Home » Events » Fall Conference 2013

Fall Conference 2013

Jump to:

Musical Theatre: Past, Present and Future

October 19, 2013 9:00 - October 20, 2013 9:00 am

Convene, 810 7th Avenue (at 53rd Street), 23rd Floor New York, NY

We were thrilled to return to Convene (formerly known as Sentry Center),conveniently located on 7th Avenue and 53rd Street (E, B and D trains on that corner; 1, N, R and Q nearby). With its spectacular views of Midtown Manhattan, this vibrant and sunlit venue at 810 Seventh Avenue will inspire attendees.

The 2013 Fall Conference explored new musical development and the state of musical theatre today from the perspective of not-for-profit managers and artistic leaders, commercial producers, educators, and musical theatre writers. As part of our ongoing celebration of 25 years of NAMT’s Festival of New Musicals, a portion of the conference focused on the relationships between writers and producers, with Festival alumni included in the discussion. In addition, NAMT members had exclusive opportunities to meet the writers from the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals and discuss the further development of and collaboration on this year’s Festival shows.

Conference Highlights

  • A Keynote speech by prolific and award-winning playwright and librettist Douglas Carter Beane.
  • Panel discussions, presentations and breakout groups led by experts with ample audience participation, conversation and Q&A.
  • Extensive networking opportunities, including a networking cocktail party on Saturday night (full open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres), breakfast and lunch on both days of the conference, and coffee breaks and breakout sessions throughout the weekend.
  • An exclusive opportunity to meet the writers of the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals shows.
  • NAMT’s Annual Membership Meeting, with reports from the Board and Staff, during lunch on Sunday.

 

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Phil Santora, TheatreWorks (CA), Chair
Harriet Kittner, Goodspeed Musicals (CT)
Michael Rosenberg, La Jolla Playhouse (CA)

FALL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals (CT), Chair
Jack Cummings, Transport Group Theatre Company (NY)
Margaret Fofonoff, Fiddlehead Theatre Company (MA)
Conrad Lynch, Ambassador Theatre Group (UK)
Ashley Wells, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (OK)

 

Agenda

Saturday, October 19

8:30 – 10:30 am Check-In and Continental Breakfast
Convene
810 Seventh Avenue (corner of 53rd Street)
23rd FloorConference attendees will check in in the lobby of 810 Seventh Avenue before proceeding upstairs to the conference venue. Please allow a few extra minutes to check in and get to the 23rd floor.Breakfast in Rockefeller Lounge, sponsored by Disney Theatrical Productions.
9:00 – 10:15 am Meet the Festival Writers
Empire RoomOver breakfast, conference attendees will have an exclusive chance to meet the writers from the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals and ask them questions about their work.Moderated by Festival Producing Director Branden Huldeen and members of the Festival Selection Committee.
10:30 – 11:30 am Keynote Speaker: Douglas Carter Beane
Empire RoomProlific playwright and librettist Douglas Carter Beane will share stories and lessons learned from his work writing and developing new musicals, adaptations and updates of classics, as well as running the award-winning Off-Broadway theatre company, Drama Dept.Douglas Carter Beane wrote a new book for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, currently on Broadway, and was also represented on Broadway this season with the new play The Nance starring Nathan Lane and directed by Jack O’Brien. MUSICALS: Lysistrata Jones (Tony Nom, best book), Sister Act (Tony Nom, best book) and Xanadu (Tony Nom, Best Book, Drama Desk Best Book, Outer Critics Circle Best Musical); PLAYS: The Little Dog Laughed (Tony Nom, Olivier Nom, GLAAD Media Best Play), As Bees In Honey Drown (Outer Critics Circle), Mr. & Mrs. Fitch (starring John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle), Music From A Sparkling Planet, The Country Club, Advice From A Caterpillar, The Cartells; REVUES: White Lies, Mondo Drama; SCREENPLAYS: To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar, Advice From A Caterpillar. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Drama Dept 1994-2006, 2 Lortels, 2 Obies; HONORS: Lortel Playwrights Sidewalk, Ovation Visionary Playwright Award; LIFE: Partner Lewis Flinn, son Cooper, daughter Gaby.
11:30 am – 12:00 noon Networking Coffee Break
Rockefeller Lounge
12:00 – 1:00 pm New Work Across NAMT
Empire RoomAn overview of how various constituents within NAMT’s diverse membership approach new musicals. What do theatres on various producing models need and want from the future of musical theatre? How is an organization that only produces previously licensed work invested in new musicals? Are NAMT members doing more new work? Less? What do theatres of all types imagine for the future?Moderated by NAMT President Rick Boynton (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), with Randy Adams (Junkyard Dog Productions), John Breckenridge (Theatre Under the Stars), Curt Dale Clark (Maine State Music Theatre), Christine Denniston (Mercury Musical Developments), Paige Price (Theatre Aspen), Peter Rothstein (Theater Latte Da), Mark D. Sylvester (Walnut Street Theatre) and Tim Threlfall (Brigham Young University).
1:00 – 2:15 pm Lunch
Rockefeller and Dakota RoomsSponsored by The Marriott Theatre

NAMT Festival Alumni Writers will join us this afternoon for an in-depth look at writer/producer collaborations.
2:30 – 3:15 pm What Theatres and Writers Can Do For Each Other
Empire RoomHow can producers help writers do their best work and get to the next level? How do shows get stuck in “development loops” of endless workshops and readings without ever getting to production — and how can they get unstuck? What can writers do to ensure a happy and productive relationship with a theatre or a producer? What do theatres need and expect of writers, and vice versa, to make these relationships and collaborations as productive and happy as possible?Moderated by Donna Lynn Hilton (Goodspeed Musicals), with Gordon Greenberg (NAMT Alumni Writer), Robb Hunt (Village Theatre), Kevin Moriarty (Dallas Theater Center), Michael Rubinoff (Canadian Musical Theatre Project) and Matt Schicker (Show Shepherd).
3:15 – 4:00 pm Writers, Theatres and Agents
Empire RoomAgents are frequently the primary contact between writers and producers, but they’re not just for contracts and negotiating. How can agents help build relationships between writers and theatres? What are the goals for agents when negotiating with theatres? What happens after the licensing agreement is signed? How can we all do better business together to get what we all want and need?Moderated by Phil Santora (TheatreWorks), with Marsha Brooks (Brooks and Distler), Sean Patrick Flahaven (Warner Chappel Music), Jonathan Mills (Paradigm Talent Agency), Michael Korie (NAMT Alumni Writer) and Kent Nicholson (Playwrights Horizons).
4:00 – 4:15 pm A Word From Our Sponsor: Cinevative
Empire Room
4:30 – 5:15 pm Roundtable Discussion
Empire Room

We’ll take advantage of the opportunity of having producers, writers, agents, licensers and lawyers all in a room together to open the floor to your questions and concerns about collaboration and the state and future of musical theatre.Moderated by Donna Lynn Hilton (Goodspeed Musicals, Fall Conference Chair), Adam Grosswirth (NAMT) and Branden Huldeen (NAMT).
5:30 – 7:30 pm Networking Cocktail Party
Glass House Tavern
252 West 47th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue)
www.glasshousetavern.comSponsored by Samuel French and Theatre Under The Stars

Sunday, October 20

9:00 – 10:30 am Networking Continental Breakfast
Convene
810 Seventh Avenue (corner of 53rd Street)
23rd FloorConference attendees will check in in the lobby of 810 Seventh Avenue before proceeding upstairs to the conference venue. Please allow a few extra minutes to check in and get to the 23rd floor.Breakfast in Rockefeller Lounge, sponsored by CAP21.
9:30 – 10:45 am Beyond the Festival: NAMT Members’ Collaboration Meeting
Rockefeller RoomOver breakfast, NAMT members will have a candid discussion of the shows, and ways to collaborate on their development and production.
11:00 am – 11:15 am A Word From Our Sponsor: Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Rockefeller Room
11:15 am – 12:15 pm Selling New Works and Unknown Writers
Rockefeller RoomCase studies in communicating with audiences and funders about unfamiliar musicals and writers. How can writers help with the process? How do marketing, development, artistic and other departments collaborate? How can we get audiences and funders as invested in the future of musical theatre as we are?Moderated by Elisbeth Challener (Zach Theatre), with Michael Baron (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), Jack Cummings (Transport Group), Dan McMahon (Goodspeed Musicals) and Dan Murphy (The Broadway Rose Theatre).
12:15 – 1:00 pm Selling New Works Breakout Sessions
Continuing the conversation from the previous panel, we’ll have opportunities for further discussion on marketing, commercial enhancement, engaging institutional support and engaging individual support.
1:00 – 2:15 pm Lunch and Annual Membership Meeting
Empire RoomOver lunch the NAMT Board and staff will report on the state of the Alliance and plans for the year ahead, with important member votes.Lunch sponsored by The Pantages Theatre.
2:30 – 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions

  1. Supporting the Music Department (led by Sean Patrick Flahaven)
  2. International Partnerships: Touring, Co-Productions, Development, Licensing and More (led by Conrad Lynch)
  3. Finding and Evaluating New Work Submissions
  4. All About NAMT: a chance for new members (or not so new!) to learn about NAMT’s benefits (led by Adam Grosswirth)
  5. Academic Members’ Roundtable (led by Henry Fonte)

 
3:30 – 4:15 pm Breaking the World Premiere Cycle
Rockefeller RoomAt the 2010 Fall Conference, we talked about continued life for new work and the need to combat “world-premiere-itis.” Three years later, what’s changed? How do new musicals break free of development to a long life of not just one but many productions over many years? How can NAMT and our network help?Moderated by Rick Boynton (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), with Beth Blickers (Abrams Artists), Meg Fofonoff (Fiddlehead Theatre Company), Terry Martin (WaterTower Theatre), Dave Steakley (Zach Theatre) and Ashley Wells (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma).
4:15 – 4:30 pm Closing Remarks
Rockefeller Room

SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

Attendees

As of 10/10/13.

Bob Alwine
Goodspeed Musicals
Scott Anderson
Tuacahn Center for the Arts
David Arthur
Festival Alum
Rachel Assaf
Fiddlehead Theatre Company
Margot Astrachan
Margot Astrachan Production
Department of Theatre and Dance
Lori Bales
Millikin University
Lynnette Barkley
Linda Barnett
April 30th Entertainment Inc.
Michael Baron
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
Natalie Bartello
April 30th Entertainment Inc.
Beau Bisson
Nebraska Theatre Caravan
Michael Blaha
Academy for New Musical Theatre
Beth Blatt
Festival Alum
Landrie Bock
Adirondack Theatre Festival
Paul Boghosian
The Broadway Consortium
Stephen Bourneuf
CGM Productions
Rick Boynton
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
John Breckenridge
Theatre Under The Stars
Marsha Brooks
Brooks and Distler
Wayne Bryan
Music Theatre of Wichita
Lee Buckholz
Derby Dinner Playhouse
Victoria Bussert
Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music
James Campodonico
Festival Alum
Chuck Carpenter
Broadway Rose Theatre Co.
Sean Cercone
Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Elisbeth Challener
ZACH Theatre
University of Oklahoma
Paul Christman
Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre
Curt Dale Clark
Maine State Music Theatre
Ben Clark
Ball State University — Department of Theatre and Dance
Amy Corcoran
Dallas Summer Musicals
Keith Cromwell
Red Mountain Theatre Company
Murphy Cross
WetRock Entertainment
TJ Dawson
3-D Theatricals
Van Dean
The Broadway Consortium
Regina Del Valle
Woodminster Summer Musicals
Christine Denniston
Mercury Musical Developments
Elise Dewsberry
Academy for New Musical Theatre
Kyle Dougan
Light Opera Works
Lisa Dozier King
University of Miami/Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
Stephanie Dupal
Maine State Music Theatre
Michael Einfeld
Carly Erickson
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Kathy Evans
Rhinebeck Writers Retreat
Joel Ferrell
Dallas Theater Center
David Flack
Woodminster Summer Musicals
Sean P. Flahaven
Mark Fleischer
Adirondack Theatre Festival
Meg Fofonoff
Fiddlehead Theatre Company
Henry Fonte
University of Miami/Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
Michael D Fox
Hale Centre Theatre
Bill Gaden
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Paul Garman
Musical Theatre West
Nancy Gibbs
321 Theatrical Management
Missy Gipson
David Ira Goldstein
Village Theatre
Canadian Music Theatre Project
Robert Gontier
Sheridan College
Gordon Greenberg
Festival Alum
Bernadine Griffin
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Sarabeth Grossman
Adam Grosswirth
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Scott Guy
Academy for New Musical Theatre
Adam Gwon
Festival Alum
Sean Hartley
David Hein
Festival Alum
Chris Herzberger
Universal Pictures
Donna Lynn Hilton
Goodspeed Musicals
Mark Hoebee
Paper Mill Playhouse
Ray Hogg
Rainbow Stage
Branden Huldeen
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Robb Hunt
Village Theatre
Michael Jenkins
Dallas Summer Musicals
Bradford Kenney
Ogunquit Playhouse
Scott Klier
California Musical Theatre
Inc.
Arianna Knapp
SenovvA
Paul Kreppel
WetRock Entertainment
Jeff Kubiatowicz
SpeakEasy Stage Company
Brian Kurtas
Walnut Street Theatre
Audra Labrosse
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Jack Lane
CGM Productions
Ray Leslee
Festival Alum
Fullerton
Bill Lett
California State University
Andrew Levine
York Theatre Company
Richard Lewis
California Musical Theatre
Kimberly Lewis
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Ed Linderman
Festival Alum
Jeff Loeb
Hollywood Pantages
Inc.
Brad Lohrenz
Samuel French
Department of Theatre and Dance
Kevin Long
Millikin University
Stacey Luftig
Festival Alum
Bruce Lumpkin
Theatre Under The Stars
Conrad Lynch
Ambassador Theatre Group
Sean Mahoney
Festival Alum
Canadian Music Theatre Project
Mitchell Marcus
Sheridan College
Sharon Maroney
Broadway Rose Theatre Co.
Terry Martin
WaterTower Theatre
Keith Martin
Buck Mason
McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Amanda McBroom
Festival Alum
Tom McCoy
McCoy Rigby Entertainment
Jayme McDaniel
Ogunquit Playhouse
Michael McFadden
Phoenix Entertainment
Robert McQueen
Acting Up Stage Company
Betsy Militello
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Mathew Milsom
Wales Millennium Centre
Mark Minnick
Phoenix Entertainment
Michelle Moga
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Soren Moller
Fredericia Theater
Joey Monda
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Kevin Moriarty
Dallas Theater Center
Dan Murphy
Broadway Rose Theatre Co.
Duane Nelsen
Festival Alum
George Nelson
Brigham Young University
Tommy Newman
Festival Alum
Kent Nicholson
Playwrights Horizons
Richard Oberacker
Festival Alum
Phillip Palmer
Festival Alum
Patrick Pearson
Ford’s Theatre
Ann-Carol Pence
Aurora Theatre
Richard Perry
Wales Millennium Centre
Marilyn Plotkins
Boston Music Theatre Project at Suffolk University
Paige Price
Theatre Aspen
Jennie Redling
Festival Alum
Kelly Robinson
From Scratch Productions
Anthony Rodriguez
Aurora Theatre
Peter Rothstein
Theater Latté Da
Caroline Routh
Musical Theatre Network in partnership with Mercury Musical Developments
Canadian Music Theatre Project
Michael Rubinoff
Sheridan College
Richard Salfas
Music Theatre International
Todd Sandman
Ball State University — Department of Theatre and Dance
Irene Sankoff
Festival Alum
Phil Santora
TheatreWorks
Greg Schaffert
Greg Schaffert Productions
Matt Schicker
Third Coast Creative
Harriet Schlader
Woodminster Summer Musicals
Heather Schmucker
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Marissa Schwartz
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Gayle Seaton
Florida State University College of Music – Music Theatre Program
Mike Shaieb
Festival Alum
Marilynn Sheldon
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Matthew Sheridan
Festival Alum
Dana Siegel
Rodgers and Hammerstein
John Sparks
Academy for New Musical Theatre
Steve Spiegel
Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Lou Spisto
Dave Steakley
ZACH Theatre
Steve Stettler
Weston Playhouse Theatre Company
Cynthia Stillings
Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance
Ben Sussman
Festival Alum
Jonathan Swoboda
Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance
Mark Sylvester
Walnut Street Theatre
Lauren Taslitz
Robert Taylor
Festival Alum
John Thew
Theatre Aspen
Aaron Thielen
Marriott Theatre
Tim Threlfall
Brigham Young University
Beth Turcotte
Ball State University — Department of Theatre and Dance
Inc.
Abbie Van Nostrand
Samuel French
Frank Ventura
CAP21
Eliza Ventura
CAP21
Ashley Wells
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
Lynne Wheeler
The Old Globe
Andy White
Festival Alum
Jen Whitton
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Wendy Wilf
Festival Alum
Spencer Williams
Michelle Yaroshko
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Kumiko Yoshii
Gorgeous Entertainment Inc.
Aaron Young
Fulton Theatre
Douglas Young
Blumenthal Performing Arts
Norman Zagier
April 30th Entertainment Inc.
Chen Zhang
Musical Theater China
Richard Feng Zhu
Musical Theater China

This page was last updated on 04/04/2015