Fall Conference 2008
New Works GPS: Navigating the Road Toward the Future of Musical Theatre
October 17, 2008 5:30 - October 19, 2008 9:00 pm
NEW YORK CITY, NY THE WESTIN NEW YORK HOTEL - TIMES SQUARE
National Alliance for Musical Theatre is very excited to announce its Fall 2008 Conference, New Works GPS: Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities on the Road to the Future of Musical Theatre, at The Westin New York Hotel in New York City’s Times Square.
This Conference will focus on the issues of building an audience for new work through marketing, branding, seasonal programming, and audience engagement. We will also look at some of the challenges inherent in developing new musicals.
We look forward to welcoming you to NEW YORK CITY in October!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?
Executive management, artistic directors, new works developers, marketing directors and Board members. Hear first-hand from your colleagues about the rewards and pitfalls of producing new musicals, share success stories about marketing and branding “unknown” works, brainstorm about developing an audience with a taste for new flavors, insight into industry issues, opportunities to network with other musical theatre producers and developers, and a chance to spend a weekend in America’s theatre capital, New York City! NAMT conferences are for NAMT members and invited guests only.
Agenda
| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 | |
| 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm |
Kick-Off Cocktail Party Sponsored by Theatrical Rights Woldwide Houndstooth Pub, 520 8th Avenue – downstairsCatch up with your colleagues and meet new ones over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. |
| Evening | Open EveningSuggested activities:The Broadway producers of 13: A New Musical (developed at NAMT member theaters Goodspeed Musicals and Center Theatre Group) have generously offered NAMT members a discount on tickets during the Fall Conference, with tickets priced at $46.50, $56.50 and $66.50.Click here to order your tickets online, or use the code13NAFMT at Telecharge by phone or the Jacobs Theater box office.NAMT Member The York Theatre Company has generously offered a 25% discount on tickets to the critically-acclaimed Enter Laughing during the Fall Conference. Click here to purchase tickets online, or call 212-935-5820, and use code NAMT.The producers of the 2007 Tony-Winning Best Musical Spring Awakening have generously offered $65-$75 discounted tickets (normally $122). Click here to purchase tickets online or call 212-947-8844 and use codeSAEX8SP.For discounts to other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, please check outwww.Broadwaybox.com. |
| SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 | |
| 8:30 am – 9:30 am |
Registration Continental Breakfast Sponsored by The Muny Ambassador Foyer |
| 9:30 am – 9:45 am |
Welcome Remarks + NAMT Announcements Denny Reagan, President Kathy Evans, Executive Director Ambassador II |
| 9:45 am – 10:45 am | 30-Second Success Stories Ambassador IIIn this energetic, fast-paced session, a representative from each organization has 30 seconds to introduce him/herself and other staff members in attendance, and announce any particular successes from the past season or exciting upcoming projects. |
| 10:45 am – 11:30 am |
Keynote Conversation: Jeanine Tesori Ambassador IIMike Isaacson (Fox Theatre) interviews Jeanine Tesori, Tony-nominated composer of Caroline, or Change, Violet, Thoroughly Modern Millie and the upcoming Shrek. |
| 11:30 am – 12:00 noon |
Networking Coffee Break Sponsored by Broadway/LA – A Nederlander Presentation Ambassador Foyer |
| 12:00 noon – 12:45 pm | Mapping Your Destination: Programming a Balanced Season Ambassador IIModerated by Mark Sylvester (Walnut Street Theatre) With Harriett Guin-Kittner (Goodspeed Musicals), Steven Peterson (Maine State Music Theatre) and Phil Santora (TheatreWorks).Institutional leaders talk about choices and challenges in planning a season mixing both new or lesser-known work and classics. What are and what should be an organization’s goals? Who are you serving – yourselves, artists, audiences, critics, all of the above? How do you marry artistic and financial goals? |
| 12:45 pm – 2:15 pm |
Lunch Sponsored by Dallas Summer Musicals and East of Doheny Ambassador III |
| 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm |
What Are the Challenges of Presenting New or Lesser-Known Works? Ambassador IIModerated by Wayne Bryan (Music Theatre of Wichita) With David Armstrong (The 5th Avenue Theatre), James Morgan (The York Theatre Company) and Steve Stettler (Weston Playhouse).Producing a new musical can be a huge undertaking, especially for an organization that has typically produced classics. What are the additional challenges and costs and how can you plan for them? |
| 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm |
Road Signs: Branding, Marketing and Defining the New Works Experience for Your Organization and Audience Ambassador IIModerated by Kent Nicholson (TheatreWorks), with Barbara Butts (American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University), Scott Eckern (California Musical Theatre)What is our “product?” Is it the organization, the individual show, a star actor? How do we define “new?” Is it a world premiere, or simply something your audience isn’t familiar with? How do we sell new work so that audiences are willing to take risks with us? How do we engage the audience and make the unfamiliar approachable? |
| 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm |
Breakout Sessions: Further Discussion Ambassador I, II and IIIThe day’s moderators will lead discussions on the day’s topics, to allow for feedback and exchanging of ideas in a more intimate setting. |
| Evening | Open EveningSuggested activities:The Broadway producers of 13: A New Musical (developed at NAMT member theaters Goodspeed Musicals and Center Theatre Group) have generously offered NAMT members a discount on tickets during the Fall Conference, with tickets priced at $46.50, $56.50 and $66.50.Click here to order your tickets online, or use the code13NAFMT at Telecharge by phone or the Jacobs Theater box office.NAMT Member The York Theatre Company has generously offered a 25% discount on tickets to the critically-acclaimed Enter Laughing during the Fall Conference. Click here to purchase tickets online, or call 212-935-5820, and use code NAMT.The producers of the 2007 Tony-Winning Best Musical Spring Awakening have generously offered $65-$75 discounted tickets (normally $122). Click here to purchase tickets online or call 212-947-8844 and use codeSAEX8SP.For discounts to other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, please check outwww.Broadwaybox.com. |
| SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19 | |
| 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Toll Road Ahead: Funding New Works Ambassador IIModerated by Nancy Gibbs (321 Theatrical Management) With Randy Adams (Junkyard Dog Productions), Keith Cromwell (Red Mountain Theatre Company), and Robb Hunt (The Village Theatre).Does raising money for new or lesser-known works present additional challenges? How do you get backers to invest in an unknown product? Are there fundraising benefits to doing new works? |
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Rough Road Ahead: Weathering Tough Times Amabssador IIModerated by Sean Cercone (Carousel Dinner Theatre) With Bradford Kenney (Oqunquit Playhouse) and Louis G. Spisto (The Old Globe).What do you do when times are tough? How do you cope with a lack of funding and a sagging economy? We’ll discuss positive ways to get through the storm into clear skies! |
| 12:00 noon – 1:15 pm | Lunch Sponsored by 5th Avenue Theatre and American Musical Theatre of San Jose Ambassador III |
| 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm |
Mapping Your Route with the Artists Ambassador IIModerated by Daniella Topol (The Lark Play Development Center) With Rick Boynton (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Joe DiPietro (Librettist and Lyricist of All Shook Up,I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and O.Henry’s Lovers –Festival 1998), Kevin Moore (The Human Race Theatre Company), Heather Schmucker (American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University).Dos and Don’ts of discussing the production plan with artists and setting expectations and goals with writers and directors early in the process. |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm |
Festival of New Musicals Finalists Moderated by Branden Huldeen (NAMT New Works Director), Kevin Moore (Human Race Theatre) and Victoria Bussert (Baldwin Wallace College), with the Festival Committee Ambassador IIGet a sneak peek and the inside story on the selection process for the shows you’ll be seeing over the next two days at the 20th Annual Festival for New Musicals. |
| 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
Targeted Networking Connect with other organizations with structures or programs similar to your own, or learn about a particular sub-set of NAMT’s varied membership in these targeted networking groups.Trans-National Market Position Enhancement – Producing Abroad Moderated by Chris Grady (Musical Theatre Matters:UK) and Arianna Knapp (SenovvA, Inc.) Ambassador IA discussion of co-producing between US and International entities, led by NAMT members who have “crossed the pond” in both directions, developing new American musicals at the Edinburgh Fringe and elsewhere in Britain, and bringing new musicals from the UK to to the States. Explore the potential for a home-team playing away and thereby being seen to position themselves higher up the food chain than might happen if they just play at home; the benefit of international press; a sense of the “exotic;” the chance to return home with enhanced reputation; and of course the chance to reach a wider audience abroad.The National High School Musical Theatre Awards Moderated by Van Kaplan (Pittsburgh CLO), Susan Lee (Nederlander Organization), Kiesha Lalama-White (Education Director, Pittsburgh CLO) and Lisa E. Cooney (Director of Education, Paper Mill Playhouse) Ambassador II Learn all about this exciting new National Awards Program which will take place in June on the stage of Broadway’s Palace Theater. This meeting will include criteria for participation in the program and some nuts and bolts information for those who currently have High School Awards programs and for those who would like to get started.Professional Theatre in an Educational Setting Moderated by Barbara Butts (American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University) and Tim Threlfall (Brigham Young University) Ambassador IIILearn about navigating the theatrical unions, payroll and per diem on a university system, working with agents, developing a relationship with the media, protecting students and guest artists, and tapping into the larger university system for the success of your project. |
| 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
A Toast to 20! A Concert to Benefit NAMT and Celebrate the 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals |
Attendees
Attendees included executives from:
1113 Productions Inc.
321 Theatrical Management
Academy for New Musical Theatre
Actors Cabaret of Eugene
Adirondack Theatre Festival
American Musical Theatre of San Jose
AMTP/Northwestern University
Baldwin-Wallace College
Boston Music Theatre Project at Suffolk University
Brigham Young University
Broadway Rose Theatre
Brooks and Distler
California Conservatory of the Arts
California Musical Theatre
(Music Circus and Broadway Sacramento)
(Music Circus and Broadway Sacramento)
CAP 21
Carras – Papageorgiou Productions Inc.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre
CSU Fullerton Theatre & Dance Dept.
Dallas Summer Musicals Inc.
Dee Gee Theatricals
Demos Bizar Entertainment
Derby Dinner Playhouse
East of Doheny
Florida State University
Ford’s Theatre
Fox Theatre St. Louis
Goodspeed Musicals
Gorgeous Entertainment
Joe Hill Music
Junkyard Dog Productions
Lark Play Development Center
Las Positas College
Light Opera Works
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
Maine State Music Theatre
Millikin University
Department of Theatre & Dance
Department of Theatre & Dance
Music Theatre International
Music Theatre of Wichita
Musical Theatre Matters
Musical Theatre West
National Endowment for the Arts
NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
New Musical Development Fund
North Shore Music Theatre
Ogunquit Playhouse
Ordway Center
P2 Creations LLC
Perfect Pitch Musicals
Pittsburgh CLO
Pittsburgh Musical Theater
Playing Pretend Productions
Porchlight Music Theatre
Red Mountain Theatre Company
Rodgers & Hammerstein
Royal & Derngate
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Samuel French Inc.
SenovvA Inc
Sharon Carr Associates
Ltd.
Ltd.
Snap Two Productions
Speakeasy Stage Company
Stage Aurora Theatrical Co.
Starlight Theatre San Diego
The 5th Avenue Theatre
The Carousel Dinner Theatre
The Danish Academy of Musical Theatre
The Hartt School
University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The Human Race Theatre Company
The MUNY
The Old Globe
The Spirit of Broadway Theater
Theater Latte Da
Theater of the Stars Inc.
Theatre Building Chicago
Theatre Under The Stars
TheatreWorks
Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Troika Entertainment
Van Hill Entertainment
Village Theatre
Walnut Street Theatre
Warner/Chappel Music
Weston Playhouse Theatricals
Wild Bird Productions
Woodminster Summer Musicals
ZACH Theatre
This page was last updated on 02/01/2015