NMI’s RESOURCE CENTER for musical theatre writers

…producers, theatres, contests, ideas, feedback, definitions, glossary, insider tips and advice, and free videos

contest listings

insider tips

glosssary of terms

FREE format video

theatres listing

public domain ideas

musicals online

FREE curriculum video

Welcome to the musical theatre writers’ Resource Center.

This is a FREE page hosted by New Musicals Inc.  We’ve gathered in one place lots of info we think will be useful to writers of musical theatre:
  • hundreds of musical theatre contests
  • over 700 theatres and producers where you can submit your work
  • an idea library of thousands of royalty-free public domain stories and plots
  • a glossary of musical theatre terms (with audio/video examples)
  • access to short videos filled with tips and advice from NMI staff
  • access to critical feedback options and format guidelines from NMI

Everything on this main page is available to view for free!

If you want to be put on our mailing list to get NEWS and SPECIAL OFFERS – please use the SUBSCRIBE form at the bottom of this page.

Enjoy!


GLOSSARY OF TERMS


Here are some samples from our Glossary of definitions of musical theatre terms. We will be adding to this over time - as well as adding actual sample scores and sound recordings. Check back often!

      • Montage:

        A series of scenes compressed into a single sequence, usually for the purpose of collapsing time.

      • Triple rhyme:

        Perfect rhyme in which the accent involves three syllables; the first syllable is accented, the second and third are unaccented. Examples include: clamoring/hammering; fatefully/gratefully; devious/in a previous

      • Trimeter:

        A line of poetry with three feet, such as As long as he needs me.

      • Thrust stage:

        A stage that extends into the performing area so that the audience is seated around three sides.

      • Personification:

        Investing abstractions or inanimate objects with human qualities or abilities. Such as:
        The ground thirsts for rain.
        The dew winked in the morning sun.
        Ol’ Man River, he mus’ know sumpin’.

      *** Click to access the full glossary. ***


NEW MUSICALS ONLINE


Here is one of our featured new musical theatre videos:


CONTESTS

FREE LISTING of hundreds of contests for plays and musicals.

Here are some random samples from some upcoming contests/submissions listings:

      • Baltimore Playrights Festival (April 30)
      • ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles (April 30)
      • Jewish Ensemble Theatre Festival of New Plays (April 30)
      • Theatre Three One-Act Play Festival (April 30)
      • The Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre (May 1)

      *** CLICK TO VIEW ALL THE CONTESTS ***


PRODUCERS & THEATRES

FREE LISTINGS of nearly 700 producers and theatres for potential submission of your work.


Here are some random samples from our listings of theatres and producers:

      • Rock Around the Clock (CLOSED) (Accepts Musicals / Plays / )
      • Gala Hispanic Theatre (Accepts Musicals / Plays / Young Audience material / )
      • Jobsite Theater (Accepts Musicals / Plays / )
      • Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati (Accepts Musicals / Plays / )
      • Red Barn Theatre (Accepts Musicals / )

      *** COMPLETE LIST OF THEATRES/PRODUCERS ***


IMPROVE YOUR CRAFT


New Musicals Inc. offers a whole series of professional online LABS for bookwriters, lyricists, and composers who are serious about improving their craft. This video is a FREE sample of one of the lecture videos from the all new Lyric Lab 1 - Fundamentals.

FREE PROGRESSION HANDOUT


FORMAT LIKE A PRO


Watch this FREE video to learn how to implement the FORMAT GUIDELINES specifically designed by New Musicals Inc. Make sure your script and score look professional and are ready to go into development.

Want more tools to help you get your formatting right?

*** VISIT OUR FORMATTING PRODUCTS PAGE ***



INSIDER TIPS AND ADVICE


Here is one of our videos with insider tips and advice:


NEED SOME FEEDBACK?


Have you written a musical? Are you working on one? NMI has smart, professional, detailed dramaturges who will help you make sure you are on the strongest path to fulfilling the promise of your work. From video and audio feedback packages to one-on-one dramaturgical sessions, we have what you need to take the next step forward. We even have an annual contest that results in a workshop and concert reading in Los Angeles.

"We really did appreciate all your help - you’ve got just the right tone to critique. It’s a matter of 'A Spoonful of Sugar Helps The Medicine Go Down'!”
                    ~~George Stiles
          (Mary Poppins, Honk, Soho Cinders)

*** Check out NMI's Feedback options ***


LIBRARY OF IDEAS (Royalty Free)

FREE ACCESS to a library of 1000+ downloadable royalty-free stories, plays, plots and other inspiring indeas we’ve found in the public domain for you. There’s a brief excerpt of every item in the library, so you can take a quick glance to see whether or not you want to read the whole text. In addition, the NMI staff has made annotations and recommendations for many of the titles in the library about their potential to become musicals. Save hundreds of hours of research and reading!


Here are some random samples from our listings of story ideas in the public domain:

      • Cat And Dog (by Lady Bell)
      • The Ghost In The Cap’n Brownhouse (by Harrett Beecher Stowe)
      • To the Bitter End (by Richard Matthews Hallet)
      • The Groac’h of the Isle of Lok (by Andrew Lang)
      • The Making of Mac’s (by P.G. Wodehouse)

      *** LINK TO COMPLETE LIBRARY OF IDEAS ***

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NEWS, SPECIAL OFFERS, and DISCOUNTS!

To Mister Cupid I take off my hat;
You can’t account for silly taste.
Of all the hearts I could have chased,
I look at you, and ooh,
I go for that.

--Frank Loesser


Advertisement in The Playgoer for Me for You, the pre-Broadway title of Heads Up!, at the Shubert Detroit Opera House (Detroit, Mich.) September 15,1929. From the Billy Rose Theater Collection, New York Public Library . From the Digital Gallery Collections of the New York Public Library.



MUSICAL THEATRE ARCHIVES


Here's a sample of items from our vault of historical photos, and musical theatre trivia about events that happened THIS month in the past:

      • April 7, 1949     Some Enchanted Evening…South Pacific opened on Broadway today.
      • April 1, 1929     Jane Powell was born today. She was launched to fame in Royal Wedding playing Fred Astaire’s sister. Her most memorable role came from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
      • April 10, 1952     Singin’ in the Rain opened across America today

      *** Click to access the full archives. ***