The New York Musical Theatre Festival has been growing into a really interesting festival. Also, in addition to more traditional musicals, has endeavored to include more unusual work. I saw one of my favorite shows from the past year at the NY MUsical Theatre Festival – Joy Gregory’s The Shaggs.

So here’s the email we got from them. They’re still accepting submissions:

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is still accepting submissions THROUGH MARCH 17TH for our Next Link Project! A central component of each year’s festival, The Next Link is a testament to our pursuit of the most diverse array of work possible by musical theatre’s best and brightest emerging writers, including those who have yet to receive a full production of their work. Please forward this email to any and all musical theatre writers or artists who might be interested in submitting to The 2006 Next Link Project.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is still accepting submissions THROUGH MARCH 17TH for our Next Link Project! A central component of each year’s festival, The Next Link is a testament to our pursuit of the most diverse array of work possible by musical theatre’s best and brightest emerging writers, including those who have yet to receive a full production of their work. Please forward this email to any and all musical theatre writers or artists who might be interested in submitting to The 2006 Next Link Project and post a hard copy of the attached flyer if possible.

The Next Link maintains an open submissions policy and a blind evaluation process. Over 400 submissions are received each year and reviewed by a team of trained readers and a Grand Jury composed of the best in the business. The 2006 Grand Jury will include Anthony Rapp (RENT, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN), Tony Award Winner Phylicia Rashad (THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, “THE COSBY SHOW”), three-time Tony Award Winner Tom Meehan (HAIRSPRAY, THE PRODUCERS, ANNIE), Tony Award Winner Michael Rego of The Araca Group (THE WEDDING SINGER, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, WICKED, URINETOWN), Gary Griffin (THE COLOR PURPLE), Tony Award Winner David Henry Hwang (TARZAN, AIDA, FLOWER DRUM SONG, M. BUTTERFLY) and Pulitzer Prize Winner and two-time Tony Award Winner Marsha Norman (THE COLOR PURPLE, THE SECRET GARDEN, ‘NIGHT, MOTHER). The final 18 selections, which account for two-thirds of each year’s productions, demonstrate command of craft and offer a glimpse of the future of musical theatre.

NYMF’s efforts to expose New York audiences to new, talented, innovative musical theatre writers have resulted in wildly successful runs and sold-out audiences as well as the prestigious Jujamcyn Theaters Award for “outstanding contribution to the development of creative talent for the theater.” Perhaps most importantly, they have led to countless post-festival commercial, regional and workshop productions.

“So many of the musicals that come through my office have little room to receive development,” commented Christie Evangelisto, head of Musical Theatre at Playwrights Horizons. “But now that there is NYMF, there’s a really obvious place to send them.”

Our shows get seen. And they go on. But to find them, we need your help.

All submitted shows should be considered ready for production as well as for the widespread exposure to the New York theatre community NYMF provides. The submission process involves completing our online submission form, paying the application fee and mailing us your materials (synopsis, 15-page script sample, demo CD of any quality, complete script and any applicable proof of rights or notice of reviews, awards, grants or letters of recommendation).

Applicants are welcome to submit more than one show; each show requires a separate application and fee.

Please visit www.nymf.org for more information or to begin the submission process today.

We thank you in advance for your help in making NYMF 2006 our best festival yet.