Festival Creative Assistantship
For Emerging Leaders in Musical Theatre
Alumni of the Festival Emerging Artist Program with NAMT New Works Associate, Skye Cone Ivey (center) at Challenge Accepted!
From left to right: Kathryn Carter (Fest ’24), Hayley Goldenberg (Fest ’22), Christian Jimenez (Fest ’24), Irvin Mason Jr. (Fest ’22), JuJu Jaworski (Fest ’24) and Julia Sonya Kofyman (Fest ’24). Photo by Addie Symonds.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival Creative Assistantship offers a distinctive opportunity for early-career professionals to participate as departmental assistants in the development of new musicals. This is a reimagining of the NAMT Festival Observership for Early-Career Directors.
Now in its eighth year, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival Creative Assistantship offers a distinctive learning opportunity for early-career professionals to participate as assistants in the development of new musicals. This educational program is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in musical theatre by offering early-career theatre-makers the opportunity to be part of the NAMT Festival process from start to finish.
This year, the program will focus exclusively on Directing and Music departments. Each Festival musical will be matched with a Creative Assistant working in one of these two areas. The Creative Assistantship is facilitated by NAMT’s New Works Associate, and one assistant will be assigned to each of the participating projects in an educational assistance capacity. Assistants will support their department’s creative team and will be included in creative conversations, as well as observe and learn from all elements of the new musical development process including casting, rehearsals and other preparations for the staged reading presentation.
Creative Assistants are expected to be present for all rehearsals, sound check and presentations for their assigned Festival musical in October in New York City. They will also conduct onstage interviews with their Festival Writers during the Fall Conference’s Meet the Writers Preview Event. The Creative Assistantship begins in late August, with rehearsals running October 12–22 and the Festival taking place October 23–24.
Previous Cohorts
PROGRAM GOALS
This program aims to strengthen inclusive development pathways in the musical theatre industry with in-the-room learning opportunities for early-career theatre-makers that foster professional growth, with a focus on historically underserved groups in the areas of Directing and Music.
- Directing & Music: Each of the eight Festival shows will be matched with one Creative Assistant in either Directing or Music.
- Front Row Experience: Creative Assistants will gain first-hand educational exposure to the process of developing new musicals.
- Skill Development: Creative Assistants will learn from and assist experienced directors and music directors.
- Networking Opportunities: Creative Assistants will be invited to attend select NAMT Fall Conference professional & educational panels, offering networking opportunities with industry leaders.
- Creative Assistants are expected to be present for all rehearsals, sound check and presentations for their Festival musicals in October in NYC.
- Creative Assistants will receive a $400 stipend and are responsible for their own travel and lodging in New York.
PROCESS
Creative Assistants begin with virtual pre-production meetings in late August, followed by in-person rehearsals and Festival activities in October. Rehearsals take place in Midtown Manhattan; Festival presentations are at New World Stages. This is a live, in-person, educational event and attendance is required.
The NAMT Festival Creative Assistantship Program is committed to nurturing talent, promoting inclusion, and supporting equity in musical theatre by empowering emerging professionals through immersive and meaningful departmental experiences.
FAQ
What makes a good applicant?
The NAMT Festival Creative Assistantship Program aims to create supportive opportunities for underserved early-career theatre-makers, especially artists who identify as BIPOC, a person with disabilities, a woman, and/or LGBTQIA+, with a focus on directing or music directing in the theatre. Applications are open to all. We encourage applicants with a unique point of view inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender, disability and sexual orientation. Non-US citizens are welcome to apply.
What is expected of the Creative Assistants once they have been selected?
Creative Assistants are expected to work in an intern learning-meets-assistance capacity and to support the relevant department of that creative team. Once a Creative Assistant has been selected, they will be added to all creative conversations including casting and the other needs for a staged reading presentation. The majority of pre-Festival work is done via email and Zoom and there is a great deal to glean from observing these communications.
How will the final Creative Assistants be selected?
Once the applications have closed, a small panel of NAMT staff & alumni program participants will review applications and schedule short interviews with semi-finalists. Interviews will be held the week of August 4 and will be conducted by NAMT’s New Works Associate Skye Cone Ivey.
Who has participated in the NAMT Festival in the past?
Directors such as Stephen Brackett, Stafford Arima, Christopher Ashley, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Sarna Lapine, Schele Williams, Victoria Bussert, Kent Nicholson, Peter Rothstein, May Adrales, Sherri Barber, Sam Buntrock, Marlo Hunter. Music Directors such as Andrea Grody, Patrick Sulken, Kurt Crowley, Anessa Marie, Lily Ling, Deborah Abramson.
Additional Questions?
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