Jury Announced for 2005 NYMF Festival

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, recipient of the prestigious Jujamcyn Theater Award, has announced jury members to oversee selections for the 2005 Festival running September 12 – October 2, 2005 in Midtown Manhattan.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), entering its sophomore year, has finalized the panel of theater professionals who will oversee the selection of programming for the NEXT LINK PROJECT for the 2005 Festival. The members of the theater community making up this season's selection committee are Rob Ashford (Tony winning Choreographer for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE), Thomas Cott (former Artistic Director of Musical Theater Works), Joanna Gleason (Tony winner for INTO THE WOODS, currently in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS), Kevin McCollum (Producer of AVENUE Q and RENT), Susan H. Schulman (Director of LITTLE WOMEN, THE SECRET GARDEN and THE SOUND OF MUSIC), and Jack Viertel (Creative Director/Jujamcyn Theaters, Artistic Director/City Center Encores!).

18 "production-ready" musicals will be chosen by the panel from this year's world-wide submissions. Those selected will be presented in repertory over three weeks in Manhattan's Theatre District and benefit from the spotlight of a major arts event that has attracted significant industry response since its inception. 20% of the programs featured in the inaugural Festival have since been optioned and several are in pre-production, including ALTAR BOYZ (March '05/Dodgers Stages).

NYMF is currently seeking the best of new musical theater writing to present in Fall 2005. To apply for NYMF '05, or to find out more about the Festival, go to www.nymf.org. Applications for the Next Link Project will be accepted until March 11, 2005.