The cut-off date for materials had been originally announced for March 1, but has been extended another week to allow writers with production-ready musicals further time to submit their works to the popular festival. "Initial online applications must still be filled out by March 1, but scripts need not be postmarked until March 7," according to NYMF executive producer Isaac Robert Hurwitz. NYMF began accepting submissions for the Next Link Project Jan. 1.
NYMF will also host a meet-and-greet at Hurley's (232 West 48th Street) Feb. 22 from 6-8 PM. Individuals with last-minute questions about the submission process, or those interested in ways to become involved in NYMF, are encouraged to attend and meet with NYMF staff members. Information about the Feb. 22 NYMF event is available by phoning (212) 664-0979.
The works accepted for the Next Link Project benefit from the Next Link dramaturg team, as well as writer support resources, including industry networking and producer "matchmaking" events, and financial assistance through discounted technical support and waiving of production deposits.
Next Link works are selected through an open-submission, blind-evaluation process. The 2008 NYMF Next Link adjudicators include Tony Award-winning lyricist and book writer Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on this Island, The Glorious Ones), Tony Award-nominated lyricist and book writer Michael Korie (Grey Gardens), Tony Award-winning actors Hinton Battle (Sophisticated Ladies, The Tap Dance Kid, Miss Saigon) and Norbert Leo Butz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), four-time Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald (Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, and A Raisin in the Sun), Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (Crazy for You, Show Boat, Contact, The Producers, Young Frankenstein), and Tony Award-winning producer Elizabeth Williams (The Wild Party, The Secret Garden, Crazy for You).
Writers interested in submitting their projects for NYMF 2008 Next Link Project must provide a demo recording of their songs, a detailed synopsis of their show, a complete script, and, if applicable, proof of rights to adapt underlying material. Works submitted past Feb. 1 require a $65 application fee. Should the submitted work be accepted for the Next Link Project, $50 of the fee is deducted from the standard $500 participation deposit for NYMF.
Creators of the works short-listed for participation will be notified by April 4, with confirmation for successful works coming approximately a month later.
The 2007 Next Link Project productions included The Angle of the Sun; Austentatious; Back Home; The Boy in the Bathroom; Emma; The Family Fiorelli; Gemini the Musical; Going Down Swingin'; Little Egypt; Look What a Wonder Jesus Has Done; Love Sucks; Mud Donahue & Son; Petite Rouge; Sherlock Holmes: The Early Years; Such Good Friends; Sympathy Jones; Tully (In No Particular Order); and The Yellow Wood.
The three-week festival features musicals from around the world, culled from invitations and an open-submission process. Numerous Broadway veterans lend their talents to the promising new works, many of which have found commercial life Off-Broadway in previous years, including 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 fifth annual New York Musical Theatre Festival will run Sept. 15–Oct. 5. For detailed submission information and an application, visit www.nymf.org.
