The 19th Annual Festival of New Musicals

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals is the cornerstone of NAMT’s mission to nurture the creation, development, and production of new musicals. NAMT presents eight musicals in 45 minute showcases before an invited audience of theatre industry professionals with the experience and resources to move these shows forward. In the short run, the Festival’s goal is to connect producers with writers, so that their shows can continue their development trajectory. The long-term goal is to expand the musical theatre repertoire, bringing new musical theatre to thousands of audience members on stages around the world.

The 19th Annual Festival of New Musicals is open to an invited audience of NAMT members and musical theatre producers. If open seats are available, they will be offered to the public on the day of the performances. This year’s selections are:

The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical
Music and Lyrics by Lori Scarlett
Book by Patricia Cotter

The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical examines a year in the life of the recently dumped Helen Hill. With her family of friends by her side she encounters: two-stepping twelve-steppers, Paxil popping lawyers, dental dams, grrrl bands, hot girl on girl action, and maybe… just maybe… the girl of her dreams. The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical features a book by television and screenwriter Patricia Cotter and music and lyrics by LA composer, Lori Scarlett.

Casey at the Bat
Music by Gordon Goodwin
Book and Lyrics by Tom Child

Based on the classic poem and the book Casey On The Loose by acclaimed sportswriter Frank Deford. Casey comes to bat for Mudville, U.S.A., in a big-hearted, small-town tale of humor, love, greed and the competitive spirit to learn that he can be a hero even when he strikes out. Bookwriter and lyricist Tom Child is a freelance writer of theatre, t.v. and film and has written dozens of tunes. Composer Gordon Goodwin is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning musician for his work on animation series and movie The Incredibles and is leader of the big band Big Phat Band.

The Chocolate Tree
Music by Marshall Pailet
Lyrics by A.D. Penedo
Book by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo

A remarkable young girl stricken with a grave illness uses her rich fantasy world and indomitable spirit to bring the impossible to life, which takes her family and the audience on a powerful, transforming journey. The Chocolate Tree is written by the team Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo (Loch Ness and Where It’s At – ASCAP, New York International Fringe Festival).

The Gypsy King
Music and Lyrics by Randy Rogel
Book by Randy Rogel and Kirby Ward

Two penniless entertainers stumble into a small town and land smack dab in the middle of a plot to assassinate the King. When it’s discovered that one of them looks exactly like the doomed monarch, things get sticky. The Gypsy King is a collaboration between award winning film and television writer and composer Randy Rogel and actor, director, choreographer and film writer Kirby Ward.

Kingdom
Music by Ian Williams
Book and Lyrics by Aaron Jafferis

Inspired by the true stories of current and former Latin Kings, Kingdom chronicles the journey of two kids from the barrio who join the Kings in search of power and respect. When tragedy strikes, a power struggle tears the two friends apart – with devastating results. Kingdom composer Ian Williams is an NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writer, and book writer/lyricist Aaron Jafferis is known for his hip hop poetry and plays.

The Story of My Life
Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram
Book by Brian Hill

The Story of My Life is a two-character musical about Thomas, a writer, and Alvin – lifelong friends, until life sent them in different directions. When suddenly faced with the task of writing Alvin’s eulogy, Thomas digs through the cluttered collection of stories in his mind – with Alvin as his guide – to find a way to celebrate his friend’s life and understand his untimely death. Composer and lyricist Neil Bartram is a recipient of a Dramatists Guild Jonathan Larson Fellowship and a 2005 Jonathan Larson Foundation Award, and book writer Brian Hill is currently the Assistant Director for the Broadway-bound The Little Mermaid.

Tinyard Hill
Music by Mark Allen
Book and Lyrics by Thomas M. Newman

In South Georgia, 1964, a blacksmith and his son are desperate to keep the family’s two-hundred year old shop from becoming another “pioneer” tourist joke. But as the Vietnam Conflict escalates and a summer romance blossoms, the world grows too large to ignore in this moving story about big love and small-town dreams. Tinyard Hill has a score by published theatre and film composer Mark Allen (2005 ASCAP Max Dreyfus Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre Writing) and book and lyrics by Thomas M. Newman (O’Neill Center Theatre Fellow and NYU Musical Theatre Graduate Program Writer).

Writing Arthur
Book, Music and Lyrics by David Austin

Arthur Danby has finally found the perfect woman. Problem is, she’s a fictional character in his novel. When a very real woman steps into his life, his worlds collide. Will Arthur fall deeper into the world he’s created or allow life to write itself? Writing Arthur creator David A. Austin is a proud member of the BMI workshop and has written book, music and lyrics for over twenty musicals. Mr. Austin has been commissioned by NAMT Members the Fifth Avenue Theatre and the Village Theatre, and received a commendation from the Antoine D’Exupery Foundation for his adaptation of The Little Prince.