The goal of the Producer-Writer Initiative is "to build relationships between writers and producers working on the development of new musicals throughout the U.S.," according to the NAMT announcement.
Each theatre will receive $3,000 to help fund a writing team's residency for a minimum of seven days, supporting housing and travel costs and an artist stipend for the writing team.
The recipients are:
Alliance Theatre Company (Georgia) will host Barry Kleinbort and Joseph Thalken to further develop Was or to begin a new project. This fellowship is underwritten by Jamie deRoy & friends.
Goodspeed Musicals (Connecticut) will provide a residency for composer David Kirshenbaum to work on a variety of projects. This fellowship is underwritten by NAMT's New Works Fund.Lark Theatre Company (New York City) will develop Cheryl Davis and Douglas J. Cohen's Barnstormer. This fellowship is underwritten by The ASCAP Foundation.Pittsburgh CLO (Pennsylvania) will do a workshop of Stephen Cole and Jeffrey Saver's Time After Time. This fellowship is underwritten by NAMT's New Works Fund.Riverside Theatre (Florida) will develop Allen Cornell and Ken Clifton's Midnight Clear. This fellowship is underwritten by NAMT's New Works Fund.Zachary Scott Theater (Texas) will host a two-week workshop of Ray Leslee and Philip S. Goodman's A Good Man. This fellowship is underwritten by The Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation. The residencies will take place between March 1, 2004 and April 30, 2005. Excerpts of the PWI Recipients' Projects will be presented at NAMT's Songwriter Showcase which will take place in conjunction with NAMT's Festival of New Musicals in the fall in Manhattan.
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The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), founded in 1985, "is the only national service organization dedicated to musical theatre. Its membership includes theatre institutions, universities, and independent producers. Located throughout 33 states and six countries, member companies vary substantially in size and structure; yet all share a commitment to preserve and enhance this uniquely American art form. Last season, NAMT Members cumulatively staged nearly 20,000 performances attended by 14 million people and reached revenues exceeding $500 million."
Visit NAMT at www.namt.net.
