In 2026, we are opening the doors wide!
We are invite schools from across Australia to step into the heart of the Australian Musical Theatre Festival in a way that has never been offered before.
This year, our schools program has students working shoulder-to-shoulder with Australia’s leading music theatre artists, directors, and creatives in one powerful, silly and innovative pursuit ...
The Frogs
by Stephen Sondheim and Burt Shevelove, freely adapted by Nathan Lane.
This is not an observer program ...
This is not a workshop on the sidelines ...
This is an invitation to be part of the ensemble in a major festival production.
How it works
Selected schools will contribute performers to The Frogs, working shoulder-to-shoulder with Australia’s leading music theatre artists, directors, and creatives. Students will rehearse within the festival environment itself, learning through the text, music, and movement of a Stephen Sondheim score — and culminating in a live performance as part of the Festival program.
Young performers are encouraged to step beyond the classroom, to collaborate, to take creative risks, and to be part of something larger than themselves — a collective act of storytelling, music, and theatre.
Your students will:
- Train inside a professional rehearsal room
- Learn directly from Australia’s leading music theatre practitioners
- Experience the scale, rigour, and joy of a true festival production
- Contribute meaningfully to a nationally presented work
Places are limited, and this invitation is extended to schools who are ready to:
- Commit to ensemble work at a professional level
- Embrace collaboration and curiosity
- Champion bold, intelligent musical theatre
If your school is ready to take a creative leap —
If your students are ready to be challenged, inspired, and seen —
We invite you to join us at the Australian Musical Theatre Festival 2026.
"I am lucky to live three parallel careers; For the past six years, I have been honoured to lead the Australian Musical Theatre Festival artistically, alongside that I have continued to be the Head of Music Theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts and maintained a profile directing our biggest stars in commercial musical theatre. This year, our schools program brings all three of those pursuits together."
Get out your flippers and step into the ensemble.
We’ll see you in rehearsal.
Tyran Parke (Festival Artistic Director)
Our School Program runs from 20-24 May 2026 in Launceston, Tasmania.
What are you getting?
The program, which features some of Australia's best teachers, was designed by Tyran Parke, our artistic director and the head of music theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts. It features:
- Curriculum-relevant, experiential learning from classroom to performance, led by some of Australia’s best musical theatre artists and teachers.
- Access to a safe, welcoming art form that is sure to have a positive impact on students.
- Connections with other staff, students and schools from around Australia.
- Inspiring experiences that build capacity and creativity.
- A program that makes it as simple as possible for students of any ability to join in.
- Incredible value for money – we’ve kept costs down so you can be there.
- An unmatchable way to help students flourish through creativity and socialising.
- An experience of Live performance, held and supported through professional staff
Who is it for & how much does it cost?
Our schools program is an experience tailored to emerging high school and college musical theatre practitioners. It is accessible, relevant, and, of course, loads of fun!
We welcome groups from schools, private performing arts academies and even individuals (conditions apply). We also welcome teachers seeking professional development.
The package prices are based on how many days you attend and your group size. The price per student ranges from $25 for the masterclass only package to $150 for performance program. If you bring ten or more students, we’ll give you a 10% discount, and one teacher will come for free.
How do I get there?
We encourage you to experience as much of the Festival as possible, so we encourage early booking of flights and accommodation to serve your engagement best and maximise the magic.
We are based in Launceston, Tasmania. The town has an airport with regular links from cities across Australia. We can also suggest many accommodation options. Our venues are all within walking distance of each other.
Information About Travel & Accomodation
"In 2O23 I had the privilege of taking fifteen musical theatre students from Adelaide to the Australian Musical Theatre Festival in Launceston.What a time was had! Every workshop, performance, program and masterclass on offer was soaked up and adored by all.The calibre of faculty and headline acts was unequivocally world class. Networking opportunities and inclusivity was second to none. I would absolutely encourage any educator to have their students attend in 2O24. We will definitely be back!"
- Lia Cox (Adelaide)
