Fairfield County, Connecticut's community-based theatre, Curtain Call, Inc., has announced the inauguration of the American Harmony Prize, the goal of which is to showcase new works of musical theatre that explore America's ethnic, religious, and gender identifications, with a prize awarded each year to a musical that explores a different part of American society. This year's Prize will showcase a musical that focuses on experience of Blacks in America.
Press notes state, "Musical theater writers interested in having their work considered for the American Harmony Prize should submit a plot synopsis of no more than 800 words (or roughly two pages), the first 10 pages of the libretto (with all dialogue, lyrics and stage directions included), a cd that demonstrates as much of the musical's score as has been recorded to date (it needn't be of studio quality) and one sample of the sheet music for a song from the show's piano / vocal score. A "short list" of applicants will be contacted after the first round of judging and asked to submit a full libretto and additional samples of the piano / vocal score for the final consideration. There is no submission / reading fee. Applicants that wish to have their materials returned should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope."
In addition to a cash award of $250.00, a condensed, approximately one-hour version of the winning musical will be performed as a part of Curtain Call's series of new musicals in concert, at the Ethel and Sidney Kweskin Theater in Stamford, Connecticut, in February of 2008.
In order to qualify, submissions cannot have been professionally produced or published. Submissions will be accepted via mail from Monday, August 6, 2007 until Saturday, September 22, 2007, and should be mailed to:
Curtain Call, Inc.
1349 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905
Att. American Harmony Prize.
E-mail submissions cannot be received at this time.
Short-listed applicants will be asked to submit additional materials after Monday, October 1, 2007. Additional materials postmarked after Saturday, October 13, 2007, will no longer be eligible for final consideration. The winner of the American Harmony Prize 2008 will be announced Friday, December 12, 2007, at
www.curtaincallinc.com.
