Programs
The New York Musical Theatre Festival exists to revitalize one of America’s greatest art forms by introducing a diverse audience to the vibrancy of contemporary musical theater, and by discovering, supporting and promoting new musical theater artists, producers, and projects.
EMPOWERING A NEW GENERATION
NYMF’s largest program, the annual new works festival that bears its name, combines an economy of scale with a supportive professional environment in order to empower new musical theater artists. Each season, approximately 30 productions play in repertory alongside a number of readings, concerts, educational seminars, and other special events also curated by the organization’s artistic staff to maximize the stylistic, thematic, and cultural diversity of the festival’s offerings.
The largest annual musical theatre event in America, the New York Musical Theatre Festival provides an unrivaled showcase for new musicals. The festival gives artists the crucial chance to hone their craft and develop projects in the most effective manner -- by realizing new musicals in three dimensions before a live and responsive audience -- and delivers greater production value and promotional reach than its participants could otherwise afford or access. Since its inception in 2004, the New York Musical Theatre Festival has proven a remarkably effective launching pad, with over 40 shows transferring to successful productions on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally, on tour, and around the world.
NYMF’s ability to consistently attract the participation of well-known actors, directors and other established members of the theatre industry has also created an environment rich with mentorship opportunities for newer artists, and made the festival a leading spot for the discovery of talented new performers, directors, choreographers, designers, and producers -- as well as writers.
BRIDGING THE GAP
Beyond the three weeks of the annual festival, NYMF's other programs work to assist writers at all stages of development and experience.
Each year, more than 400 musicals are submitted by writers to The Next Link Project, which provides a dozen writing teams with the training, tools, and professional resources they need to take the crucial leap with their shows from mere readings to fully-realized productions. Each of the 12 Next Link shows, selected through a double-blind evaluation process by a jury of leading artists, receives one-on-one creative support from professional dramaturgs; introductions to industry contacts and to potential collaborators and producers, and educational seminars focused on the entrepreneurial skills writers need in order to advance their careers and their projects. They are also awarded production slots in NYMF’s fall festival, along with additional production subsidies to help underwrite the cost of mounting their shows.
Long after their shows have appeared in the Festival, NYMF continues to support its community of writers, serving as an advocate for alumni artists and a liaison to a growing network of regional theaters, producers and service organizations around the world. Finally, NYMF also encourages the creation of adventurous new work by festival artists through occasional commissions -- some of which are developed and presented at the festival under the “Born at NYMF” banner.
