Created in 1989, the Festival of New Musicals was designed to showcase the work of new writers for the musical theatre to industry professionals. The annual festival has introduced producers to more than 200 musicals and 300 writers internationally.

For two days each fall, NAMT brings an invited audience of its members and industry professionals to attend 45-minute staged readings of new works for the musical theatre. The annual festival is subsidized by funds raised by NAMT.

Any writer may submit his or her work for the Festival of New Musicals; the only requirement is that a letter of support from an agent, professional theatre organization or a NAMT member accompany all submissions.

Kathy Evans, executive director of NAMT commented, "We look forward to celebrating our 20th annual Festival with eight significant new works and talented writers. Our members – some of the leading musical theatre producers in the world – as well as several hundred musical theatre industry attendees are the people who can help these shows find future productions."

Among the previous NAMT productions to make the professional leap are Broadway's The Drowsy Chaperone and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other works include Vanities, Striking 12, Children of Eden, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Honk!, Summer of '42 and Songs for a New World. The submission deadline for NAMT's Festival of New Musicals is Feb. 8. Applications and complete list of guidelines are available by visiting www.namt.org.

The Festival of New Musicals is funded by contributions to the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, a not-for-profit organization, and is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency.