In addition to the 18 previously announced productions, which were selected by a panel of theatre notables — including Victoria Clark, B.D. Wong, Casey Nicholaw, Margo Lion, Adam Epstein and Rachel Sheinkin — the Invited Works Series represents shows that have been submitted by an industry advocate, be it an agent, producer, director or theatre company. In addition, NYMF scouts workshops and readings throughout the year in order to select productions for the Invited Works Series.

The 12 works represented by the Invited Works Series follow:

The Beastly Bombing, or A Terrible Tale of Terrorists Tamed By the Tangles of True Love
Libretto by Julien Nitzberg; music by Roger Neill
"A Gilbert & Sullivan-style romantic operetta about white supremacists and Al Qaeda terrorists plotting to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge has already been dubbed 'the first great work of comedy to emerge from the post-9/11 little planet of horrors.'"

The Brain from Planet X
Book by David Wechter and Bruce Kimmel, music and lyrics by Bruce Kimmel
"An affectionate and hilarious send-up of bad 50s sci-fi movies, The Brain from Planet X tells the story of an alien invasion circa 1958. A Brain and its two alien cohorts, Zubrick and Yoni, arrive on Earth and plan to take over the San Fernando Valley – starting with the happy nuclear family, the Bunsons. It's the first step on the road to their quest of taking over the entire planet and destroying the family unit. It's tuneful, toe-tapping, and terrifyingly fun."

The Good Fight
Book and Lyrics by Nick Enright; music by David King
"The Good Fight plots an epic journey of two young men – one a national icon, the other a mere soldier in the trenches of World War I – caught between their personal beliefs and those of their wartime government. From battle fields to boxing rings and the music hall stages of Australia and America, The Good Fight asks: What makes a hero?" I See London, I See France – The Underwear Musical
Book by Vid Guerrerio, music and lyrics by Jeremy Desmon
"Can you have your beefcake and eat it too? When brainy fashion ad exec Gina is dumped for a bimbo on her 35th birthday, her universe starts to crumble as she finds herself falling in lust with the dim-but-smoldering poster boy for her agency's most salacious campaign."

The Kids Left, the Dog Died, What Next?
Book, music and lyrics by Carole Lonner
The production "follows four baby boomers standing at life's crossroads – empty nests, waning marriages, aging bodies and the arrival of the AARP membership card! What do you do when you only see your friends in the waiting room? Who (or what) lurks in the divorcee dating scene? How many great loves do you really get? What exactly is Botox? And how could you possibly be related to your grandchildren? Find the answers to these questions and more in this warm, witty new revue."

The Legend of Stagecoach Mary
Book and lyrics by Thomas Mizer; music by Curtis Moore
"The tall tale of a pistol-packing female outlaw, ex-slave Mary Fields, who heads to Montana in the 1880s to find freedom, adventure and her long-lost best friend. She is forced to work for the saintly, though potty-mouthed, Mother Superior of a ramshackle frontier convent and her emotional journey mixes sweet melodies, roof-raising dances, and slapstick comedy!"

Like Love
Book and lyrics by Barry Jay Kaplan, music by Lewis Flinn
"A man and a woman fall in love, get to know more about each other and have great sex. Except in Like Love, it all happens in reverse: the man and woman start out having great sex, then reluctantly get to know more about each other, and finally, surprising them both, fearfully fall in love. All the while they are being manipulated by the personification of Love, who thinks the situation is under control, but is shocked to realize how complicated falling in love can be."

Love Kills
Book, music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow
"Charles Starkweather murdered 11 victims in Nebraska and Wyoming during a road trip with his underage girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate. He became a national fascination, eventually inspiring the films 'Badlands' and 'Natural Born Killers' and the Bruce Springsteen song 'Nebraska.' Obie Award winning playwright Kyle Jarrow (A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant) uses their story to explore the nature of love, desire and passion… and the lengths to which some people will go to hang on to these feelings."

Maccabeat!
Songs by Harvey Shield and Richard Jarboe, book and additional lyrics and music by Chayim Ben Za’aev
"In this pop rock musical version of the Hanukkah story, Judah Maccabee and his brothers sing doo wop, chase girls, and try to remain true to their Jewish faith in a world where it's cool to be Greek. It may not have happened quite this way in the Bible, but hey – you never know."

The Piper
Book, music and lyrics by Marcus Hummon
"A strangler lurks in Boston's shadows. Jordan, a courageous young innkeeper and former prostitute, tries desperately to keep her friends and son as far away as possible from the mysterious killer, only to find that he might just be her new boarder. The Piper follows The Strangler and his victims through the brothels, inns, pubs and alleyways of late-19th century Scolley Square."

Roller Derby
Book by Barry Arnold, music by John Braden and Harold Wheeler, lyrics by John Braden and Barry Arnold
"On the road in 1972, a brash young rookie from NYC's mean streets takes on the sport's beloved but aging star in a battle royal for the title of Roller Derby Queen. Rockin' and rollin' with the ten colorful gals and guys on their squad, famous to TV fans as the world champion Bombers, the rivals meet their match, discovering more than they ever dared to dream about life, love and how the game is played."

Unlock'd
Words by Sam Carner, music by Derek Gregor
"Classical meets pop in this funny, screwball musical set in a world where beauty is everything! In lavish Hampton Court, surrounded by mischievous spirits, feisty young Clarissa fights to win the heart of the Baron from her gorgeous stepsister Belinda. Chaos ensues and teacups shatter when the Baron's geeky brother Edwin enters the fray."

Now in its fourth year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival has provided artists writing for the theatre a chance to stage their works in a time when it has become cost prohibitive to do so.

Over 90 productions have taken part in the fast-growing, largest musical theatre festival in the world. NYMF has been the breeding ground for success stories like Altar Boyz, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, The Big Voice: God or Merman, Captain Louie, Gutenberg! The Musical, Meet John Doe, Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire, [title of show] and Shout! The Mod Musical.

The fourth annual New York Musical Theatre Festival runs Sept. 17–Oct. 7. For further information visit www.nymf.org.