NEW YORK CITY: The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) is currently accepting submissions for its 34th annual Festival of New Musicals, to be held in New York City Oct. 20-21, 2022. In a new development, writers will be able to submit musicals without a professional endorsement, and there is no application fee for submissions made by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 20. The late deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 10, 2022.

“We are happy to eliminate the need for an endorsement for anyone who would like to apply to the Festival of New Musicals,” said Mark Blankenship, new works director at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, in a statement. “NAMT wants to make it clear that our festival is open to any writer or composer. We welcome all voices and perspectives, and we want to keep the door as wide open as possible. Along with our recent decision to eliminate an application fee for anyone who files by the on-time deadline, we hope the elimination of endorsements will signal that both NAMT in general and the festival in particular are here to support everyone who creates new musicals.”

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre was founded in 1985, with the Festival of New Musicals becoming a cornerstone of NAMT’s commitment to the development of new work. Every year, the Festival of New Musicals presents eight short presentations of new musicals before an audience of over 800 industry professionals. The festival has featured more than 500 writers, with 85 percent of them seeing future development of their musicals, finding agents, securing licensing agreements, or receiving commissions. Among the almost 300 musicals launched by the festival are Benny & Joon, Come From Away, Darling Grenadine, The Drowsy Chaperone, Gun & Powder, HONK!, Interstate, It Shoulda Been You, Lempicka, Ordinary Days, Striking 12, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Click here for more information on the festival and how to submit.