search for new musicals

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SEARCH FOR NEW MUSICALS

The Academy for New Musical Theatre is committed to an ongoing search to find and nurture promising new musical theatre. 

If you've written a musical, and you would like some honest, constructive, detailed feedback on how to make your musical better, you can submit your musical to ANMT for dramaturgical feedback at levels from evaluation to analysis to table reading to workshop to concert reading.

All musicals submitted (at any level) to ANMT by DECEMBER 15 of any year will be automatically entered in the Search for New Musicals for the next season. 

Click HERE to get email reminders for the Dec 15 deadline (BONUS: get a FREE PASS to audit a live online feedback session)

Winners will be announced by March 15 following the annual deadline. The winner of the Search receives a workshop with the Academy Repertory Company, detailed feedback from the ANMT staff, and a concert reading in Los Angeles.  

Note:  There are fees attached to all of the levels of development available through ANMT.  The entry level is $100 for a 3-5 page written Script Overview; the next level is an in-depth 2-3 hour video Analysis for $400.  We know that some writers do not feel that there should be fees attached to script submissions, but our feeling is that the fee is for the Script Overview, and the entry into the Search is a side benefit.  If you are submitting your musical ONLY because you want to win a contest, then the Search probably isn't right for you. 

Click to view Evaluation Price List

SEARCH WINNERS

Announcing the results of
THE 2009 SEARCH FOR NEW MUSICALS

FIRST PRIZE:

GREENBRIER GHOST

book by Susan Murray, lyrics & music by Clay Zambo

A dead woman's ghost comes back from the grave to accuse her husband of her murder.

GREENBRIER GHOST will receive a workshop with the Academy Repertory Company in May of 2009, and a concert reading as part of the 2009-10 Concert Reading Series at the Colony Theatre in Burbank.

SECOND PRIZE:

EMERALD

book & lyrics by Chris Burgess, music by Denise Wright

An Irish-American woman returns to the land of her ancestors, and finds herself "haunted" by the famed Black Pig.

EMERALD will receive an ANMT staff table reading and feedback session in May of 2009.

THIRD PRIZE:

DULA

book by Paul Elliott, music by Jeanie Cunningham, lyrics by Cunningham & Elliott

A fresh look at the story behind the infamous ballad of Tom Dooley.

DULA will receive an ANMT Analysis.

SPECIAL MERIT:

GIRL DETECTIVE

book & lyrics by Alan Gordon, music by Mark Sutton-Smith

No secrets are safe now that the amazing Casey Ames is on the case!.

 

THE 2008 SEARCH FOR NEW MUSICALS

FIRST PRIZE:

THE WATER

book by Tim Werenko and Jeff Hylton, lyrics by Jeff Hylton, music by Georgia Stitt

A small town comes to terms with the tragic aftermath of a devastating flood.

THE WATER received a workshop with the Academy Repertory Company in May of 2008, and a concert reading as part of the 2008-09 Concert Reading Series at the Colony Theatre in Burbank.

SECOND PRIZE:

ROCKET BOYS

book by Homer Hickam, Jr., stage adaptation by Chris Budinich, music & lyrics by Diana Belkowski and Dan Tramon, dramaturgy by Carl Anthony Tramon

Based on the book by Homer Hickam, Jr. that was made into the feature film October Sky.

ROCKET BOYS received an ANMT staff table reading and feedback session in May of 2008.

THIRD PRIZE:

UNWRITTEN RULES

book by Danny Abosch and Tommy Noland, music & lyrics by Danny Abosch

A brand new teacher discovers high school politics.

UNWRITTEN RULES received an ANMT Analysis.

SPECIAL MERIT:

IDAHO: The Comedy Musical!

book & lyrics by Buddy Sheffield, music by Buddy Sheffield and Keith Thompson

A loving (if slightly naughty) tribute to the musicals of yore.

IDAHO received a concert reading as part of the 2008-09 Concert Reading Series at the Colony Theatre in Burbank.
Also: winner of the Audience Pick prize at the 2008 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Submit your musical...

NEW SUBMISSION

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SEARCH TESTIMONIALS

FEEDBACK FROM SEARCH PARTICIPANTS

Here is some feedback from writers about their Search SCRIPT OVERVIEW:

"[The evaluation] turned out to be an unexpectedly valuable part of the process. The level of detail, understanding, and insight of the evaluation was amazing. This was the first evaluation I ever saw where the evaluator spent the time to demonstrate that he/she 'got' the play. This is what gives me confidence that the things from [the evaluation] are valid and need to be acted upon, and not merely uninformed impressions by someone who didn’t take the time to understand my intent."

"We are so grateful for your thoroughness and the insight of your comments. Your report has given us a fresh approach to the project."

"I’ve never received a more cogent and useable evaluation before. I’m very comfortable with the critique process but I have never finished reading a critique/evaluation with as much desire and energy to go to work on and polish a piece."

"Thanks for the fantastic feedback that you provided on the evaluation.  It sounds like you really understood my vision for the show more than many of the people I've shown it to."

"The critique was spot on.  I would say that the work that you are doing is the most helpful I have ever received from any arts organization.  I only wish that more organizations were able to do as much for the field of musical theater.  I think that your entire approach is great, serving a wide number of artists at many different levels in their careers.  An incredible process really."

"I thought the critique was very thorough, thoughtful, and encouraging, and it inspired many new ways of thinking about my project."

"I found the feedback extremely helpful. It was thoughtful, thorough and very supportive. This is the first time I have attempted to write the music, lyrics and book and your comments have re-energized me and I am currently hard at work on a second draft of my piece. Thank you so much!"

EXISTING SUBMISSION

(If you have already begun the submission process and would like to complete or edit your submission, or check on the status of your submission, please enter your information below.)

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