Junior Musical Theatre Company (JMTC) is a children’s musical theatre program in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Originally established in 1992 by Janna Larsen, the company has been owned and directed by Katie German since 2011. JMTC provides students with the opportunity to develop and refine their skills in singing, dancing and acting. JMTC is an auditioned pre-professional company for students from grade 2 to grade 12 which culminates in 2 full performances each year.
The program runs on Fridays from 4:45 pm to 7:45 pm with small group rehearsals until 8:30 pm at the Prairie Spirit United Church, 207 Thompson Drive.
Why JMTC?
Participating in JMTC will help students gain valuable life skills, such as:
- improved self-confidence and self-esteem
- the ability to work alone or in a group
- peer acceptance
- artistic expression in musical theatre
- enhanced communication and public speaking skills
- critical thinking
Each student will receive valuable performance opportunities on a real stage. All members of JMTC will be a part of a safe, tight-knit group of like-minded individuals. Valuable connections are made as the full group works toward a common goal: a mid-year production and a year-end production. JMTC will take each student to the next level of performance by concentrating on the development of each student’s individual skills.
Cost
The program runs from September to May, at a cost of $90 per month. There is also a once-a-year fee of $85 to help cover the cost of costumes, rights and royalties for the shows.
Some scholarships/bursaries available.
Our Team
Director
Katrina German
KATIE GERMAN is a Métis Winnipeg based performer, director and educator. She received her training in Musical Theatre Performance at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, studied classical voice through the University of Manitoba and theatre through the University of Winnipeg. Katie is the owner and director of Junior Musical Theatre Company (JMTC) and has taught Musical Theatre and Voice at Balmoral Hall School, Grant Park High School, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Prairie Theatre Exchange, The Rady Jewish Community Centre, The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and St. Albert Children’s Theatre. Katie is currently working as the Assistant Director of the Pimootayowin Creators Circle (RMTC) and a mother to a 2 year old who loves to laugh and a creative 8 year old that shares her love of storytelling.
Select acting credits include: The Hockey Sweater (Rainbow Stage), The Rez Sisters, Into The Woods (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre), A Year with Frog and Toad, Midwinter Mosey, Seussical: The Musical (Manitoba Theatre for Young People), Fame, Pippin, American Idiot (Winnipeg Studio Theatre), Breaking Up is Hard To Do (Rainbow Stage), South Pacific (Rainbow Stage & Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra), Sweeney Todd (Dry Cold Productions).
Select directing and assistant directing credits include: A Pickle (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre), Frozen River National Tour 2022 (Manitoba Theatre For Young People), The (Post) Mistress [AD] (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre), Winn nipi – River City Stories (Prairie Theatre Exchange), Embodying Power and Place Workshop (Nightwood Theatre & Harlem Productions), CAN Premier of Tuck Everlasting (JMTC), Wolf Joe (Media Rendezvous), Katharsis [AD] (Prairie Theatre Exchange).
Katie is looking forward to working with this brilliant group of young artists in the 2023/2024 season of JMTC.
Assistant Director
Kayla Babiuk
KAYLA BABIUK discovered her love of singing and musical theatre at the young age of 6. As a longstanding member of Pembina Trails Voices she has performed in countless choral concerts and competitions, including the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. Kayla’s musical theatre resume includes numerous school productions and 11 seasons with JMTC, which began with her first role of Small Alice and was capped off with her dream role of Mary Poppins. She was most recently seen on stage as Donna in Mamma Mia! in which she was also the show’s director and choreographer. Kayla is a student in the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba where she is pursuing a career in Pharmacy. Kayla is thrilled to be continuing on with JMTC, moving from on stage to back stage as the Assistant Director. She credits Katie with helping build her self-confidence and strong work ethic and she is looking forward to doing the same with the next generation of JMTCers!
Assistant Director
Julia Cirillo
JULIA CIRILLO is a Winnipeg based artist, who has a diverse skillset in creating theatrical magic behind the scenes and on stage. Graduating from the University of Winnipeg, with a BA in Theatre and film. She recently worked as the Stage Manager on Frozen River for Manitoba Theatre for Young People in 2022-2023 touring the production around Canada. She has previously worked as the Assistant Stage Manager on Alice In Wonderland with the BadHats Theatre Company and the northern Manitoba tour of STILL/FALLING with Manitoba Theatre For Young People. As well she has Stage Managed many local productions such as 7Ages, RedLips Productions and Joie De survivre. Julia continues to create theatrical wonders, working as the Props Assistant in Shrek Jr, The Secret Garden and Frozen River at MTYP, Red Rover Entertainment in their production of Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, and Junior Musical Theatre Company.