ADV – Leaderboard

The cast of "Othello: The Remix" (Jackson Doran, Postell Pringle, GQ, JQ, and Clayton Stamper) perform at the 2015 NAMT festival. (Photo by Ric Kallaher)

Submissions Open for NAMT’s 2022 Festival of New Musicals

For the first time, NAMT is not requiring professional endorsements and is waiving the application for submissions received by Dec. 20.

NEW YORK CITY: The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) is currently accepting submissions for its 34th annual Festival of New Musicals, to be held in New York City Oct. 20-21, 2022. In a new development, writers will be able to submit musicals without a professional endorsement, and there is no application fee for submissions made by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 20. The late deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 10, 2022.

“We are happy to eliminate the need for an endorsement for anyone who would like to apply to the Festival of New Musicals,” said Mark Blankenship, new works director at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, in a statement. “NAMT wants to make it clear that our festival is open to any writer or composer. We welcome all voices and perspectives, and we want to keep the door as wide open as possible. Along with our recent decision to eliminate an application fee for anyone who files by the on-time deadline, we hope the elimination of endorsements will signal that both NAMT in general and the festival in particular are here to support everyone who creates new musicals.”

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre was founded in 1985, with the Festival of New Musicals becoming a cornerstone of NAMT’s commitment to the development of new work. Every year, the Festival of New Musicals presents eight short presentations of new musicals before an audience of over 800 industry professionals. The festival has featured more than 500 writers, with 85 percent of them seeing future development of their musicals, finding agents, securing licensing agreements, or receiving commissions. Among the almost 300 musicals launched by the festival are Benny & JoonCome From AwayDarling Grenadine, The Drowsy ChaperoneGun & PowderHONK!InterstateIt Shoulda Been You, LempickaOrdinary DaysStriking 12, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Click here for more information on the festival and how to submit.

Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. Please join us in this mission by making a donation to our publisher, Theatre Communications Group. When you support American Theatre magazine and TCG, you support a long legacy of quality nonprofit arts journalism. Click here to make your fully tax-deductible donation today!

ADV – Billboard