The three-week festival, which offers full Actors' Equity-approved showcase productions of a few dozen new works in rotating rep in various 99-seat midtown Manhattan venues, is accepting submission through March 10. Writers are invited to submit production-ready musicals to the Festival’s Next Link Project, for which 18 shows will be chosen by a jury of theatre professionals. Past juries have included directors Gabriel Barre, Kathleen Marshall, Susan H. Schulman and Scott Schwartz; producers Robyn Goodman, Kevin McCollum and Jack Viertel; Tony Award-winning writers Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez; and Tony Award-winning actress Joanna Gleason, among others.

  According to press materials, audience turnout at the 2005 fest increased by more than 25 percent from the previous year, with attendance at NYMF 2005 at 90 percent of capacity. Festival shows that have graduated to full productions include Altar Boyz, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Captain Louie, and [Title of Show]. The last show begins previews at the Vineyard Theatre Off-Broadway Feb. 15 and opens Feb. 26 for a scheduled run through March 26.