NMI’s RESOURCE CENTER for musical theatre writers
…producers, theatres, contests, ideas, feedback, definitions, links, glossary, insider tips and advice, and free videos
Welcome to the musical theatre writers’ Resource Center.
This is a FREE page provided by New Musicals Inc. We’ve gathered in one place lots of info we think will be useful to writers of musical theatre:
- hundreds of musical theatre contests
- over 700 theatres and producers where you can submit your work
- an idea library of thousands of royalty-free public domain stories and plots
- a Writer Bank of potential musical theatre collaborators
- a glossary of musical theatre terms (with audio/video examples)
- a page of useful links to other resources for musical theatre writers
- access to short videos filled with tips and advice from NMI staff
You can see the full listings for FREE! You just need to register. Take a look at some random highlights from the feature boxes of the Resource Center below.
We also offer a paid Premium version of the Resource Center which gives you the ability to SEARCH all the listings for contests, theatres, and ideas which are relevant to you and your work; and includes a monthly e-newsletter with up-to-date listings that come straight to you.
Already a member? LOG-IN
INSIDER TIPS AND ADVICE |
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How to Get NO Feedback from Elise: Vlog 37 -RECAP The 37th post in the video blog from NMI Artistic Director Elise Dewsberry - How to Get NO Feedback from Elise. A recap of the last three years! To see more fom this series, subscribe to the vlog at http://nmi.org/nmi-resources/elises-video-blog/ September 1, 2020 How to Get NO Feedback from Elise: Vlog 36 -ASSIGNMENT: PRONOUNS August 2, 2020 How to Get NO Feedback from Elise: Vlog 35 -ASSIGNMENT: TENSE July 3, 2020 How to Get NO Feedback from Elise: Vlog 34 -ASSIGNMENT: AFTER THE SONG June 8, 2020 How to Get NO Feedback from Elise: Vlog 33 -ASSIGNMENT: TRANSITIONS May 2, 2020 How to Get NO Feedback from Elise: Vlog 32 -ASSIGNMENT: CHARACTER IDENTIFICATION *** Visit the INSIDER TIPS page to see the full listing of insider tips and advice videos. *** |
CONTESTS |
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FREE LISTING of hundreds of contests for plays and musicals. Premium Subscribers: get the additional ability to search by keywords. Who’s running contests for ten-minute musicals or one-acts? Who’s looking just for musicals? Dramas? Comedies? Or search by special interest, or geography. |
Here are some random samples from some upcoming contests/submissions listings:
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS |
Here are some samples from our Glossary of definitions of musical theatre terms. We will be adding to this over time - as well as adding actual sample scores and sound recordings. Check back often!
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FORMAT LIKE A PRO |
Watch this FREE video to learn how to implement the FORMAT GUIDELINES specifically designed by New Musicals Inc. Make sure your script and score look professional and are ready to go into development. |
Rodgers and Hammerstein – 1951. From the New York Public Library collections. |
WRITER BANK |
Here are the newest additions to our Writer Bank:
You may peruse the Writer Bank for potential collaborators. If you are a logged-in registered (free) user, you are also welcome to enter your own information into the Writer Bank. Not yet registered? Just look for the registration form at the bottom of this page. |
PRODUCERS & THEATRES |
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FREE LISTINGS of nearly 700 producers and theatres for potential submission of your work. Premium Subscribers: get the additional ability to search by keyword or genre to identify who’s most likely to be interested in YOUR musical. (Large/small; comedy/drama; full-length/one-act; special interest like “women” or “LGBT” or youth theatre, etc.) |
Here are some random samples from our listings of theatres and producers:
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NEW MUSICALS ONLINE |
Here is one of our featured new musical theatre videos: |
LIBRARY OF IDEAS (Royalty Free) |
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FREE ACCESS to a library of 1000+ downloadable royalty-free stories, plays, plots and other inspiring indeas we’ve found in the public domain for you. There’s a brief excerpt of every item in the library, so you can take a quick glance to see whether or not you want to read the whole text. In addition, the NMI staff has made annotations and recommendations for many of the titles in the library about their potential to become musicals. Save hundreds of hours of research and reading! Premium Subscribers: get the ability to search the library for genre (Comedy, drama, suspense, ghost story, fairy story, etc.). |
Here are some random samples from our listings of story ideas in the public domain:
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IMPROVE YOUR CRAFT |
New Musicals Inc. offers a whole series of professional online LABS for bookwriters, lyricists, and composers who are serious about improving their craft. This video is a FREE sample of one of the lecture videos from the all new Lyric Lab 1 - Fundamentals. |
LINKS |
Here are some random samples from our musical-theatre related links:
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MUSICAL THEATRE ARCHIVES |
| Here is some musical theatre trivia about events that happened during THIS month in the past: |
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October 30, 2003 Just in time for Halloween, Wicked, the musical about two witches, landed on Broadway. October 20, 1935 Jerry Orbach, star of the original productions of The Fantasticks, Carnival!, Promises, Promises, Chicago, and 42nd Street – as well as revivals of Guys and Dolls and Annie Get Your Gun – was born today. October 12, 1971 The rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar opened in New York, marking Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway debut. October 16, 1925 Angela Lansbury, musical star of Mame, Anyone Can Whistle, Gypsy, The King and I, Dear World, Sweeney Todd, and others, was born today. October 27, 1925 Jane Connell, who created the role of Agnes Gooch in Mame in 1966, was born today. She reprised her role in the film version of Mame and again in the 1983 revival. In 1986 she was nominated for a Tony Award for Me and My Girl, and appeared again on Broadway in Crazy for You in 1992. |
news feed:
8 Videos That Make Us Excited for Shoshana Bean’s Upcoming Concert!
There’s no doubt Shoshana Bean can put on an excellent performance Check out some of her past gigs before this week’s virtual concert, Broadway My Way, on October 23 at 8pm ET.As the Curtain Rises, a Broadway-Themed Digital Soap Opera, Debuts October 22 on Broadway Podcast Network
As the Curtain Rises, a Broadway-themed digital soap opera, debuts October 22. Additional episodes of the series, written by producer Dori Berinstein (The Prom, Legally Blonde) and Mark Peikert (former Playbill editor-in-chief) and produced by Broadway Podcast Network, will be released subsequent Thursdays. Tony nominee Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice) is the Narrator with Tony nominee Ariana DeBose (The Prom film, Summer) as Zoey Taylor, Andrew Barth Feldman (Dear Evan Hansen) as himself, Tony winn…Read moreWomen of Color on Broadway Concert, Honoring LaChanze and Melba Moore, Streams October 21
House Seats: Women of Color on Broadway, a concert honoring Tony winners LaChanze and Melba Moore, streams October 21 at 8 PM ET on ALL ARTS. The special presentation features performances by 2020 Tony nominee Celia Rose Gooding (LaChanze’s daughter), Lucille Lortel winner Kuhoo Verma, and more. The special was filmed earlier this year at Cooper Union, with Kimberly Marable, Kayla Davion, Aléna Watters, Darlesia Cearcy, Linah Sta. Ana, Genesis Collado, Barbara Douglas, and Vanisha Gould also in…Read moreVIDEO: HAMILTON Schuyler Sisters Unite to Help Get Out the Vote
Schuyler Sisters from the many companies of Hamilton came together for a virtual performance of ‘The Schuyler Sisters’ as part of the production’s efforts to help get out the voteVIDEO: On This Day, October 19- MEMPHIS Opens On Broadway!
On this day, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Memphis, opened at the Shubert Theatre, starring Chad Kimballand Montego GloverIn the News: Hamilton’s Austin Scott Will Star in New Radio Play Innocent Dreams, MTC Launches Virtual Theatre Channel, More
Read on for some recent theatre headlines you may have missed in today’s news.Hamilton and Girl From the North Country’s Austin Scott Will Be Heard in New Radio Play Innocent DreamsAustin Scott, who plays Joe Scott in Broadway’s Girl From the North Country, will be heard in the new radio play Innocent Dreams. Scott, who also starred in the title role of Broadway’s Hamilton, will play Davontae Sanford, who was arrested at 14 and coerced into a false confession for a quadruple homicide. He subsequ…Read moreBroadway and Drag Stars Unite for Divas for Democracy Event for Voter Awareness
Stars from the Broadway and drag scenes come together with a common goal October 18 for Divas for Democracy: United We Slay. The streaming variety show will promote voter mobilization and awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community during the 2020 election.Keltie Knight and RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Nina West co-host the event, in which the Broadway stars perform musical theatre standards as drag counterparts offer their own lip synced interpretation.Among the theatre names taking part ar…Read moreJennifer Holliday Talks About Her Upcoming Concert and More on Backstage LIVE With Richard Ridge
BroadwayWorld’s Richard Ridge is keeping up with all of their latest projects on Backstage Live, bringing you in-depth interviews twice weekly. On October 16, he chatted with Broadway’s original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday, who celebrates her 60th birthday in concert on Monday, October 19 8pmPhoto Flash: Matthew Broderick, Joel Grey and More Celebrate the Return of Joe Allen
Joe Allen Restaurant, the iconic haunt of the Broadway community, has opened its doors once again after 7 months, due to the government mandated shutdown.In the News: Jason Tam Will Head War of the Worlds, Shalita Grant Joins Netflix’s You, More
Read on for some recent theatre headlines you may have missed in today’s news.Jason Tam Will Head Cast of Keen Company Broadcast of War of the WorldsKeen Company’s 2020–2021 season, featuring a series of broadcasts, will launch October 30 at 8 PM ET with Howard Koch’s adaptation of War of the Worlds, made popular by the late Orson Welles. Initial casting includes Jason Tam (Be More Chill), Arnie Burton, Morgan Siobhan Green, and Khiry Walker. The production will feature original music by Paul Br…Read more| new musicals ... incorrigible |
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER |
Premium Subscribers receive a monthly email that lists upcoming contest deadlines; the newest members of the Writer Bank, some sample public domain ideas; as well as some fun musical theatre trivia like random lyric quotes, pictures from the archives, and listings of things that happened in the musical theatre world during this same month in the past. We know that it's not always easy to remember to come back to the Resource Center to remind yourself of what contest deadlines are coming up soon - so this newsletter will come to YOU. |
FREE ACCESS right now; just register with us and pay no fees. But for $50 a year, Premium Subscribers get all the extra stuff listed on this page. Here’s a summary of the additional perks for Premium Subscribers:
Free v. Subscription?
| Free | Subscribers | |
| Insider Tips | √ | |
| Contests | √ | Custom search |
| Producers/Theatres | √ | Custom search |
| Idea Library | √ | Custom search; recommended titles |
| Links/resources | √ | √ |
| Writer Bank | √ | √ |
| Glossary of Terms | √ | √ |
| Monthly Newsletter | – | √ |
| Format Guidelines | $15 | FREE |
| Creative Services | – | $50-$400 off |
| Advice | – | $50 off |
CREATIVE SERVICES
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| The Resource Center is a very powerful clearinghouse of information and source material. But what it does NOT include are workshops, feedback, or advice on how to get produced, all of which have some fees involved. However, premium subscribers to the Resource Center get discounts on our services, ranging from $50-$400. Here are some links to pages describing how New Musicals Inc. supports writers and composers of new musical theatre: |
| New Musicals Inc. Creative Services — Script Analysis, workshops, table readings, concerts. You’ll also find here some options about developing your musical. (Hint: look at “The Sandbox” — and create your own pathway according to your budget and timetable.) PREMIUM Subscribers get up to $400 off. |
| Consulting/Advice — We’re known for our supportive, practical consultations on producing, raising money, putting together budgets, as well as artistic issues like music notation, script doctoring, etc. PREMIUM Subscribers get $50 off. |
| Format Guidelines — Want your script and score to look as professional as possible when making submissions? PREMIUM Subscribers get our infamous GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL SCRIPT AND SCORE FORMATTING - ILLUSTRATED & EXPLAINED (a $15 value) for FREE. |
REGISTER FOR FREE!OR become a PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER!Already registered? Please login below.
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Through design, --Stephen Sondheim |
Free v. Subscription?
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FREE to Registered Users |
| Insider Tips |
| Contests (Subscribers get access to custom SEARCH options) |
| Producers/Theatres (Subscribers get access to custom SEARCH option) |
| Idea Library (Subscribers get access to custom SEARCH and recommended titles options) |
| Links/resources |
| Writer Bank |
| Glossary of Terms |
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PERKS for PREMIUM Subscribers |
| Custom search/filtering options |
| Monthly Newsletter |
| Format Guidelines for FREE |
| DISCOUNTS on Creative Services (from $50 to $400) |