is a spectacular annual national event that is all about bringing students together to celebrate the joy of musical theater! This will be HPCT's nineth year participating in JTF Atlanta. In 2018, 2022 and 2023, the Troupe received the Festival award for Excellence in Music. In 2024 and 2025, they received the Festival award for Excellence in Acting. And in 2026 they received the Excellence in Ensemble Work award. In 2018, Troupe member Michael Coltrane was named Best Male Actor and in 2022 Troupe member Katy Smith won Outstanding Performance by an Individual. In 2025, Christian Lowe and Haven Barrier received the Festival award for Outstanding Student Choreography. Troupe members Jackson Barnes (2018) and Isaac Jenkins (2024) were selected by iTheatrics for special projects as a result of their involvement with HPCT's The Troupe. And in 2024, Troupe founder/director/music director Courtney Lowe was recognized as one of the top musical theatre educators in the nation when she was awarded the coveted Freddie G. Fellowship.
Recognition and awards are nice, but the rewards of participating in the Troupe and JTF go way beyond trophies!
The 2027 Festival dates are January 14-18 in Atlanta, GA. HPCT will be performing a 15-minute version of “The Little Mermaid JR".

~HPCT’s The Troupe 2027~
The Troupe is dedicated to providing participants a loving, yet professional, environment for the intermediate to advanced youth performer to grow. Students will receive 5 months of intensive training in multiple performing arts disciplines. Our expectations are high, but those expectations are only topped by our desire to create a supportive and family-like atmosphere for everyone involved.
HPCT’s The Troupe is directed and music directed by Courtney Lowe and choreographed by Kristi Wirth.
We are looking for skilled young performers in grades 4-12 (2026-27 school year). Rehearsals will primarily be Sundays 6:00-9:00 PM and/or Fridays 7:00-9:30 PM with the occasional Saturday from 12:00-3:00 PM. Rehearsals will begin with a parent/performer meeting on August 16 and run through January 10. There will be a Friends and Family performance on the evening of January 12. The first few rehearsals will be devoted to ensemble work and enhancing the group's general performance skills. Casting decisions for our 2026 Adjudication piece, "The Little Mermaid JR", will be made in early September.

Those admitted into The Troupe 2027 will be required to pay $1,275 to cover the cost of Festival participation. This fee covers 5 months of performance skills training; registration fees for the 2027 Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta; lodging during The Festival (Jan. 14-18, 2027); transportation to and from The Festival; (3) dinners in Atlanta; a Troupe t-shirt; a Troupe hoodie; a Troupe backpack and a supply of the Troupe trading bracelets (a favorite pastime at JTF). Payments will be divided into (5) payments of $255 with the first payment being due on August 16.

There will be a number of organized fundraising opportunities this fall for families to offset the cost of participation. With commitment to fundraising, it is very possible for each participant to raise enough money to cover most or all of their fees!! Students may also apply for work-based scholarships. Please email hpctjtf@gmail.com for information on how to apply for these funds.

~Audition Information~
*Audition form and rehearsal schedule can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IDR740mgJ_3gA-pgJvMJxQpPwr3r6c9P?usp=drive_link
* The dance combination that will be used for auditions will be posted here and at www.hpct.net by July 1.
* Auditions will be Saturday, July 11 beginning at 1:00 PM at Centennial Station (121 S. Centennial Street, High Point). YOU MUST SIGN-UP FOR AN AUDITION TIME at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4EA5AB2DA0F49-64587582-troupe
* Please be prepared to sing 60 to 90 seconds of a musical theater song that highlights your vocal ability, as well as shows off your personality. Be sure it is something you enjoy singing and make it fun! You will need to bring an accompaniment track (karaoke tracks to a lot of songs can be found on YouTube). A Bluetooth speaker will be provided. Dress to dance (jazz shoes, please).
* Bring a resume and completed audition Form listing all known rehearsal conflicts (please refer to the Rehearsal Schedule document when listing your conflicts). We understand that it is impossible to know all of your potential conflicts for the next 6 months; we just ask that you make Troupe rehearsals a priority when it comes to other extracurricular activities (including other theater commitments). Missing more than 18 hours of Troupe rehearsals may result in dismissal without refunds, NO CONFLICTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR JANUARY 4, 10, 11, 13, or 15-19 - these are MANDATORY dates.
* Recommendation Letter: If you have not worked with HPCT within the last 12 months, please bring a recommendation letter specifically addressing character, work ethic, and dependability in relation to the performing arts. This letter can come from a past production team member (director, music director, choreographer) or arts instructor (drama teacher, music instructor, or dance instructor).
* Video auditions will be accepted but must be emailed (along with a completed audition form listing all conflicts, a resume and a recommendation letter (if required) to HpctJtf@gmail.com no later than 11:59 PM on Friday, July 10. Please sing 60-90 seconds of a musical theatre song that compliments your voice and record yourself doing the audition dance combination. In your video, please also describe any dance experience you have (styles, how many years of study, etc). Feel free to include clips of any dance skills that you would like to highlight.
Questions? Email Courtney at hpctjtf@gmail.com.