Guidelines for Submissions

Does my demo need to be professionally recorded?

No, your demo doesn’t need to be professionally produced, but we do request that it accurately conveys the style of the score. All demos must include musical accompaniment (unless your show will be performed a cappella) as well as vocals (i.e. not just Finale sound files).  If it’s just you singing and accompanying yourself on piano, that’s fine — but if you can’t carry a tune, we suggest that you find someone else who can vocally represent your work for you.  If you’re considering submitting an amateur recording of a past reading, please be sure the quality isn’t muddy or distorted by ambient noise.

All applicants should include:

1. Your name, address, telephone, and email, with the attachments described below.
2. Resume including a list of past work
3. A brief description of two ideas you might like to develop as musicals. This should include:
   1. What existing work the musical would be based on, if any
   2. What the story would be about (the “spine” as you currently understand it)
   3. What specifically attracts you about that idea
   4. Why you think it would lend itself well to adaptation as a musical
4. Work sample and discipline question (varies for each discipline):

Work sample for book-writers (librettists):

1. One complete scene with song, up to 10 pages (even if you didn’t write the song).
2. One paragraph answering the question “What is the difference in your approach to musical theater writing versus playwriting?” Explain how your work sample reflects that understanding.

Work sample for lyricists :

1. MP3 recordings of 2 contrasting songs for which you provided the lyrics, with lyric sheets and context.
2. One paragraph answering the question “What is the difference in your approach to writing a lyric for musical theater versus writing a pop song or a poem?” Explain how your work sample reflects that understanding.

Work sample for composers:

1. MP3 recordings of 2 contrasting songs for which you provided the music, with scores, lyric sheets and context.
2. One paragraph answering the question “What is the difference in your approach to writing a song for musical theater versus writing a pop song, operatic aria or art song (whichever of these is most relevant to your own experience)?” Explain how your work sample reflects that understanding.

Ready? Then complete our Submission Form.