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June 14, 2025

New York, NY

Panels & Roundtables
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Networking Reception
YOTEL Times Square New York (Rooftop)
570 Tenth Avenue & 42nd St
New York, NY 10036

FINDING VISIBILITY DURING CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Join us in New York City for NAMT’s Spring New Works Summit, a dynamic gathering designed for composers, lyricists, playwrights and administrators dedicated to musical theatre’s future. This year’s theme, “Finding Visibility During Creative Development,” explores how artists and industry professionals can build audiences while shaping their work, ensuring their voices are heard long before opening night.

Through a mix of engaging panels, roundtables and networking opportunities, attendees will gain insight into leveraging digital spaces, navigating career growth and activating audiences for both artistic and advocacy-driven goals. Whether you’re emerging, mid-career or a champion of new works behind the scenes, this summit is designed to provide actionable strategies, meaningful connections and a forward-thinking approach to audience development.

Featuring panelists & hosts:
Cara Reichel, Prospect Musicals (NY) + THE OSCAR MICHEAUX PROJECT (Fest ’24)
Anika Chapin, Signature Theatre (DC)
Christine Toy Johnson, Asian American Theatre Artists Collective (NY)
Veronica Mansour, LIGHTHOUSE (Fest ’24)
Adam Gwon, STRING (Fest ’14)
Steph CowanBroadway Licensing Global
Lauren Grajewski, Harper Collins Publishing
Amy Rose Marsh, Concord Theatricals
Liz Ulmer, Sony Music Publishing
Hayley Goldenberg, Festival Emerging Artist (Fest ’22)
Julia Sonya Koyfman, Festival Emerging Artist (Fest ’24)
Irvin Mason Jr., Festival Emerging Artist (Fest ’22)
Andrea Daly, LEGENDALE (Fest ’15)
Timothy Huang, AMERICAN MORNING (Fest ’15)
Caley Beretta, Disney Theatrical Productions
Jennifer Apple, Empowered Artist Collective Podcast
Christopher Dimond, THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES (Fest ’14) + DANI GIRL (Fest ’11)
Jaime Lozano, DESAPERACIDAS (FYFNM ’24)
Braley Degenhardt, Atlantic Theater Company (NY)
Joey Contreras, IN PIECES + MTSC ’24
Cara Rose DiPietro, Actor & Influencer
Natalie Wilson, Circle in the Square Theatre School (NY) + FYFNM ’17

This in-person event will require advance registration ($30). Registration will open May 6th.

Registration

$30 Registration Fee, Limited Availability
Public Registration Opens May 6, 2025

This is an in-person only event. Advance registration is required.

Panels & Roundtables
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Networking Reception
YOTEL Times Square New York (Rooftop)
570 Tenth Avenue & 42nd St
New York, NY 10036

Register

Agenda

Saturday, June 14, 2025 (All times ET)
9:30 - 10:00 amATTENDEE ARRIVAL COFFEE & NETWORKING

Studio G
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Ease into the day with a casual networking coffee reception. Grab a cup or bring your own, connect with fellow attendees and kickstart conversations before diving into the sessions ahead.

10:00 - 11:00 amBRANDING YOURSELF: STANDING OUT IN SUBMISSIONS & APPLICATIONS

Haimes Studio
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Whether you’re applying to a festival, residency, grant or development program, how you present yourself and your musical can make all the difference. In an industry flooded with talent and opportunity seekers, how do you make your submission rise to the top? This session offers practical strategies and honest insights on how to craft a compelling identity—for both you and your project. From bios to loglines, script excerpts to artist statements, learn what resonates with curators… and what turns them off.

Featuring:
Cara Reichel, Prospect Musicals (NY) + THE OSCAR MICHEAUX PROJECT (Fest ’24)
Anika Chapin, Signature Theatre (DC)
Christine Toy Johnson, Asian American Theatre Artists Collective (NY)
Veronica Mansour, LIGHTHOUSE (Fest ’24)

10:00 - 11:00 amPOWER OF LICENSING & PUBLISHING: BUILD AN AUDIENCE (AND A MUSICAL)

Studio G
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Licensing and publishing aren’t just about distribution after a show is complete—they can also be powerful tools in audience development during the creative process. This session dives into how Licensors and Publishers think about marketing, artist positioning and long-tail development. Learn what these organizations look for, how marketing works from the publisher’s side, and how to make your work appealing and accessible to both audiences and future producers.

Featuring:
Adam Gwon, STRING (Fest ’14)
Steph CowanBroadway Licensing Global
Lauren Grajewski, Harper Collins Publishing
Amy Rose Marsh, Concord Theatricals
Liz Ulmer, Sony Music Publishing

11:15 am - 12:15 pmMENTEES ROUNDTABLE: BUILDING ENERGY

Haimes Studio
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

For those in the early stages of their careers, this session offers candid conversations with rising composers, lyricists, playwrights, directors and administrators. Attendees will discuss how they’ve navigated industry entry points, built relationships and found visibility amid the noise. Expect a mix of practical advice, lessons learned and a look at the resources available to those starting out.

Facilitated by:
Hayley Goldenberg, Festival Emerging Artist (Fest ’22)
Julia Sonya Koyfman, Festival Emerging Artist (Fest ’24)
Irvin Mason Jr., Festival Emerging Artist (Fest ’22)

11:15 am - 12:15 pmMENTORS ROUNDTABLE: SUSTAINED MOMENTUM

Studio G
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

For artists with an established body of work, this conversation explores the nuances of navigating the industry mid-career. How do you maintain momentum while developing new projects? What opportunities exist beyond traditional pipelines? How can you leverage past successes into future visibility? Panelists will share insights on audience growth, career longevity and strategic decision-making.

Facilitated by:
Andrea Daly, LEGENDALE (Fest ’15)
Timothy Huang, AMERICAN MORNING (Fest ’15)

12:30 - 1:30 pmOFFSTAGE & ONLINE: CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING OUTSIDE THE THEATRE

Haimes Studio
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Not every path to an audience starts on stage. This session explores creative development strategies that live beyond traditional routes through music, podcasting, film, television and more. Hear from artists and creatives who have used “offstage” mediums to gain traction, test ideas or build fanbases in spaces where theatre hasn’t always reached—sometimes leading right back to the theatre, and sometimes not. Perfect for artists looking to grow their visibility beyond the back row.

Featuring:
Caley Beretta, Disney Theatrical Productions
Jennifer Apple, 
Empowered Artist Collective Podcast
Christopher Dimond, THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES (Fest ’14) + DANI GIRL (Fest ’11)
Jaime Lozano,
DESAPERACIDAS (FYFNM ’24)

12:30 - 1:30 pmNAVIGATING SOCIAL CONTENT

Studio G
A.R.T./New York Spaces@520
520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

How can musical theatre artists cultivate a fanbase before their work is even on stage? This conversation unpacks the evolving digital landscape, offering insight into content creation, audience engagement, and online community-building for musical theatre artists. Learn from those who have successfully built visibility through platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube—and discover how to craft a digital presence that fuels both creative and career growth.

Featuring:
Braley Degenhardt, Atlantic Theater Company (NY)
Joey Contreras, IN PIECES + MTSC ’24
Cara Rose DiPietro, Actor & Influencer
Natalie Wilson, Circle in the Square Theatre School (NY) + FYFNM ’17

2:00 - 4:00 pmNETWORKING RECEPTION

Rooftop
YOTEL Times Square New York
570 Tenth Avenue & 42nd St
New York, NY 10036

Wrap up the day with a casual networking reception, where attendees can continue conversations, connect with panelists and forge new collaborations. Small bites and non-alcoholic beverages provided for registered attendees. Cash bar available.

Guidelines

Participation Guidelines

NAMT is committed to recognizing and celebrating the diversity of experiences, talents, skills, cultures and opinions that our members bring to our community, and specifically to our events. We invite you to participate in all of our Conferences, Roundtables, Festivals and other events, both online and in-person, in a spirit of open-mindedness, curiosity and respect.

We want every NAMT event to be a safe, inclusive and productive environment for all participants. In that spirit, we ask you to…

  • Be inclusive, actively seeking and inviting diverse perspectives
  • Recognize that some people are comfortable responding quickly and verbally and others are not, and create space for those who may need more time to be heard
  • Listen to understand
  • Participate in an active and direct way, with professionalism and respect for others
  • Be considerate, kind, constructive and helpful in your language and actions
  • Use “I” statements and avoid generalizations
  • Assume good intentions but acknowledge impact
  • Ask questions if something isn’t clear, and receive both questions and answers with openness and generosity
  • Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior and language
  • Respect confidentiality requests by speakers and other participants

We may take action (up to and including expulsion with no refund and exclusion from future events) to redress disruptive, disrespectful or offensive behavior or any other actions perceived by NAMT staff and/or Board to be in conflict with the above guidelines. 

We know that learning and working together can produce both joy and conflict. We recognize that to learn is to stumble, and we are striving to provide a space for risk, creativity, respect, appreciation, growth and collaboration. When addressing conflicts of any type, we commit to these Participation Guidelines.

Thank you to every NAMT community member for helping to make all of our events informative, inclusive and respectful.

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This page was last updated on 05/07/2025