Featuring Performances by:
Broadway’s TALIA SUSKAUER, JELANI REMY, KATE ROCKWELL, SAMANTHA MASSELL, VERONICA OTIM, ASHLEY BROWN, CHRIS McCARRELL, YVETTE GONZÁLEZ-NACER, NASIA THOMAS, CLAIRE KWON and more.
Songwriters Showcase Includes:
THE FITZGERALDS OF ST. PAUL
Book, Music & Lyrics by Christie Baugher
“SONGS BY AN IMMIGRANT”
Songs with Music & Lyrics by Jaime Lozano
COAL
By Nicholas Connors
And Midday Cabaret Performances Featuring Work by:
Ross Baum, Teresa Lotz, Hayley Goldenberg & Julia Sonya Koyfman, and Hope Villanueva & William Yanesh
New World Stages
October 26-27, 2022
News
The 35th Annual Festival of New Musicals is upon us! This yearly event is a dazzling showcase of what’s new and groundbreaking in the world of musical theatre. Taking place on October 26 and 27 at New World Stages, this Festival is a focal point for professionals from various corners of the industry, from writers and directors to producers and presenters to educators and artist services providers.
Are you planning to attend? Great! The Festival is not just a celebration but also an exceptional networking opportunity. To make the most out of your experience, here are some essential tips to consider:
New World Stages
October 26-27, 2022
New York: National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is proud to announce the creative teams for the 35th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 26 and Friday, October 27, 2023, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).
Now in its 35th year, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS is a must-attend event for theatre producers, presenters and developers from around the world. This industry-only festival offers the chance to discover eight new musicals presented in 45-minute concert presentations over two days. As a non-profit organization, NAMT funds the Festival entirely through donations, sponsorships and contributions which underwrite all production costs.
Directors for this year’s Festival include Rebecca Aparicio (Latinx Playwrights Circle), Dev Bondarin (Associate Artistic Director, Prospect Theater Company), Catie Davis (Broadway/Tour: Beetlejuice), Bo Frazier (Chicago: tick, tick…BOOM!), Kimille Howard (Artistic Director, Lucille Lortel Theatre’s NYC Public High School Playwrighting Fellowship), Jess McLeod (Woolly Mammoth BOLD Resident Director), Leora Morris (Alliance Theatre: Ride the Cyclone) and Abbey O’Brien (Broadway: Waitress, Jagged Little Pill).
Music Directors for this year’s Festival include Kurt Crowley (Broadway: Hamilton, Freestyle Love Supreme), Andrea Grody (Broadway: The Band’s Visit), Jesse Kissel (Broadway: Chicago, The Visit), Lily Ling (Broadway: How to Dance in Ohio), Anessa Marie (Off-Broadway: White Girl in Danger), Patrick Sulken (Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors) and Alyssa Kay Thompson (Broadway: 1776).
High School Students Have Access to Even More Free Learning Opportunities
Washington, DC—The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), is now accepting submissions for the 2023-24 program, an opportunity for high school students to develop and showcase musical compositions that could be a part of a musical theater production. This year, even more resources and constructive critique opportunities will be available for participating students to cultivate their songwriting skills.
Over $100,000 to be Awarded to NAMT Member Organizations
New York City: The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) has announced the 12 Award Recipients for the 2023/2024 Frank Young Fund for New Musicals Project Development & Production Grants and the 10 Award Recipients for the 2023/2024 Impact & Exploration Fund. The Frank Young Fund for New Musicals (FYFNM) is a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals. The Impact & Exploration Fund (I&EF) is designed to help NAMT member theatres pilot new capacity-building programs to advance their missions and build a library of practices and procedures other members can learn from. During the 2023/2024 season, the Funds are awarding $105,000 in grants to NAMT member organizations.
At NAMT, we believe the next industry-defining voice is out there, waiting to be discovered. The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is a unique platform for high school students, bridging nascent talent with the luminous world of musical theater.
Over the years, the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students has been a platform for blossoming talents, uncovering exceptional songwriters and bringing their work to the forefront. As we cherish these remarkable alumni moments, we’re also filled with anticipation, looking forward to launching a new season of Songwriting Challenge! Dive into the legacy, and experience the musical tales that have left an indelible mark.
NAMT News
Songs of Summer: Meet the Songwriters
Step into the creative minds of NAMT Festival Alumni: Jacinta Clusellas, Andrea Daly, Robi Hager, Martin Storrow and Melvin Tunstall III. Each of these writers has paved their own paths, captivating audiences with their unique voices. Their work gives us a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of musical theatre.
Get to know a little more about these fabulous writers and join us at Joe’s Pub on July 31st!
In the weeks leading up to NAMT’s “Songs of Summer” concert at Joe’s Pub, we caught up with Olivier Award-nominated Music Director, Arranger, Composer and NAMT Festival artist Andrea Grody as she mused about music. Photo by Jacq Harriet.
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
announces lineup for the
FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS
35th Annual Festival to play New World Stages following NAMT Fall Conference
October 26-27, 2022
New York: National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is thrilled to reveal the roster of new musicals for their 35th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which returns in person and takes place on Thursday, October 26 and Friday, October 27, 2023, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).
Free Registration for industry members is now open at www.namt.org/festival. The general public can also receive passes to the Festival through a donation to NAMT. There is also a day-of standby line for the general public for free admission (based on availability).
On a rainy afternoon in both New York & Seattle, we sat down with Neen Williams-Teramachi while they made their last preparations for an upcoming reading of the new musical Yoko’s Husband’s Killer’s Japanese Wife, Gloria.
On the heels of exciting announcements for all, NAMT alumni writers Brandon James Gwinn & EllaRose Chary met with NAMT Member and Diversionary Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director Matt Morrow to discuss their collaborative process, insights from their career in queer theatre and their future projects.
Header: Rehearsal for BLACKOUT at the 34th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Photo by Ric Kallaher.
NAMT’s upcoming 35th Annual Festival of New Musicals received an unprecedented 575 submissions this year. As the Spring comes to a close, NAMT Members and colleagues chime in on lessons learned from a competitive year in new musical submissions. Here are your 2023 Submission Tips!
In honor of Mother’s Day, Shannon Burkett (Fest ’22) pens a guest piece inviting us into her world that unveils a harmony in the intersection of art, adolescents, and advocacy.
Header image: (Left to right) William A. Williams, Justin Huertas, Kiki DeLohr in Lizard Boy at Seattle Rep. Photo: Kevin Berne
As they prepare to begin rehearsals for their Off-Broadway premiere, LIZARD BOY’s (Fest ’20) creator Justin Huertas and Prospect Theater Company’s Producing Artistic Director Cara Reichel join forces to discuss having secret powers and roll out the green carpet to assemble their team of real-world superheroes.
Header image: (Left to right) Jacinta Clusellas, Tatiana Pandiani and Melis Aker. Photo: Furiosa Productions.
On the afternoon of their EP release and just hours before their celebratory concert at Feinstein’s/54 Below, we sat down with Melis Aker (Book/Lyrics), Jacinta Clusellas (Music/Lyrics) and Tatiana Pandiani (Book/Lyrics/Director), the creators of the new musical Azul (Fest ’21) at the Consulate General of Argentina in New York City.
New York City: The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) has announced the Award Recipients for the 2022/2023 Writers Residency Grants. The Writers Residency Grants are part of the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals, a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals.
“We are thrilled to announce this funding for our Member Organizations that celebrates their commitment to the development of new musicals,” says Betsy King Militello. “We are constantly amazed by the quality and range of the work coming from our members, and the Writers Residency Grants support the cultivation of those vital collaborations between Writers and Producers at an early stage. We can’t wait to welcome these projects and artists to the NAMT community and to help provide a foundation for their future growth.”
National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced this year’s directors and music directors for the 34th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which returns in person and takes place on Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 21, 2022, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).
Now in its 34th year, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS attracts theatre producers from around the world for this industry-only event to discover eight new musicals presented in 45-minute concert presentations over two days. All production costs are underwritten by NAMT. As a non-profit organization, NAMT funds the Festival entirely through donations, sponsorships and contributions.
National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce the lineup of new musicals for our 34th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which returns in person and takes place on Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 21, 2022 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).
Registration for industry members is free and now open at www.namt.org/festival. The public can also receive passes to the Festival through a donation to NAMT. There is also a day-of standby line for the general public for free admission (based on availability).
Now in its 34th year, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS attracts theatre producers from around the world for this industry-only event to discover eight new musicals presented in 45-minute concert presentations over two days. All production costs are underwritten by NAMT. As a non-profit organization, NAMT funds the Festival entirely through donations, sponsorships and contributions.
The Festival has introduced musical theatre producers to nearly 300 musicals and over 500 writers from around the world. As a direct result of the FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, more than 85% of the shows presented have gone on to subsequent readings, workshops, productions or tours; been licensed; and/or recorded on cast albums. Some past Festival shows include Come From Away, Lempicka, The Drowsy Chaperone, Lizard Boy, Benny & Joon, Darling Grenadine, Ordinary Days, Striking 12, It Shoulda Been You, Interstate and Thoroughly Modern Millie, among many others.
This year, a committee of 17 theatre professionals selected eight new musicals out of 480 submissions—the Festival’s largest submission pool ever. The musicals chosen for the 34th Annual Festival are:
We are thrilled to announce the line-up for our 33rd Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place on October 21 & 22. For this year’s Festival, we will film live performances of each musical, then show those films at an in-person screening. We’ll also offer a live-streamed presentation of the films, in collaboration with Broadway on Demand.
The eight shows selected by our committee are:
AZUL book by Melis Aker and Tatiana Pandiani, music by Jacinta Clusellas, lyrics by Jacinta Clusellas and Ruben Dario
FANNY AND STELLA music & lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer, book by SEVAN
LITTLE DUENDE music & lyrics by Robi Hager, book & lyrics by Georgina Escobar
MĀYĀ book & music by Cheeyang Ng (Fest’ 20, Eastbound), book & lyrics by Eric Sorrels
MISSING PEACE book, music & lyrics by Kalani Queypo and Kyle Puccia
PRIVATE GOMER JONES written by Marshall Pailet (Fest’ 07, The Chocolate Tree)
SENIOR CLASS book, melodies & lyrics by Melvin Tunstall, music by Greg Borowsky
TL;DR: THELMA LOUISE; DYKE REMIX book & lyrics by EllaRose Chary, music & lyrics by Brandon James Gwinn
You can read more about this year’s Festival on Playbill.com!
Blog
NAMT News
Announcing the 32nd Annual Festival of New Musicals
We are thrilled to announce the line-up of new musicals for our 32nd Annual Festival of New Musicals, on Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20, 2020. Due to the pandemic, the Festival will be reimagined and shared online through Broadway On Demand. The NAMT Fall events will kick off on Tuesday, November 17, with the Fall Conference, followed by the Festival of New Musicals on November 19 & 20.
Registration for industry members is free and will open soon at www.namt.org/festival. The public can also receive passes to the Festival through a donation to NAMT, which will be available at a later date through Broadway on Demand.
Now in its 32nd year, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals attracts theatre producers from around the world to discover eight new musicals over two days. Production costs are underwritten by NAMT. As a non-profit organization, NAMT funds the Festival entirely through donations and sponsorships.
The Festival has introduced musical theatre producers to 268 musicals and 512 writers from around the world. As a direct result of the Festival of New Musicals, more than 85% of the musicals presented have gone on to subsequent readings, workshops, productions, tours, been licensed, and/or recorded on cast albums. Some past Festival shows include The Ballad of Klook and Vinette, Benny & Joon, Come From Away, Darling Grenadine, The Drowsy Chaperone, Gun & Powder, Interstate, It Shoulda Been You, Lempicka, Ordinary Days, Striking 12 and Thoroughly Modern Millie, among many others.
This year, a committee of 20 theatre professionals selected eight new musicals out of a record-breaking 349 submissions. The musicals they chose for the 32nd Annual Festival are:
Blog
NAMT News
2020-2021 Frank Young Fund for New Musicals Grants Announced
We are thrilled to announce 12 awards granted from the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals. The Frank Young Fund for New Musicals (FYFNM) is a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals. Now in its 12th year, this year the Fund is providing grants totaling $72,000 to organizations across the country.
NAMT Executive Director Betsy King Militello stated: “Every year we are excited to support our member theatres as they work to develop innovative and provocative new musicals. While the development paths may look different at this moment in American Theater, we continue to be incredibly honored to provide grants to member organizations for their support of extraordinary writers telling important stories. With these grants, we have now awarded 165 grants totaling $614,500 to NAMT members across the country through the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals. These projects will join a growing list of significant new musicals supported by this program.”
Blog
NAMT News
New Work in Progress: Distant Thunder
Next, we chatted with Michael Baron, the Producing Artistic Director at NAMT member Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. The company is about to open the world premiere of Distant Thunder by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Shaun Taylor-Corbett and Chris Wiseman. Lyric Theatre has received a grant for this production from the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals.
Darrell Waters, a successful young attorney, returns to his childhood home in Montana to broker a deal that can benefit the impoverished Blackfeet Nation. He soon faces his reclusive father about their painful past and grapples with the paradigm of what it means to be Native American in the United States. Cultures collide and unite through music, dance, stories and faith as we witness the dawning of a Distant Thunder.
What is Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s history with new works, and how does this new production of Distant Thunder fit into your overall commitment to new works development?
Lyric began our New Works Initiative in 2014 with a production of Triangle (NAMT Fest ’12) by Tom Mizer and Curtis Moore. Our audiences still talk about that show and the excitement of having a new work given a full production here in Oklahoma. I felt it was important that Lyric not only produce new productions of musicals from the canon but that we contribute to it as well. The value of having composers in residence working on their material and having a full production outside of the critical eye of New York has been thrilling to the artists and our audiences alike. Subsequent new musical premiere highlights have included Adam Gwon and Julia Jordan’s Bernice Bobs Her Hair (NAMT Fest ’11), Doug Cohen and Dan Elish’s Mann…and Wife (now titled The Evolution of Mann), and Alana Jacoby and Scotty Arnold’s When We’re Gone (fka Mortality Play, NAMT Fest ’16). Since Oklahoma is home to 39 nations, Lyric is a perfect theatre to premiere Distant Thunder. Lyric will be able to nurture and develop the production in an arena of artistic safety and in a geographic area that embraces multiple tribes.
Blog
NAMT News
Festival Show Update: Interstate
Last month, we checked in with Melissa Li and Kit Yan about their 2019 Festival show Interstate. The show is about to have its world premiere at Mixed Blood Theatre.
What has the post-Festival response to Interstate been like?
It’s been an abundant and joyous time post-NAMT Festival! We’ve been able to meet a lot of new friends and develop new relationships with theaters, producers and artists. We’re in the midst of figuring out our next steps, but there is a lot of support, enthusiasm and interest in the show!
Blog
NAMT News
Festival Show Update: The Wicker Husband
This month we checked in with Rhys Jennings and Darren Clark about their 2018 Festival show The Wicker Husband. The show is about to have its world premiere at The Watermill Theatre.
What was the post-Festival response to The Wicker Husband like after the 2018 Festival?
The response to The Wicker Husband after the Festival in 2018 was overwhelming. The story of a young woman falling slowly in love with a man made of wood seemed to capture people’s hearts and imagination. We ended our NAMT Festival presentation with the burning of her husband (which serves as the end of act one in the full story) so people were keen to know what happened next!