NAMT announced that the grant will be used to fund the 2009 fall conference and the 21st annual Festival of New Musicals. The NEA grant marks the largest donation NAMT has received since its inception.

"We are honored to be recognized by the NEA as playing a crucial role in nurturing the development and production of new musicals. And we are excited to play a part in helping such talented artists find future homes for their work in theatres across the country," said NAMT executive director Kathy Evans in a statement.

The NEA grant follows the October announcement that the National Alliance for Musical Theatre would create the National Fund for New Musicals, a grant program to support the development and production of new works. Separated into three categories, the fund will support non-profit NAMT theatres who are working with emerging writers to nurture new musicals at various stages of development.

Musicals previously presented in NAMT's Festival of New Musicals include Vanities, The Story of My Life, Dangerous Beauty, Emma, Pamela's First Musical, See Rock City & Other Destinations, The Gypsy King, Yellow Wood, Tinyard Hill, The Drowsy Chaperone, Thoroughly Modern Millie, I Love You Because, Songs for A New World, Striking 12, Summer of '42, Ace, Children of Eden, Harold and Maude, Honk! and Meet John Doe.

For more information visit www.namt.org.